I found this car for sale and it looks to be in good shape. It doesn't have much rust, but the paint is crappy and there is some fiberglass work on the roof. I don't much about the car, but it does run and go forward and reverse. It needs brake work before it is streetable and the tires are dry-rotted. The interior looks like it was replaced somewhere down the road, and the electric was converted to what looks like 12 volt... I should be able to get it somewhere around $5k-$6K. Is it worth it? I'm not sure if I want to take on the project so if I decide not to, can I resell it and get my money back? Pictures are attached.
Looks like a six cylinder. Royales had a straight eight. Big difference in value between a Royale and a Flying Cloud. $6k doesn't sound like too much money for a driver that you would enjoy, but don't expect to make a lot of money flipping it. Did they fill the roof with fiberglass or does it still have a fabric insert? If there is rotten wood in the body that needs to be fixed right, a superficial repair like the roof could turn into a can of worms. That is what happened to the '33 Franklin Olympic (REO with a Franklin engine) dad saved from an overwhelmed previous owner. It looked fairly solid before dissasembly, but once torn down to address all the wood, there wasn't much left. It's getting a new life now. The whole story is at http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=799746&highlight=speedwagon&showall=1
Boy, I feel like I time traveled back to 1985 with that interior. The problem with rare cars like a Reo is guys who really dig them are also rare. That makes resale a hassle. The price is probably about right.
I bought a 1930 (?) Reo sedan about 10 years ago that had almost a perfect body and 95% of original parts and interior. I thought it would definitely be desirable for someone interested in restoration of Reo's. I tried selling it on Craigslist, Pomona swap meet, and ultimately Ebay. There is just not that much interest in the old Reo's. Pretty cool car, but I was lucky to get my money out of it when someone bought it and had it shipped to Chicago. You may be luckier than me, but I only paid $1000 for it.
There is A LOT of interest in the early REO's, circa 1910, but as has been stated not so much when it comes to these later ones unless it is a really sporty body like a roadster.
I saw that car on Tampa Craigslist. I like it. If I weren't knee deep in this Hudson I'd buy it but I'd buy it to build and keep not to flip. I'm not sure you can get much more than the asking price on a flip.
I'm pretty sure that is flying Cloud and not a Royale. The dash looks the same as this '36 Speed Wagon truck, which uses Flying Cloud sheetmetal.
seats look like they are from a chrysler new yorker, early 80's maybe don't expect to make too much flippin it, but maybe just tinker with and enjoy drivin it for a while. jus my 2c
All Reo Royales are CCCA Full Classics and are worth quite a bit. As stated that is a plain jane Flying Cloud
I realize this thread is a few months old, but I think that might be an early 1935 Royale. I believe by 1935 the 8 cylinder was off the list of options and the Royale was nothing more than a trim package. Note the hood side panels and the three little chrome strips on the rear fenders. Those aren't normal for a 35 Flying cloud. The 34 FC and 35FC had large vent doors on the side of the hood. I've had a 1934 Flying Cloud and an early 35 Flying cloud and those two cars looked identical except the 34 FC had large pressed steel water jacket covers on the engine and the 35 FC had normal freeze plugs instead. The late 1935 FC looked pretty much like the rounded 1936 REO, the final year of the REO car. Also, the hood ornament is a give away. 1934 has no hood ornament. The 1935 Flying Cloud ornament is a ring with a zeppelin flying though it and the 35 Royale has the same basic ornament, except instead of a zeppelin, it has a crown in the ring. I can see the crown in the hood ornament. One more thing is the small badge at the front of the hood louvers that has the word ROYALE pressed into it. I'm pretty sure this car is a Royale. It just isn't the full classic that the 1933 and down Royales were.
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