Appearing in 1976 and entering production in 1977, its cab was developed with the aid of Fiat's wind tunnel in Orbassano.

[2] The Lupetto, as well as the Leoncino, the Daino, and the Tigrotto, were all replaced by the OM X-series in 1972, which then formed the basis for the Zeta range.

The range then gradually began using the unified Iveco name in 1979 (retaining a hyphenated "OM" or "Fiat" during the transition).

The Zeta was issued in a myriad configurations, as it had to replace a variety of existing truck lines from several different producers.

[6] Versions with the 4.1 L; 249.3 cu in 87 PS (64 kW) air-cooled Deutz F4L913 engine were called 90D or 90M, with the GVW (in tonnes) following - the range reaching from the 90D5,2 to the 90M7,9.

[9] More recent versions (85.14) have a 140 PS (103 kW) Cummins diesel engine which meets the Euro IV emissions requirements.

[11] The Zeta was gradually replaced from beneath by the heavier versions in the S-series (Daily), and at the top by the lighter duty Ford Cargos (which were sold as Iveco-Fords in some markets, beginning in 1986).

While large numbers of Zetas were built over a fairly long production life, not many remain in Western Europe.

As they look a bit too modern for most classic truck collectors, most remaining European Zetas will likely end up crushed or exported.