REO for sale
Long before there was a band by the same name, there was a car company called REO that manufactured cars and trucks, including the famous "Speedwagon." REO Motor Car Company was in business from 1905 to 1975 in Lansing, Michigan.American automotive pioneer Ransom E. Olds was the founder of REO Motor Company. Several years before starting it, he had founded the Olds Motor Vehicle Company, also in Lansing, which was bought out in 1899 by Samuel L. Smith, a copper and lumber industrialist, and renamed Olds Motor Works. Once Smith brought in his son Frederic Smith to help run the company, however, Olds and the younger Smith clashed frequently and Olds eventually left the company to start the R.E. Olds Motor Car Company. The name was quickly changed to REO Motor Car Company to avoid litigation from his former brand. The acronym REO comes directly from Olds' initials, but the pronunciation of the company's name was always pronounced as "rio" and not "R-E-O" as in the 70s rock band.
During its years in business, the REO Motor Company manufactured several notable vehicles, among them the REO Speed Wagon, a predecessor of today's truck. The Speed Wagon was made from 1915 to 1953 and was basically a light truck chassis that could be configured as a delivery truck, pick up, bus or emergency vehicle. The REO Speed Wagon was known for its engine quality and rugged durability. Another popular vehicle made by the REO Motor Company was the famous "Flying Cloud" which had a gangster look with wooden spoke wheels and cost $795. Made from 1927 until 1936, the Flying Cloud was styled by designer Fabio Segardi and was the first car to use Lockheed's new hydraulic brake system. With its catchy name, intended to evoke lightness and speed, it also revolutionized the way cars were named and advertised. The third most recognized vehicle made by REO was the REO Royale, introduced in 1931. This car was an important milestone in design, as it introduced the streamlined look into automobile manufacturing. It also featured REO's famous Self-Shifter semi-automatic transmission. REO sold the Royale until 1935.
REO's best years were the early ones. In 1907, the company was one of the top four automobile manufacturers in the country, with gross sales of more than $4 million. Heavy competition from big makers like Ford and General Motors, however, edged out REO. The company struggled through the Great Depression, made somewhat of a comeback during World War II because of a demand for trucks, but remained unstable for the most part, was sold and resold, and eventually went out of business completely.
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