Exhibit 5.1

                     [LETTERHEAD OF O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP]



March 25, 2002

Amerigon Incorporated
5462  Irwindale Avenue
Irwindale, California 91706


Re: Registration of Securities of Amerigon Incorporated on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          At your request, we have examined the Registration Statement on Form
S-3 ("Registration Statement") to be filed by Amerigon Incorporated (the
"Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of (i) 6,253,970 shares of the
Company's common stock, no par value (the "Common Shares"), and (ii) 3,903,077
shares of the Company's common stock, no par value, that are issuable upon
exercise of common stock purchase warrants (the "Warrant Shares").  We are
familiar with the proceedings taken  by the Company in connection with the
authorization and issuance and sale of the shares.

          It is our opinion that the issuance and sale of the Common Shares have
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the
Company and the Common Shares are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

          It is further our opinion that the Warrant Shares have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and,
upon payment of the exercise price for and delivery of the Warrant Shares in
accordance with the common stock purchase warrants and the countersigning of the
certificate or certificates representing the Warrant Shares by a duly authorized
signatory of the registrar for the common stock, the Warrant Shares will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

          We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the heading
"Legal Matters" in the prospectus constituting part of the Registration
Statement.

     Respectfully submitted,
     /s/ O'Melveny & Myers LLP