Les wrote:
>Questions from a newbie-
>
>1. What does the "REO" stand for when talking about the M35?
REO = Ransom E. Olds. The Olds in Oldsmobile. After Ransom Olds
Oldsmobile company was merged with General Motors he produced a line of
trucks. He could not use his Olds name so he used his initials REO.
(properly pronounced "are e oh", but now bastardized to sound like "re
oh").
REO Motors (of Lansing, Michigan) produced some trucks in WW II of
the Studebaker design. After the war the Army needed updated 6x6 trucks.
Reo designed the M-34/35 series of 2 1/2 ton trucks which went into
production at the same time as the GMC M-135/211 series (circa 1952).
When we collectors speak of post war 6x6 trucks we use the terms GMC
for the M-135/211 and "REO" for the M-34/35 series. This term applies
even though several others (Kaiser, Studebaker, Curtiss-Wright) produced
the same "style" of body.
Jim Gilmore MVPA # 5843
Member Ist Michigan AOD Chapter MVPA
Great Lakes Chapter MVPA
Ohio Motor Pool Chapter MVPA
Red Ball Chapter MVPA
Ontario Military Vehicle Association
Midwest Military Vehicle Assocation
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