Reo 
the 
Fifth---$1,055 
It Took 25 Years to Build It 
By R. E. Olds, Designer 
years in 
Reo the 
I have spent 25 
building automobiles. 
Fifth is my 24th model 
I have watched every im. 
provement, all the world over, 
from the very start of this 
industry. 
I have had actual experience 
with tens of thousands of cars, 
under every condition that 
motorists meet. 
All I have learned in those 
25 years is embodied in this 
ear. And I know of no other 
engineer in the business who 
builds cars as I build this. 
My Precautions 
What I mean is this: 
The need for infinite care, 
for utter exactness, for big 
margins of safety is taught 
by experience only. 
Countless things which 
theory approves are by use 
proved insufficient. 
Splendid cars fall down on 
little points. The maker 
corrects them. Then some- 
thing else shows unexpected 
shortcomings, 
Perfection is reached only 
through endless improvements. 
It comes only with years of 
experience. Were I buying a 
car I would want it built by 
the oldest man in the busi- 
ness, 
For Example 
All the. steel I use is ana- 
lyzed, so I know its exact al- 
loy. 
The gears are tested in a 
crushing machine with 50 tons’ 
R. M. Owen & Co. 
30-35 
Horsepower 
Wheel Base— 
112 inches 
Wheels— 
34 inches 
Demountable 
Rims 
Speed— 
45 Miles per 
Hour 
Made with 2, 
4 and 5 Pas- 
senger Bodies 
capacity. Thus I know to 
exactness what each gear will 
stand. I used to test them, as 
others do, with a hammer. 
I use Nickel Steel for the 
axles and driving shaft, and 
make them much larger than 
necessary. These parts can’t 
be too strong. 
I use Vanadium Steel for con- 
nections. 
One after another I have cut 
out ball bearings, because they 
don’t stand the test. I use 
roller bearings—Timken and 
Hyatt High Duty. There are 
only three ball bearings in this 
whole car, and two are in the 
fan, 
I test my magneto under 
tremendous compression, and 
for ten hours at a time. My 
carburetor is doubly heated— 
with hot air and hot water. 
Half the trouble comes from 
low grade gasoline, and this 
double heating avoids them. 
I insist on utter exactness, a 
thousand inspections, tests of 
every part. Asa result, errors 
don’t develop when the car 
gets on the road. 
Costly Care 
I give to the body the same 
care as the chassis, for men 
like impressive cars. 
The body is finished in 17 
coats. The upholstering is 
deep. It is made of genuine 
leather and filled with hair. 
The lamps are enameled. 
Even the engine is nickel 
trimmed. I finish each car 
like a show car. 
General Sales 
Agents for 
The wheels are large, the 
car is over-tired. The wheel 
base is long, the tonneau is 
roomy, there is plenty of room 
for the driver’s feet. 
All the petty economies, 
which are so common, are 
avoided in Reo the Fifth. 
My Level Best 
This car embodies the best 
I know. It is built, above all, 
to justify men’s faith in my de- 
signing. 
Not one detail has been 
stinted. Not one could be im- 
proved by me if the car was 
to sell for $2,000. 
Reo the Fifth marks my 
limit. I will yield my place 
as the dean of designers ‘to 
a man who can build a car 
better. 
Center Control 
No Side Levers 
In this car I bring out my 
new center control. All the 
gear shifting is done by mov- 
ing this handle less than three 
inches in each of four direc- 
tions. 
There are no side levers, so 
the entrance in front is clear. 
Both brakes are operated by 
foot pedals, one of which also 
operates the clutch. 
This fact permits of the left 
side drive. The driver may 
sit, as he should: sit, close to 
the cars he passes—on the up- 
side of the *road. This was 
formerly possible in electric 
cars only. 
Canadian Factory, St. Catharines, Ontario 
ic 
The Little Price 
The initial price on this car 
has been fixed at $1,055. But 
our contracts with dealers pro- 
vide for instant advance. 
This price, in the long run, 
I regard as impossible. It is 
based on maximum output, on 
minimum ‘cost for materials. 
We have a model factory, 
splendidly equipped. Our out- 
put is enormous. We have 
spent many years in ‘cutting 
cost of production. And this 
year we save about 20 per 
cent by building only one 
chassis,in this great plant. 
We can.undersell others, and 
always will. But the present 
price is too low under. aver- 
age conditions: I am sure it 
must. be advanced, and those 
who delay must expect it. 
This car will never be 
skimped, while I build it; to 
keep within an altruistic price. 
You Can See It 
In a Thousand Towns 
We have dealers in a thou- 
sand towns.. When you write 
us for catalog we will tell you 
the nearest. 
Write to-day for this book. 
It pictures the various up-to- 
date bodies, and shows all the 
interesting, facts. The Road- 
ster type’sells for $1,000. 
Never was.a car in: all my 
experience made so welcome 
as Reo:the Fifth. Men miss a 
treat who fail to see this car 
Address ..» 
Reo Motor Car Co., Lani Mich. 
Reo the Fifth 
Top and windshield not included in price. We equip this car with mohair top, side curtains and slip-cover, 
windshield, gas tank and speedometer—all for $100 extra. 
Self-starter, if wanted, $20.00 extra. 
