Jump to content

Reo Royale


alsancle

Recommended Posts

The wheels on the car are 17 inch chrome with the correct hubcaps.  I have a set of the correct 18 inch wheels and have not decided which variation of chrome/paint to do.  At the rate the car is burning money I may leave the 17 inch chrome wheels on for a while with the existing tires. The whitewalls will bother me though.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Here is an 8-35 taken in Sweden in 1935.

Einar Beyron siting at side of car while Brita Hertzberg inside of car. Einar Oscar Beyron , born 24 February 1901 in Malmo , died 26 March 1979 in Stockholm , was a Swedish opera singer ( tenor ), COURT SINGER , song lyricist and theater director . He was the brother of Henry Beyron . Olga Brita Lovisa Hertzberg Beyron born Hertzberg 19 October 1901 in Norrkoping , death 17 november 1976 in Stockholm , [ 1 ] was a Swedish opera singer ( soprano ) and actor. man,woman,people,car,siting,together,1935,

 

ReoRoyaleInSwedenWeb.jpg

Edited by alsancle (see edit history)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A Victoria with older restoration and great history went to auction yesterday.  Estimate was 90k-110k.  I do not think it sold.

 


www.silverstoneauctions.com/reo-royale-sport-victoria-coupe

Chassis Number: 2448
Engine Number: 3673

Set up by American motor industry entrepreneur, Ransom E. Olds-who went on to form a number of companies in the automobile industry, the REO Motor Car Company was based in Michigan and produced cars and lorries from 1905 until 1975. In 1897, Olds had founded the Olds Motor Vehicle Company, which later, as Oldsmobile, became part of General Motors, however Olds had left by 1905 and set up REO. which, within two years had gross sales of $4.5 million making it one of the four wealthiest motorcar manufacturers in the U.S.

The REO 'Royale' was a bit of a trendsetter, with its pioneering use of streamlining, and introduced design elements that were frequently imitated on later models from other manufacturers. Beverly Kimes, the editor of the 'Standard Catalogue of American Cars', described the Royale as "the most fabulous REO of all". In addition to its dramatic coachwork, penned by Amos Northup of Murray Design, the Royale also provided buyers with a 125 hp straight-eight with a nine bearing crankshaft, one shot lubrication, and thermostatically controlled radiator shutters. The 8-cylinder model was sold until 1933 with minor updates

One of the finest examples still in existence this car, an REO 'Royale Victoria Coupé', has a fascinating Danish provenance. Imported to Denmark on the 14th April 1931 by its first owner, the German Consul Ludvig Wohlert, this distinctive car was to remain with him right through the war up until 1946. Under German occupation during the Second World War, Denmark was unique in retaining the King as Head of State, although King Christian was proudly defiant and often sought to upset Adolf Hitler in official correspondence. According to our vendor, the family Wohlert had close ties and a long-lasting friendship with the Danish Royal Family, and the car was used and driven by King Christian the Tenth, who was famous for his love of American luxury cars and once owned a Cadillac, when the royal family stayed at Marselisborg Palace in Aarhus, the location for this very auction. The Royale's second owner was Danish director Axel M. Jensen from Aarhus who looked after it until the mid-1960s.

Our vendor, a distinguished Danish collector, took over the custodianship in 1981 and set upon a period of restoration works over the next five years. This particular car is fitted with a substantial 5.9-litre engine producing 125 horsepower, an automatic chassis lubricator, hydraulic brakes, a three-speed manual transmission, Ross steering gear, and a chrome luggage rack. It's one of only four Royale Sport Victoria Coupés believed left in Europe and is in good, running condition, having been regularly maintained, and our vendor states that "It's a delight to drive".
 

VictoriaInEurope.jpg

image-thumb6.jpg

image-thumb5.jpg

image-thumb4.jpg

image-thumb3.jpg

image-thumb.jpg

image-thumb2.jpg

image-thumb0.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...
On ‎14‎/‎06‎/‎2016 at 10:46 PM, West Peterson said:

The semaphores look as though they were added at a later date.

I doubt that. 

 

Semaphores have been in use in Europe since the early 1930's and were probably installed by the European Reo distributor upon delivery.  On a American imports especially, they would have an 'add on' appearance as there was no factory provision within the body for them.

 

Craig

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...

Unlike the GM's Hydramatic, it was not an 'automatic transmission'; but a manual transmission with a mechanical device that shifted it and worked the clutch at the same time on demand.  Of all the independents, Reo was probably the most advanced with the concept, but Hudson, and even Duesenberg were working on perfecting it.  Even after the Hydramatic came out in late 1939, Studebaker and Lincoln both had abortive attempts self-shifting overdrive transmissions mated to a torque converter in 1942, with their Turbo-matic and Liquamatic transmissions. 

 

The 'self-shifting' manual transmission has come full-circle since Ferrari introduced its 'F1' transmission which uses straight sequential shift pattern, sophisticated interactive electronic engine & road speed management, and extremely fast hydraulic operation to perform shifting actions far faster than any driver can.  (.03 seconds).  And others, including BMW, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, Lamborghini, et al, all have self-shifting manual transmissions having its origins going back to the Reo self-shifter in concept and design on the market  as well.  Also, big rigs and buses have offered Eaton-Fuller 'Auto-shift', ZF (Zahnradfrabrik-Friedrichshafen) 'AS-tronic' self-shifters for a number of years now.  What is old is new again!!

 

Craig

Edited by 8E45E (see edit history)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A fully rebuilt Royale straight 8 ready for installation.  This engine has the optional case 4 speed transmission attached.  The Royale engine came factory with chrome touches in the engine compartment.   This one is still waiting for the stainless "Reo Royale" script water jacket cover to be installed (new ones are being stamped).

 

358 CI 125HP.  The block is chrome nickel so the smooth finish is the way it comes.

IMG_2401.JPG

IMG_2400.JPG

IMG_2399.JPG

IMG_2398.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...