1915 REO Speed Wagon Special
Automotive pioneer Ransom E. Olds founded the REO Motor Car Company in 1905 after leaving Oldsmobile, establishing a brand that would become renowned for its durable and well-engineered vehicles.
Introduced in 1915, the REO Speed Wagon was originally designed as a light-duty chassis capable of higher road speeds than most trucks of its day.
This particular first-year Speed Wagon was discovered in 2015 missing its original body but retaining its engine, transmission, and suspension. The Creative Workshop of Dania Beach, Florida, undertook a remarkable custom build inspired by Brass Era coachbuilding traditions.
The restored chassis received thoughtful modern upgrades, including a chassis lubrication system, while craftsmen hand-formed aluminum panels over a wood frame to recreate a unique open touring body from scratch.
Diamond-tufted leather upholstery and acetylene headlamps completed the period-correct transformation. Finished in spring 2017, this special creation showcases vintage coachbuilding artistry applied to one of America’s pioneering early commercial chassis.
Power came from a 27-horsepower, external-valve four-cylinder engine paired with a three-speed manual transmission. REO’s engineering quality and construction quickly earned the company a strong reputation in both the passenger and commercial markets (one that endured for decades).
Many years later, the rock band REO Speedwagon took its name after founding member Neal Doughty saw “REO Speed Wagon” written on a blackboard during a transportation history class.
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