{{Short description|Light motor truck}} {{for|the band|REO Speedwagon}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}} thumb|right|Badge from a REO Speed Wagon Fire Truck thumb|right|A REO Speed Wagon, from a 1917 advertisement [[Image:REO Speedwagon Fire Truck.jpg|thumb|right|A REO Speed Wagon Fire Truck at Jack Daniel's Distillery, Lynchburg, Tennessee]] thumb|1929 REO Speedwagon EX REO at the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum. 6 cylinder Flathead "Gold Comet", 4-speed transmission, Top speed of 35 MPH thumb|REO Speed Wagon Truck 1939 [[Image:1948 REO SpeedWagon.jpg|thumb|1948, 2 1/2 ton REO Speed Wagon truck used to haul grain on the Camas Prairie, Idaho circa 1953]]

The '''REO Speed Wagon''' (alternatively '''Reo Speedwagon''') was a light motor truck model manufactured by REO Motor Car Company. It is an ancestor of the pickup truck.

First introduced in 1915, production continued through at least 1953, and made REO (the initials of its founder, Ransom Eli Olds) one of the better-known manufacturers of commercial vehicles in America prior to World War II.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hotrod.com/articles/tailgate-1935-reo-speedwagon-bus/ |title= Tailgate - 1935 REO Speedwagon Bus |language=en |last= Lorek |first= Ken |date=2015-06-24 |website=hotrod.com |access-date=2023-11-17}}</ref> Although the basic design and styling of the chassis remained consistent, the Speed Wagon was manufactured in a variety of configurations (pickup and panel truck, passenger bus) to serve as delivery, tow, dump, and fire trucks, as well as hearses and ambulances. Other manufacturers<ref name="reo_chassis">{{cite journal|title=Standard Body for Reo Chassis|journal=Bus Transportation|date=December 1922|volume=1|issue=12|pages=655|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HFLmAAAAMAAJ&q=%22reo+speed%22++passenger&pg=PA655|accessdate=22 March 2011}}</ref> provided refits for adapting the Speed Wagon for specialized purposes.<ref name=estrella_1929_camper /><ref> 1915 police patrol wagon {{cite web|title=Departments Police History|url=http://www.cityblm.org/page.asp?show=section&id=2859&menuid=2859|publisher=City of Bloomington, Illinois|accessdate=22 March 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040229004241/http://www.cityblm.org/page.asp?show=section&id=2859&menuid=2859|archivedate=29 February 2004}}</ref> The Speed Wagon used REO's "Gold Crown" series of engines, and was well regarded for power, durability, and quality.<ref>{{cite web|last=Liptrap |first=Jim |title=REO Motor Car Company|url=http://jliptrap.us/Reo.htm|accessdate=22 March 2011}}</ref>

While REO produced some wagons based on its automobile chassis (the Model H) starting in 1908 and had organized a division to produce trucks in 1910 with success, the Speed Wagon's introduction in 1915 was a significant step and a sales success. The company was soon offering a variety of Speed Wagon models with many options, and by 1925 had produced 125,000.<ref name=diesel_power>{{cite journal|last=Senefsky|first=Bill|title=REO Speedwagon - The World's First Pickup|journal=Diesel Power|date=May 2009|url=http://www.dieselpowermag.com/features/0905dp_reo_speedwagon/index.html}}</ref>

After years of roughly equal car and truck emphasis, REO shifted its focus completely to trucks, ending automobile production in 1936. Production for the civilian market was suspended during World War II, resuming in 1946.{{cn|date=September 2015}} In 1967, Diamond T and Reo Trucks were combined to form the Diamond Reo Trucks Division of the White Motor Corporation.

The rock and roll quintet REO Speedwagon took its name from this vehicle.<ref>{{cite web|title=Review of 'Ladies And Gentlemen, Please Welcome…'|url=http://www.filmthreat.com/reviews/5012/|website=Film Threat|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922072516/http://www.filmthreat.com/reviews/5012/|archive-date=22 September 2012}}</ref> The name was later used for a main character in ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure''.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Allen | last1=Verbrugge | first2= Jody | last2= Sowell|title=Ladies and Gentlemen, Please Welcome…|year=2002}}</ref>

== Models == * The 1915 model featured 1-ton weight capacity, four-cylinder engine, and three-speed transmission and aimed to be faster than the {{cvt|10|-|15|mph}} average speed of contemporary trucks.<ref name="hsw_1933_model_bn" /> *The 1917 model featured 3.25-ton capacity, had canvas top and sides, and cost $1125.<ref name=timebinder_1917>{{cite web|title=REO Speed Wagon (The Vehicle)|url=http://timebinder.net/home/2009/8/25/reo-speed-wagon-the-vehicle.html|publisher=Timebinder|accessdate=22 March 2011}}</ref> *The 1925 model featured a six-cylinder engine. *The 1929 model featured REO's "Gold Crown" {{cvt|268|cuin|L|1}}, {{convert|67|hp|kW}}, six-cylinder engine.<ref name=estrella_1929_camper>{{cite web|title=1929 REO Speed Wagon Camper|url=http://www.ewarbirds.org/automotive/1929reo.html|work=Woodland Family Automobile Collection|publisher=Estrella WarBirds Museum|accessdate=22 March 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101209172414/http://ewarbirds.org/automotive/1929reo.html|archivedate=9 December 2010}}</ref> *The 1933 Model BN <ref name=hsw_1933_model_bn>{{cite web|title=1933 Reo Speedwagon Model BN|date=October 17, 2007 |url=http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1933-reo-speedwagon-model-bn.htm|publisher=howstuffworks|accessdate=22 March 2011}}</ref> featured REO's six-cylinder "Gold Crown" engine and combination of parts from the company's Flying Cloud and Royale luxury cars. It is a rare, relatively fast panel delivery truck with a wooden body.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * [http://www.ewarbirds.org/automotive/1929reo.shtml Reo Speed Wagon Camper on display at Woodland Auto Display, Paso Robles, CA] * [http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2771/4288514783_bffe9dc0d5_o.jpg montage of light delivery trucks including early model Reo Speed Wagon] * [https://www.flickr.com/photos/snowleopard34/4429620413/ 1924 Speed Wagon print advertisement] * [https://www.flickr.com/photos/autohistorian/4569374744/ 1925 Speed Wagon print advertisement] * [http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1155285438056766895BktRpW 1928 Reo Speed Wagon print advertisement from Finland] emphasizing the advantages of truck engines used in the Speed Wagon over engines from passenger cars. * [https://www.flickr.com/photos/22283683@N07/4332386670/ 1936 REO Speedwagon print advertisement] * [https://iowa80truckingmuseum.com/exhibits/trucks-on-display Iowa 80 Trucking Museum]

Category:Pickup trucks Category:Vehicles built in Lansing, Michigan Category:Cars of the United States