1932 REO Royale

It's all in upper-case letters because the manufacturer, REO, stands for the initials of its founder, Ransom Eli Olds, who'd already left his first, historic namesake car company. Olds moved across town in Lansing, Michigan, and founded REO in 1905. The firm lasted barely 30 years in the car business (but continued to make heavy trucks through 1975), but while it endured, what a party. REO cars were highly distinctive and awash in luxury. Enthusiasts today consider the REO Royale, like this 1932 model, to be among the best of the bunch.

The first Royale made its debut just in time for the Depression, in late 1930, as a 1931 model, available as a four-door sedan, Victoria or a rumble-seat coupe. And look at the photos of the car. It looked good. For that happy reality, we can thank the gifted Amos E. Northup, the chief designer for the Murray Corporation of America, which built bodywork for both the Royale and the REO Flying Cloud. Northup's assistant on the Royale project was Julio Andrade. Their work was forward looking enough to warrant a pair of U.S. patents for the Royale's look: one for the frontal combination of the car's fenders, radiator shell and hood, while the other covered the rearmost metal panels of the body along with its integral lower apron. There was more: To maintain its lines, the Royale was designed without an external sun visor and with profoundly rolled fender tips. Very unusual for 1932, you'll be hard-pressed to spot a sharp or squared angle anywhere you look at the Royale.

Like any number of other manufacturers, REO brought its handsome luxury cruiser into the market at precisely the wrong time. We can speculate now that REO--along with Duesenberg, Franklin, Marmon and Cadillac--was banking on the belief that the economic downturn would be sharp, but short. Within two years, however, REO had lost more than $5 million, in addition to the estimated $6 million in capital outlay that it had already spent to develop the Royale. By 1936, REO was done building cars for good. A shame, that, because the Royale now enjoys Full Classic status from the Classic Car Club of America.

A leading REO engineer named Frank Pearson added two cylinders to the existing Flying Cloud L-head straight-six, creating a straight-eight that displaced 357.8 cubic inches, an impressive powerplant whose crankshaft ran in nine main bearings. So robust was the engine, in fact, that it ended up powering one race car at the 1931 Indianapolis 500 during its stock-formula days, ringing up a qualifying average in excess of 106 MPH in the hands of driver Cliff Bergere, an impressive number for the day. Another REO engineering fillip was the use of a "silent second" gear in its transmission (three-speed standard, four-speed optional). REO's was a constant-mesh transmission that was unique in its use of "herringbone" gears to largely eliminate the constant second-gear whine that most cars generated when motoring around town. Buyers also appreciated its increased ease of shifting.

The REO Royale developed a well-deserved reputation for silence, smoothness and silky comfort, even to the extent of using goose down in its upholstery. The economy killed it, which is regrettable, but this was an American luxury classic that clearly deserved to succeed.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine 357.8-cu.in. L-head straight-eight

Horsepower 125 @ 3,300 RPM

Compression ratio 5.3:1

Transmission Three-speed manual, freewheeling

Rear axle Hypoid, Hotchkiss drive

Wheels & tires Nipple spokes, demountable rims, 6.50 x 18 bias-ply

Wheelbase 135 inches

Track width 59 inches front; 60 inches rear

Weight 4,540 pounds

Total production 3,908 (total REO 1932)

Price new $2,445

2016 equivalent $45,000