REO Model B Runabout
A tiny one-cylinder REO that shows how experimental an American car could still feel in 1905.
1905 REO Model B Runabout · Greg Gjerdingen · CC BY 2.0
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
Ransom E. Olds formed REO after leaving Oldsmobile, and the new company began selling cars in 1905. The Model B was the small runabout beside REO's larger twin-cylinder Model A touring car. One restored survivor is identified as a 1905 by its exposed lower brake rods and the straight body edge where it meets the dashboard. That survivor also warns us to be careful: later repairs added an electric starter, a 12-volt system and replacement parts, so it cannot be treated as an untouched factory specification sheet.
Look a little closer.
The short hood did not hide the engine. On this REO design, it covered items such as the fuel tank and battery while the engine sat under the seat.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
A later Model B helps, but it is not a time machine
A documented 1906 Model B has a horizontal water-cooled single cylinder, two-speed planetary gearbox, central chain drive and rear-wheel brakes. Those features explain the continuing Model B design, but its 106-cubic-inch engine and 8 hp label are not silently assigned to the 1905 car because surviving sources disagree about first-year size and rating.
Source: Christie's · 1906 REO Model B mechanical description ↗Restoration evidence has to be read part by part
The examined 1905 survivor kept original radiator-core sections and its hand crank, but its owner also records fabricated wheels and hubs, modified rear axles and drums, a replacement carburetor, and a modern starter-generator. Those notes are valuable because they separate evidence of the old car from later changes made to keep it moving.
Source: Old Motors Guy · restoration record for a 1905 Model B survivor ↗Where these facts come from
- Old Motors Guy · restoration record for a 1905 Model B survivor
- Christie's · 1906 REO Model B mechanical description
- Powerhouse Collection · original 1905 Model A and early REO context
- Horseless Carriage Foundation · indexed 1905 REO instruction books
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 30, 2026.