1932 REO 8-35 Royale Convertible Coupe

REO built its first automobiles in the fall of 1904, introducing trucks in 1908. The Lansing, Michigan, company was founded by Ransom Eli Olds, the father of the Oldsmobile, after he left his namesake company. Starting in 1931, REO introduced the luxurious Royale with coachwork designed by Amos Northup, chief body designer for Murray. The pioneering streamlined bodies were powered by a 358 cubic-inch, 125 horsepower straight-eight on either a 131- or 135-inch wheelbase featuring one-short chassis lubrication and thermostatically-controlled radiator shutters. At $22,445, this was REO's most expensive car.

By 1933 the company was in deep financial trouble and following stockholder squabbles, Olds gave up control of the company late in 1934. Car production was discontinued in the summer of 1936 while REO concentrated exclusively on commercial vehicles. Just 3,908 REOs were produced for 1932, including 176 Royale 8-35s. Just 50 or so convertibles were produced between 1931 and 1932, of which only a handful are known to survive.