Does anyone know anything about these cars? I located one. 1 grand would buy it possibly 800? The car is in piss poor shape. Anything that could be unbolted was, and probably mis-placed. Gl*** is all missing. Suicide 4 door, probably wouldn't even try to get the 6 cyl going. Needs a lot of tinkering I'm sure. If any one can tell me if this is a deal, please post.
Not a bad looking car. I love the name the best! Missing parts would either be impossible to find or expensive to buy. I'd say nope.
Probably a rare car...I've never seen one anywhere and I go to a lot of car events...do you have pics of it? If the gl*** is all flat...then its easy to replace..if the body is decent that's all you need. Most everyone will remove most of the chrome trim, put in a new late model SBC and ******, replace the front suspension and rear end and completely re-do the interior...then what's the problem with the price. $800 is cheap these days...and it all depends on what you can do to build a rod... R-
Jason, not to highjack your thread, but I noticed you live in the great Capital City also. Checked you webpage and see that your from Holton, I've got a lot of good friends up that way via an old marriage. As for the car, I'm clueless, though that could make a killer looking ride. Farmall
why cut it up just because its local and cheap? Its a rare car, so why not buy it cheap sell it back to the restorers and use the profit to buy what you really want......
I suppose if I can get the wife to agree. I'd buy it and put it in storage for a while, at lease until I get my garage built.... I'm going to look at it tonight, if the guy is home. Maybe snap a couple pics of it?
Fella's, It's got a new owner! I bought it tonight. It's in far better shape that I imagined. The guy said he drove it in the garage back in '87 or so. There is a chance it might run again. When I drag it home, I'll snap some pics.
So how many body parts are long gone, as in not there? Finding doors for a Plymouth coupe is expensive and hard enough to do, I think looking for REO dors would be a nightmere. Gene
The (metal) body is complete. The grill looks presentable, even the hood ornimate is there and very little pitting. Interior is 80% gone. I think all the door panels and head liner could be made here at home. The wood in the headliner seems complete. The Gl*** is gone. It's flat gl***, so should not be a problem having those made. There are a couple hub caps, I'll go with chrome smoothies anyway. Both bumpers are there, rusty but there. The spedo gl*** has a crack in it. It's domed, so I'll live with that. I think all in all it's a great find. Hopefully I find enjoyment in this project! *ha*
Jason, Being the proud new owner and if you need any help on parts let me know. There is a boneyard south of KC that has been there since the early 40's that has all the rare stuff in it. I am not sure on a Reo, and I have not been out there for a year (snakes are out). But next time I am there I will ask the guy (87 years old) if he has one in the woods. And you could pick it up on a pretty good deal. Chris Nelson Kansas
Sod, I'll make a list when I get her home. I'l spend a little money trying to get it running. If she don't go, I'll start looking for a SBC. Yes, it was a killer deal. Just hope I don't go broke buying the essentials.
Cheapest way to get hot rod parts is to buy a whole rusty big old land barge. You get motor, trans, rear end, possible seats and a whole lot of other useful parts. If you buy it right, you can probably get most of your money back when you s**** it out. Been doing that for years. Gene
I picked up the ***le this evening. What a suprise to see an actual ***le with no funny buisness on it. This car was #127 out of 3206. Now the fun begins!
hi if i were you i would buy the car even if you dont do any thing with it but sell parts . good luck ! i have a nice 36 2 door sedan rod and im looking for tail light gl*** that says reo on it also chrome for running boards
My great, great grandfather was a very prominent businessman in the small town where they lived (Greenfield, Iowa), and he drove a late 30's Reo Flying Cloud, and apparently it was a big deal. My grandmother said it was pretty much the nicest car around, and everywhere he drove it he would draw a small crowd.
Hi Jason, I guess, I'm not the only crazy guy out there.I, too, bought a Reo this year in March.A 1932 Flying Cloud Reo Five Window Coupe.Mine is complete except the lower half of the windshield frame, motor , and transmission. I wasn't planning on using the motor or trans., even if it was available.I will be able to construct a frame for the windshield.Started work on it 2 weeks ago.The coupe had been in dry storage for the last 20 years, so the metal is in very good condition.Post some photos as I progress with it.Keep in touch. Ralph
Jason posted regularly until 2 of '06...since then it's been once every 2 to 6 months. He's still here.
I'd never want to restore one- my grandfather finally got all the parts for his '36 Cloud... after about 30 years of searching, mostly in the days before the internet.
F.Y.I : If you didn't know this, REO stood for Ransom E. Olds. Yes the same Olds that started "Oldsmobile". After General Motors bought into and took on Oldsmobile, GM basiclly threw R. E. Olds out on his ***! Who says corporate take-overs are new. GM made R. E. Olds sign an agreement that he could never use the word "Oldsmobile" pretaining to an automobile again. So when R. E. Olds got the boot he started a new car company he called REO.
ALSO: REO merged with Diamond T which became Diamond-Reo (or visa-versa). Diamond-Reo was then bought up by another truck manufacturer which I think was either Kenworth or Freightliner.
The REO factory here in lansing closed about 1975 my understanding is white motors got the line then my friend said frieghtliner got it. He has a 36 flying cloud. We have the REO museum here so that info can be checked easy. My friend says he has a spare grille, getting him to get off the thing "I dunno" but He can look at most of the 30's reos and tell ya who owned it if it was important. pretty knowledgeable on these cars.