1915 REO Speed Wagon

After three years of establishing his first automotive company, Ransom E. Olds sold his Olds Motor Vehicle Company in 1899 to Samuel L. Smith, a copper and lumber magnate, but agreed to stay on as Vice President and General Manager. A few years later, Smith's son Frederick moved up in the organization and his management style and ideas often clashed with Olds to the extent that Ransom E. Olds left the company bearing his name. Mr. Olds quickly established a new motor car company and using his initials, the REO Motor Company was born. He had established the R. E. Olds Company but this clashed with his former employer's business and they cried foul, claiming that Olds could not use his own last name because that was the property of the company Olds had sold to Samuel Smith. New paperwork was filed and the name of his new business venture became the REO Motor Car Company. Olds would later end up owning several other businesses such as organizing the Capital National Bank in Lansing, plus companies directly related to the automotive industry. The REO company remained a part of the automotive landscape until the end came in 1975.

The REO Oldsmobile, and later trucks, were well-engineered and designed, and from 1904 to 1910 they were powered by either single- or two-cylinder engines. Henry Ford introduced his Model T in 1908, and REO responded by making changes in their offerings to remain competitive, including introducing running boards and metal fenders. 1909 was the inaugural year that REO had steel backs and made extensive use of aluminum. The engine was positioned beneath the front seat with the radiator, water, and gas tank located under the hood. Under the driver's left elbow was a 20-inch spoked flywheel. Directly under the driver's seat was a two-speed chainless planetary transmission using two 9-inch bands on fiber-faced 9-inch drums. The sliding cone clutch was engaged using four bronze discs, a sliding cone, and bell-cranks. 1909 is also believed to be the first year that red paint was used on REOs.

REO discontinued its single-cylinder automobile after the 1910 model year but offered single-cylinder trucks for several years thereafter. In mid-1910, a new six-cylinder model was introduced. 1916 saw the first six-cylinder REO motorcar and, in 1920, REO brought out the next generation six, the T6 Series.

The Speed Wagon was one of the first trucks introduced by a passenger car manufacturer on an entirely separate chassis and was built by a completely separate division of the company. The Speedwagon was renowned for its power, durability, build quality, and useability. REO's line of trucks would outlive their passenger cars, remaining in production beyond World War II, continuing through at least 1953.

The REO Speed Wagon was versatile and could be purchased as a panel truck, passenger bus, pickup, fire truck, tow truck, and various other commercial configurations, including ambulances and hearses.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2022

High bid of $54,000 at 2020 RM Sothebys : Open Roads, Fall. (did not sell)
Sold for $24,750 at 2021 RM Sothebys : Hershey.
This REO Speed Wagon was discovered in 2015 devoid of a body, but with its engine, transmission, and suspension. During its restoration, the wagon received a body from The Creative Workshop of Dania Beach, Florida, and new features including a chassis lubrication system. The touring body was built from scratch using traditional techniques, with hand-formed aluminum panels formed to fit a wood frame. The interior was fitted with diamond-tufted leather upholstery.

The work was completed in the Spring of 2017, after which it was transported to East Hampton, New York for the summer. It then returned to Florida, and it was shown at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance the following year.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2022