1922 Reo T-6 Seven-Passenger Touring

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

The Nethercutt Collection is one of America’s finest Automotive Museums and Collections, a masterpiece comprising over 250 perfectly restored American and European motor cars, along with a vast array of rare mechanical musical instruments and precious antique furniture. 

Maintaining a classic car collection of this size is never easy, and when it reaches the scale of our collection, it becomes increasingly more challenging. Our founder, J.B. Nethercutt said the following at age 91, “The recognition and preservation of beauty has been a major focus of my life. It would suit me well if what people remembered about me was, ‘Where he went, he left beauty behind.’” 

As a result, we have decided to part ways with a small group of cars from the collection and will do so in partnership with our friends at Hagerty Marketplace. Many of the cars we have decided to sell we have owned for in excess of 50 years, or have been in storage, not on display, or represent a tremendous opportunity as a restoration project. They are a compelling mix of pre-war examples that have been thoroughly well-cared for and that will easily find new caretakers who will undoubtedly cherish and use them as intended.  

As we say goodbye to this group of cars, we hope the occasion for their sale will introduce us to new collectors and enthusiasts, and we look forward to hosting you at the Museum and Collection in Sylmar, California, in the coming months, years and decades. 

* * * 

Reo built its first automobiles in 1904, followed by trucks in 1908. The Lansing, Michigan company was founded by Ransom Eli Olds, the father of the Oldsmobile. After he left his namesake company, which became part of General Motors, Olds was forbidden by his former partners to use the name Oldsmobile, so he cleverly used his initials in naming his new venture. In 1912, Reo made motoring history when Fonce Haney and Thomas Wilby drove a Reo touring car 4,176 miles from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Vancouver, British Columbia.   

Starting in 1931, Reo introduced the luxurious Royale with coachwork designed by Amos Northup, chief body designer for Murray. The pioneering streamlined bodies were powered by a 358 cu-in, 125 hp straight eight on either a 131- or a 135-inch wheelbase featuring one-shot chassis lubrication and thermostatically controlled radiator shutters. At $2445.00, this was Reo’s most expensive car.   

By 1933 the company was in deep financial trouble and following stockholder squabbles, Olds gave up control of the company in late-1934; car production was discontinued in summer 1936 while Reo concentrated exclusively in the commercial vehicle field.    

Highlights  

• Offered from The Nethercutt Collection  

• One of 9,249 Reo cars produced for 1922 

• Seven-Passenger Touring model 

• 50 hp inline 6-cylinder engine 

• Ideal Nickel Era tour vehicle 

• Pleasing Olive Green and Black color combo 

• Solid California body car 

 Features  

• Disc wheels 

• Rear-mounted spare tire 

• Front and rear dual bumpers 

• Bakelite radiator cap 

• Black vinyl interior with rear jump seats 

• Interior courtesy lights 

• Door panel pockets 

• Wood steering wheel 

• Wood grained dash 

• Cowl lamps 

• Electric windshield wiper 

• Linoleum running boards 

• Nicely restored including top irons and convertible top 

Included  

• Vinyl top boot  

Ownership History  

William A. Eardsley, Altoona, Pennsylvania (before 1981 - 2004)  

Cameron Richards, Vice President of The Nethercutt Collection, recalls, “This Reo was another nostalgic purchase for J.B Nethercutt. After J.B’s mother passed, he moved from Indiana to Santa Monica to live with his aunt, Merle Norman, whom he learned chemistry and the industry of cosmetics directly from. Eventually, J.B would take over Merle’s cosmetic company and find great success, which later founded and funded the Nethercutt Collection. When J.B first moved to California, Merle’s daily driver was a 7-Passenger Reo. As we all know, nostalgia runs deep with automotive enthusiasts. J.B found this Reo and purchased and enjoyed it just 6 months before his passing in 2004.”  

Additional Notes  

A Broad Arrow Auctions Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the owner of this vehicle. Broad Arrow Auctions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hagerty.  

Contact: Donnie Gould    Phone: 954.647.0779     email: dgould@hagerty.com