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Details
1906 Reo Runabout
Chassis No. 5104
Engine No. 5110
Dark green with black leather interior
Engine: one cylinder, 8hp, Suspension: full elliptic leaf springs front and rear; Brakes: two wheel drum. Right hand drive.
The Reo automobile, marketed as 'always up to date', got its name from the company founding father, Ransom Eli Olds. The diminutive one-cylinder runabout was conceived and designed because Mr. Olds preferred to produce an inexpensive, dependable automobile that the average man could afford. Olds split with the Oldsmobile Company late in 1903, sold his interest in 1904, and within the same year was producing his affordable dream car. As new automobile companies were entering the manufacturing business quickly in those early days, Oldsmobile already enjoyed a longer history than most; the Oldsmobile Company had produced a steam car as early as 1897. In 1903, Oldsmobile was the highest producer of automobiles in the United States.
There was a difference of opinion between Frederick Smith of Oldsmobile and Ransom E. Olds. Smith, and the board of directors of Oldsmobile wanted to move toward producing bigger and more expensive cars, and this caused Olds to split away and form the Reo Company in 1904. The Reo was sold new at $695.00. The Olds name associated with a make of car in those days meant a definite advantage over the competitors. By 1907, Reo was the third largest producer of automobiles, after Ford and Buick, in America and Oldsmobile was near bankruptcy. William C. Durant put together the automotive General Motors which bought the ailing Oldsmobile Company saving it from certain demise.
The single-cylinder Reo had wheel steering rather than tiller, a folding rear seat that could be detached, and a hood over the water and gas tanks, and the radiator. Full elliptical springs and battery ignitions were standard equipment.
Mr. Olds was a skilled promoter and staged many colorful stunts to promote sales. The Reo Company had its own band and was known to have Satuday concerts and parades to bring attention to the cars. A famous photograph exists of Theodore Roosevelt in a Reo on one of his first public automobile rides.
Mr. Pettit acquired this Reo in the late 1940s in sound original condition. Today the paint and leather upholstery seem to be the factory original and they are in the condition one would expect from an untouched 1906 automobile. Reo's are frequent entrants for the popular One and Two Cylinder tours as well as HCCA and VMCCA touring events.
WITHOUT RESERVE
Chassis No. 5104
Engine No. 5110
Dark green with black leather interior
Engine: one cylinder, 8hp, Suspension: full elliptic leaf springs front and rear; Brakes: two wheel drum. Right hand drive.
The Reo automobile, marketed as 'always up to date', got its name from the company founding father, Ransom Eli Olds. The diminutive one-cylinder runabout was conceived and designed because Mr. Olds preferred to produce an inexpensive, dependable automobile that the average man could afford. Olds split with the Oldsmobile Company late in 1903, sold his interest in 1904, and within the same year was producing his affordable dream car. As new automobile companies were entering the manufacturing business quickly in those early days, Oldsmobile already enjoyed a longer history than most; the Oldsmobile Company had produced a steam car as early as 1897. In 1903, Oldsmobile was the highest producer of automobiles in the United States.
There was a difference of opinion between Frederick Smith of Oldsmobile and Ransom E. Olds. Smith, and the board of directors of Oldsmobile wanted to move toward producing bigger and more expensive cars, and this caused Olds to split away and form the Reo Company in 1904. The Reo was sold new at $695.00. The Olds name associated with a make of car in those days meant a definite advantage over the competitors. By 1907, Reo was the third largest producer of automobiles, after Ford and Buick, in America and Oldsmobile was near bankruptcy. William C. Durant put together the automotive General Motors which bought the ailing Oldsmobile Company saving it from certain demise.
The single-cylinder Reo had wheel steering rather than tiller, a folding rear seat that could be detached, and a hood over the water and gas tanks, and the radiator. Full elliptical springs and battery ignitions were standard equipment.
Mr. Olds was a skilled promoter and staged many colorful stunts to promote sales. The Reo Company had its own band and was known to have Satuday concerts and parades to bring attention to the cars. A famous photograph exists of Theodore Roosevelt in a Reo on one of his first public automobile rides.
Mr. Pettit acquired this Reo in the late 1940s in sound original condition. Today the paint and leather upholstery seem to be the factory original and they are in the condition one would expect from an untouched 1906 automobile. Reo's are frequent entrants for the popular One and Two Cylinder tours as well as HCCA and VMCCA touring events.
WITHOUT RESERVE
Sale room notice
Please note that the title gives the year as 1904, although we believe the car to be dated correctly in the catalogue as 1906.