The US car manufacturer REO, founded in 1904 by Ransom Eli Olds, began pro- duction with two separate models, one with a single-cylinder engine and one with a 2-cylinder engine. The single-cylinder model had an output of 8 HP and could reach a top speed of 45 km/h. The engine was placed horizontally in the middle of the car, under the two seats. The vehicle had an elegant front bonnet, which was, of course, fake, and purely for aesthetic purposes. The twin-cylinder model was not dissimilar, although bigger and faster: it was able to exceed 60 km/h and carry five people in the ‘touring’ version. In both cases they were simple and inexpensive but very efficient cars