OM-314

Background

OM 314: The Classic Bandy Engine

In 1973, Toyota replaced the OM-324 with another 4-cylinder MB engine that had quickly made a name for itself in the world of medium-duty trucks as an ultra-dependable, highly economic unit.

First released in 1964 to great acclaim (Mercedes-Benz proclaimed it a “watershed”), the OM-314 was state-of-the-art: the world’s first direct injection 4-cylinder diesel; a long-stroke, low-RPM machine that produced even more torque than its predecessors, and with better manners. Unlike the OM-324, the OM-314 was gainfully employed by a variety of heavy-load vehicles in Brazil and elsewhere around the globe by the time Toyota do Brasil incorporated it into the Bandeirante.

It’s pairing with the rugged (and rapidly-expanding) OJ series resulted in an improved driving experience (less noise & vibration) and performance (greater fuel efficiency, power, and torque), and solidified the Bandeirante’s ascendance in the Brazilian national consciousness. For the next 2 decades, the OM-314 would become synonymous with the Bandeirante, and the Bandeirante with the rugged roads of the Brazilian backcountry.

Today, 55 years after its debut, the OM-314 remains ubiquitous in Brazil, with parts & service for the engine readily available across the country. It represents a nostalgic but capable choice for any modern Bandy build.