Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 522
1906 REO 16HP Model A Five Passenger Car Chassis no. 2911 Engine no. 2911
Sold for US$39,200 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 522
1906 REO 16HP Model A Five Passenger Car
1906 REO 16HP Model A Five Passenger Car
Chassis no. 2911
Engine no. 2911
Chassis no. 2911
Engine no. 2911
213ci, Side Valve 2-Cylinder Engine
Single Carburetor
Approx. 16hp
2-Speed Planetary Gearbox
Front, Semi-Elliptic Leaf Spring, Rear, Three-Quarter Elliptic Leaf Spring Suspension
External-Contracting Rear Wheel Drum Brakes
*Handsome example of the Olds' second chapter
*Long term ownership within the collection
*Usable tour car
*Eligible for the Audrain Veteran Car Tour and HCCA events
REO CARS
The echoes of Ransom E. Olds footsteps as he walked away from Oldsmobile in 1904 had hardly faded before the pioneering vehicle manufacturer set about re-entering the auto business. Banned from using his surname on a new vehicle, Olds derived REO, the name for his new venture, from his initials. After having tested a prototype chassis for 2,000 miles, Olds revealed the REO Model A at the 1905 New York Auto Show. The medium-sized car was powered by a two-cylinder engine and had a two-speed planetary transmission with chain-drive to the rear axle.
Interestingly enough in an entirely different era, it seems that REO felt the need to justify the performance of its cars in advertising. Under the heading 'REO – Honest Power Honest Price', their 1906 adverts proclaimed - Any one can speed up a motor on the factory, with a heavy fly-wheel so that for a period of ten seconds it will show a high brake horse-power; but that is a mere trick. It is no test. REO rating is not 'faked' in that way. It is obtained by an actual ten-hour dynamo test. It is accurate; it is honest and above all it is thoroughly proven by unquestioned performance. Fake news is clearly nothing new!
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
In a collection steeped in the heritage of the Oldsmobile, it is little surprise a pair of successors to Ransom E. Olds' original venture should rub shoulders with their genus. This the earlier of the two dates from the 1906 production run and has all the hallmarks of these new Olds cars.
A particularly interesting detail is the fact that as was quite common among American cars of this day, their coachwork was built with the idea of being configured either as a four seater side entrance touring car, or for the rear of the bodywork to be removed and to leave a more sporting and lighter weight two seater body style. Again for the purposes of collector car touring, this is an eminently practical style of coachwork.
The car we present here has been in the collection for many years and is understood to have been restored prior to its acquisition. The bodywork is in a bright red scheme atop a 'straw' colored frame, a period guise which enabled better visibility of the running gear so that it could be worked upon. The bodywork is copiously accessorized with brass, at the front are torpedo tapered headlamps, the scuttle has Dietz sidelamps and the dash is equipped with a large acetylene generator, Jones Speedometer and coil box. A full length top is in place to provide some weather protection.
In general terms the shows very nicely, with good paintwork and new or unworn upholstery. It is understood that this was displayed in the museum rather than being used, with the inevitable result that it should be checked over properly before road or tour use.
Once ready, it has plenty of potential, with lightweight bodywork and the renowned torquey REO motor to propel the automobile, it would make an ideal tour car for events such as the Audrain Veteran Car Tour, perhaps even this weekend as well as other such events run by the Horseless Carriage Club.
Single Carburetor
Approx. 16hp
2-Speed Planetary Gearbox
Front, Semi-Elliptic Leaf Spring, Rear, Three-Quarter Elliptic Leaf Spring Suspension
External-Contracting Rear Wheel Drum Brakes
*Handsome example of the Olds' second chapter
*Long term ownership within the collection
*Usable tour car
*Eligible for the Audrain Veteran Car Tour and HCCA events
REO CARS
The echoes of Ransom E. Olds footsteps as he walked away from Oldsmobile in 1904 had hardly faded before the pioneering vehicle manufacturer set about re-entering the auto business. Banned from using his surname on a new vehicle, Olds derived REO, the name for his new venture, from his initials. After having tested a prototype chassis for 2,000 miles, Olds revealed the REO Model A at the 1905 New York Auto Show. The medium-sized car was powered by a two-cylinder engine and had a two-speed planetary transmission with chain-drive to the rear axle.
Interestingly enough in an entirely different era, it seems that REO felt the need to justify the performance of its cars in advertising. Under the heading 'REO – Honest Power Honest Price', their 1906 adverts proclaimed - Any one can speed up a motor on the factory, with a heavy fly-wheel so that for a period of ten seconds it will show a high brake horse-power; but that is a mere trick. It is no test. REO rating is not 'faked' in that way. It is obtained by an actual ten-hour dynamo test. It is accurate; it is honest and above all it is thoroughly proven by unquestioned performance. Fake news is clearly nothing new!
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
In a collection steeped in the heritage of the Oldsmobile, it is little surprise a pair of successors to Ransom E. Olds' original venture should rub shoulders with their genus. This the earlier of the two dates from the 1906 production run and has all the hallmarks of these new Olds cars.
A particularly interesting detail is the fact that as was quite common among American cars of this day, their coachwork was built with the idea of being configured either as a four seater side entrance touring car, or for the rear of the bodywork to be removed and to leave a more sporting and lighter weight two seater body style. Again for the purposes of collector car touring, this is an eminently practical style of coachwork.
The car we present here has been in the collection for many years and is understood to have been restored prior to its acquisition. The bodywork is in a bright red scheme atop a 'straw' colored frame, a period guise which enabled better visibility of the running gear so that it could be worked upon. The bodywork is copiously accessorized with brass, at the front are torpedo tapered headlamps, the scuttle has Dietz sidelamps and the dash is equipped with a large acetylene generator, Jones Speedometer and coil box. A full length top is in place to provide some weather protection.
In general terms the shows very nicely, with good paintwork and new or unworn upholstery. It is understood that this was displayed in the museum rather than being used, with the inevitable result that it should be checked over properly before road or tour use.
Once ready, it has plenty of potential, with lightweight bodywork and the renowned torquey REO motor to propel the automobile, it would make an ideal tour car for events such as the Audrain Veteran Car Tour, perhaps even this weekend as well as other such events run by the Horseless Carriage Club.
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