Mention the initials REO and some minds immediately go to a ’70s hair band called REO Speedwagon. Not exactly, that band actually pinched their name from a for-real automotive company known as REO, the initials of its founder Ransom E. Olds – and there was an actual Speedwagon model. And that Ransom Olds is the same man that founded Oldsmobile, originally known as the Olds Motor Works, in 1897. Today’s subject is an REO touring model from 1912 that has been beautifully restored and maintained. The listing is confusing as it states that this car is located in Gilbert, Arizona and is available, here on craigslist for $42,000. But there is also a link to an auction site where it is being offered but it reads as if it didn’t sell – the details are light. Whatever the case, an inquiry should be made by anyone who has an interest in this unlikely discovery.
So, Mr. Olds sold the Olds Motor Works in 1905, which eventually ended up under General Motors, and started REO. Olds was the General Manager and President of REO but over time withdrew from the day-to-day operation of his company passing it to an individual named Richard Scott. By 1936 REO ended the manufacture of automobiles and focused strictly on trucks, a business line that had been started about ten years earlier. Ultimately REO merged with Diamond Trucks and formed Diamond REO, a pretty well-known name in over-the-road trucking. By the mid-’70s, Diamond REO was in financial trouble and was acquired by Volvo trucks and Volvo, to this day, still owns the rights to the REO name.
But before all of that, REO automobiles were known for durability and in 1912, the same year as our subject car, an REO tourer drove 4K plus miles across Canada to prove the marque’s toughness. You have to remember, transcontinental roads, or anything approaching a highway, were virtually non-existent in 1912. Having been owned by a single owner for thirty years, the listing claims that this car’s history has been unfortunately lost. Regardless, it looks great and appears to be complete – the seller adds, “shows very nice and close to perfection“. It is said that everything works as intended, pretty amazing for a car that is only 110 years old. Of note – the wooden truck perched on the rear end – and now we know why the rear portion of a passenger car, or the boot if you will, is called a trunk!
Power is provided by a 30 HP, 215 CI four-cylinder engine connected to a three-speed manual transmission. The seller adds, “Last drive just before its owner’s passing, she has been stored since. All running gear is believed to be original or era correct“. The top speed is claimed to be 40 MPH!
The leather upholstery is magnificent and is believed to have been “reconditioned” in the recent past. It’s a roomy interior with nicely finished appointments – it’s obvious that it hasn’t experienced too much top-down time. There’s no radio so you’ll just have to do, thankfully, without any REO Speedwagon tunes…
It would be interesting to know more about the auction, as in whether this tourer didn’t make a reserve of if there was just no action, or whatever the case. As we have often discussed, automobiles of this era don’t have a huge draw – at least not today. This is a spectacular specimen, hopefully, someone will step up and make a pitch for this wonderful example of early American motoring, wouldn’t you agree?
A “hair-band”? Never heard that term, and read it refers more to 80’s heavy-metal like Motley Crue or Scorps. R E O Speedwagon, the group, pronounced the name “R-E-O”, in single letters while the car/truck was one word, REO and Speed Wagon( 1 word, the singing group, 2 words, the car), possibly to escape copyright troubles. They had a few hits, but they were no Bruce Springsteen.
The REO car was actually a very modern car for the time. Features like hydraulic brakes, self starters and “3 by the knee” shifters, were unheard of in the teens. The trucks, I read, began in 1915, but I believe the cars lasted until the 30’s. Outstanding find, not sure for who as time grinds away, let’s be honest, who is going to want this in this day and age? Heck, I bet many have never even heard of the rock band, much less a REO, and that’s a shame, on both counts.
REO really made its name in the heavy-truck market, where various models would be produced into the early sixties..
Even if they didn’t know about the band themselves, perhaps they “heard it from a friend …”
“You can tune a piano, but….”
Good one Howard, I’d forgot that R-E-O Speedwagon is still heard on some oldies radio, but a lot of people under 50 never knew of them. Obviously 99% of that crowd heard of the car.
I was buying a “DZ block” 302 Chevy (69 Z/28 motor) to replace the recently expired 283 in my 57 Bel Air in the mid 1980’s. My friend understood what I was doing, but his 16 year old son said “302 is a Ford, you’d never do that.” His father said “Remember, the kid was BORN in 1969, he’s never heard of a 302 Chevy. That was the last year Chevy made them. It gave me a whole new perspective on things.
Camaro Joe, it’s all a matter of when we were born. In 1972 I was at a lake house where a lot of us would gather for a weekend of water skiing, dancing, and playing. If you showed up with a guitar you were welcome. Anyway, a kid of 15-years old shows up with his banjo and mesmerized us by playing Stairway to Heaven. When we started to play some CSNY he asked, “Who’s Crosby Stills?”
“Which one is Pink?”
In the early 80’s, my little brother (who’s now 55) and I were listening to Paul McCartney, and bro says “didn’t he used to be in a band called Wings”?
Well I was born in 69 and maybe cause I’ve been a car aficionado all my life I have in fact heard of the 302 Chevrolet.
I do agree however that the market for this type of automobile is dwindling by the day. I also foresee a day where the age of folks that have any interest in muscle cars will also wane.
Even now the amount of people interested in 30s cars is dropping like a rock as many of the people that appreciated them when young are passing by the day
Not sure why the author is throwing shade at the band. As a guitar player I think they’re great and I’ve been chasing Gary Richraths tone for a long time. He’s one of the greatest guitar players from the era but sadly he’s gone now.. Oh yeah neat car too.
I agree. Great solos.
What a magnificent motor car and the pregenitor to the Oldsmobile which was another of R E Olds creation which became a GM subsidiary
A nice brass car that would be welcome at many shows and antique touring events.
The seller uses weird verbiage that implies that he does not have the car in his procession, or has even seen it in person. The Craig’s ad shows it in Georgia, and the auction has in Arizona.
Another car with a middleman taking a cut without offering any value to the buyer. Proceed with caution.
Seems like very nice brass era car and the price seems very reasonable, if no down right cheap. I like all the REO Speed Wagon references. Also the REO Marque was always a favorite of mine. But as old as I am, which is VERY ,I am just not old enough, and too young to have a Brass era car, That is only 30 or so years older than I am.
Sorry but REO Speedwagon is only further evidence that popular music also had its own “Malaise” era.