Introductions

A. J., thanks for taking the plunge and being the first to post. Later today when I have fortification ( J. L. by my side) I will post my introduction

I am Mark Gregory from Ontario , Canada . At 64 years old I have been in the family construction business my whole life . I started to love old cars after my grand parents spoke to me about their 1931 Reo Flying Cloud when I was very young . He described the beautiful interior and styling . I did own a 1926 Reo T6 sedan many years back . I too was fortunate to purchase from Bill Barker a Reo Royale Victoria 8 - 31 . I am very happy that John Phillips has organized this forum .

I am Victor Milke, from Querétaro, Mexico. 48, and I got my first old car, a 1947 Packard limo, at 18. For a while, it was my daily driver, with a 1941 Continental... I had to sell my everyday car to get this last one. 30 years fast forward, and I have now too many cars, and I feel better by not counting them... really, I don't know how many. A few are well restored cars and many are projects in different conditions. My most recent one is a 1931 8-35 Victoria, completely dissasembled and missing lots of parts. Essentially, a basket case, with the Wood in the body already done and the main components mostly there. Luckily, through Mark I met John, and he got me a set of correct wheels, a few parts (even lent me a few to copy) and in a few words, introduced me to Royale world. My Victoria will take several years to complete, but I am very enthusiastic with the idea, as I consider Royales one of the nicest designs of the classic era.

Welcome Brian to the Royale Forum . I will contact you about your 8 - 31 . I have a lot of technical questions you might be able to answer about my 8 - 31 . Thanks , Mark Gregory

Hi, I'm Steve Kelley, primarily an automotive historian with a special interest in independent makes, custom coachbuilders and automotive design. While not a REO Club member or REO owner, REO's have been one make among many that have interested me since being bitten hard by the old car bug in 1964 at twelve years old.

I'm also an automotive artist and belated coach-built custom body designer.....meaning I develop and rendering Classic era design variations that please my taste. Some have appeared in The Classic Car in the Winter 2010 issue. As an example of what I like to create, since no pictures of the 8-48 convertible sedan have been found, I might create just such a design based on what we know about the convertible Victoria, carefully keeping the details within the context of its time.

Hi Steve, Welcome! It is interesting that not a single picture of the convertible sedan exists. I guess that is not too implausible since only a drawing of the Dietrich sedan is known.

Hi John

I have modeled in clay years ago, but concentrate my efforts on design and watercolor rendering for now.

Steve

Welcome David. Keep us posted on your search. The red sedan might not be a bad deal but as Kirk pointed out the low res pictures show some issues. Still if it is running and driving and not a rot box it might not be a bad deal. Also you should consider joining the REO club as that would be a great resource for finding a car.

A.J.

David , If the wood is solid that is half the battle . There is not many 8 - 31 around . Welcome to the Forum . Mark Gregory

Welcome Juha,

I think you posted over on the AACA forum with pictures of the body. This would be a massive but worthwhile project since the car has a history in your country. As you probably know there are very few of the long wheelbase cars known to exist. However, I believe that mechanically they were identical to the 8-35 with the exception of the lengthened frame. If you were to purchase a complete but rough 8-35 you could extend the chassis for the long wheelbase body. There is a rough but complete 8-35 for sale in California that you could consider.

Hi Juha , Welcome to the Forum . I emailed you a few years ago stating I used to own 1926 Reo T6 sedan also . They are very dependable cars . I now own a 1931 Royale in many pieces . Here is the place for your friend to get some help . I remember someone had some fenders or extra parts in Australia for you ? If you are the same person .

Hi Bill,

Thanks for handling the rubber! I will hopefully be putting it on my car in the not too distant future. The coupes are tres rare so please post a couple of pictures for us.

A.J.

Cool! Thanks for posting the pictures.

Bill beautiful car thank you sharing the pictures . Mark Gregory

Gorgeous car, Bill, congratulations! I consider the Royale coupe the most beautiful body style of them all.

victor

Welcome Joel to the Forum with all your Reo knowledge . That is a sharp looking Reo in your avatar . Mark

Welcome, Joel! IT will sure be good to have somebody with so much Reo experience and contacts around in the forum.
Victor

Hello Mike ,

Glad to have you part of the Royale group . I own a 8 - 31 Victoria in many pieces and I am working on restoring the car . My email is nautical@cogeco.ca

Thanks , Mark in Canada

Welcome Mike, and also welcome Harley! Good to have a growing Royale comunity!

victor

"Introduction for Dave & Kim Marshall

We are both originally from PA and worked in the Airplane Industry before retiring here in KS.

Looking for something we could do together with the kids, we found a barn find Ford Model T, not running, empty of water, gas, air & oil, full of mice & covered in Owl dung, on a trip to the Mall of America back in the 90’s. The farmer needed “cash money” for irrigation tile, and a deal was struck.

Subsequently we got wind of some “old REO’s” for sale from a 90 + retiring Owner, that didn’t run and hadn’t run for some time, but “were all there”. The catch we later found out was the owner insisted they had to stay together, instant fleet ! We figured they would be a good multi-year project. At the time we didn’t know anything about REO cars or the Club, but it was apparent that the cars were solid.

Fast forward we got the REO’s home, and one by one got them running. As many of you know in this hobby, much is learned through word of mouth; contacts, sources, how-to do things etc. For us, just seeing another REO was and still is a great event, another chance to crawl under, look over, or peak under the hood.

And so the REO Club has been the most valuable resource, and fun too. The meets provide us an opportunity to pal around fellow enthusiasts and to see and hear first-hand, how these cars are supposed to look and run, and the “model experts” are invaluable to talk to for how-to and who to call etc.

Now as history repeats, we got a call a few weeks ago from a stranger asking if I knew anything about a ""REO Royal""; (yes I know its Royale :)

Seems this Hot-rodder picked up a 31 Royale Sedan at a local auction, and after looking it over felt guilty about chopping it up, and wanted to know if I'd like to have it...:) The car is mostly all there but has been sitting over 20 years, it doesn't run, brakes don't work, paint is bad etc, but its not stuck.

We are just starting to dig into it, and don't have any manuals or experience with this model, so we will have lots of questions !

Your assistance and thoughts will be appreciated.

We look forward to seeing you in Traverse City !

Best Regards

Kim & Dave Marshall

Wichita, KS.
"

Welcome Dave and Kim . Any chance of getting a few pictures of your Royale Sedan sent out or posting them under the Royale Sedan section ? It is always amazing how these Royale's keep surfacing . Mark

Welcome Dave and Kim. Nice to know that someone had a conscious. Why anyone would turn a 4 door sedan in to hot rod is beyond me.

Thanks!

Welcome, Dave and Kim! It seems you certainly know your ways around old cars and Reo's in particular, but if I can be of any help with pictures (of which I have a lot) or information, please feel free to ask for it.

victor

Welcome Beecher to our Forum . Royale's are hard to find I think in all of Canada there is about six Royale's we know about . Three in Ontario , two in Alberta and one in British Columbia . A few years ago there was a fellow in Tennessee who had one he started to hot rod there was not much of the original car left . Here is the contact information . All the best in your search . Mark

1931 Reo Royale - $19,000 - RogersvilleTN - REO: 1931 Royale Victoria coupe, Fatman, 9 in, all steel, tilt, $30,000 spent, first $22,000 takes; no fenders. 423-272-9788, TN. <...>

Welcome Carl !
Dave

This is Carl's Royale. I'll add it to the convertible coupe thread also.

Welcome Carl! Gorgeous convertible, and given its very original condition, it will surely be a reference for the Royale world.
Victor