The REO Motor Car Company, based in Lansing, Michigan, was created in 1905 by the founder of Oldsmobile, Ransome E. Olds. The company would build motor vehicles up until 1975, though it got out of the car part of the market in 1936. One of REO’s products was the T-6 (after its six-cylinder engine) and the seller’s auto is nearly 100 years old, built in 1925. Located in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, this challenging project is available for just $1,895 here on craigslist. As always, finding parts to fix ancient machines like this may be the biggest challenge. Our thanks to Barn Finder Henry Reining for this cool tip!
This company’s naming convention was a simple one: each of the letters stands for the first letters of the founder’s name. Ransome Olds was all over the automotive scene in those days, starting with Oldsmobile in 1897. He left that enterprise to form REO and developed a series of suppliers that would be key sources for the main company. REO’s roots have always been in Lansing and that’s where the R. E. Olds Transportation Museum is located.
We don’t know the history of this REO, but it would probably have a lot of stories to tell if it could. It’s not in a running condition, due in part to the lack of a distributor which the seller suggests may mean a replacement of the entire engine (where do you find one?). The sheet metal on the 4-door sedan is said to be good, but the wood pieces are bad, and the roof is gone. That has led to a deterioration of the original interior.
The T-6 sports its factory paint, but a restoration would probably mean redoing that. By comparison to other cars of the day, the seller says the T-6 is bigger than Ford’s Model A. The wheels turn freely, so the buyer should have no issues loading and unloading this relic on and off a trailer. American automobile production was still evolving when this machine was built, so if you like the idea of restoring a 100-year-old car that nobody probably has, could this one be it?
I drove truck for 32 years and the REO trucks were among the finest trucks in the industry.
Hi Jim, good grip on the REO, although, a bit before my time. REO was bought by White in 1957, along with Diamond T, creating Diamond Reo, and what I assume what you drove. If it was just a REO, by golly, you’re getting up there. Wasn’t trucking fun back then?
The seller is running more than one ad for this car, there is a link at the bottom of his CL ad. The other ad is over a month old stating it’s a parts car, but does not provide much other information. The length of the other ad at a low price suggests there is no interest in this car.
Steve R
“Ridin’ the Strom out”, “Keep pushin’ on”, “Roll with the changes”, just a few from that awesome group, REO Speedwagon. It should be noted, Neil Doughty was looking for a name for his band, and saw the truck name in history class. I don’t know if he knew what they were, but sure caught on, to the tune( cough) of 10 million records.
This car? 1st, his name was Ransom Eli Olds, and I don’t think very successful as a car maker, there were just too many, but trucks were a wide open field. REOs boasted some impressive power for the time, and features not found on most trucks like self starters, electric lights, and the 1st to use a driveshaft as opposed to chain drive and 6 cylinders power. The “Gold Crown” motors, I believe an offshoot of this motor, were the best in the business.
Sturgeon Bay is located in the Door County peninsula, north of Green Bay, and what this looks like, is an outdoor display from a museum or attraction. In the UP, in the Keewenaw Peninsula, there is a historic lighthouse, and in a shed, was a 1930s Dodge, that was the 1st car in the area. I suspect, the same here. Door County used to be cut off in the winter, so the folks that stayed were hearty souls. A car was an unheard of luxury and someone who had money from Green Bay made the trip and never left. I sure would like to say it’s an incredible find, and it is, to us , um, seasoned folks, but really, I think it belongs back in an outside museum as a display for future generations to observe and move along.
You got me curious about the historic lighthouse with the old Dodge in the shed.
What’s the place called, and is it still there?
I love old architecture as much as old cars so both things are of interest to me!
I’ll take my vinyl collection of REO Speedwagon recordings, over this car. They still work. One of the best live bands, ever. When Gary Richrath was still with them.
Nice Old car. I would clean up the body, drop it on a modern chassis and have a fun driver
Hey Rick W & all the GALYS members…..
How about that ’69 Cadillac in the background? I’m more interested that (and the old house)
Same here. Wonder if the Caddy is his daily “driver”?
Make it into a rat rod. I have a 4 door 1925 Buick made into a 2 door with suicide doors and no top. The person who built it did a good job. I would sell it for a good price, 15k. It has a 64 rebuilt nail head in it. 5 speed stick.
That is yard art price-cant go wrong.