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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →REO did not stop making all trucks in 1936: that was the year it ended passenger-car production and focused on trucks. The small REO pickup built under a 1935 agreement with Mack—marketed by Mack as the Mack Jr and included in REO’s Speedwagon line—continued until 1938. The R.E. Olds Transportation Museum’s account points to its high price compared with a Ford pickup as a key reason that small-truck production ended.
Two different endings: REO cars and the Speed-Wagon pickup
The dates refer to different decisions. The National Park Service says REO lost market share to larger competitors such as Ford and General Motors, and describes a failed 1925 expansion effort that contributed to heavy losses during the Depression. In 1936, REO dropped passenger cars and concentrated on trucks; this did not end the company’s truck business.
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The later date applies to a particular light-duty pickup. Under a 1935 agreement between REO and Mack, REO sold the small truck as part of its Speedwagon lineup, while Mack marketed it as the Mack Jr. According to the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum’s May–June 2021 newsletter, production of this pickup ended in 1938.
Why the small REO/Mack pickup ended
The museum newsletter identifies price as a key obstacle. Its approximate 1937 comparison put a Ford pickup at about $470, while even the least expensive REO/Mack version cost more than $575. The newsletter says more robust versions cost $1,200 or more. It reports that buyers were interested in the lighter-duty truck concept but did not accept its pricing. These are the museum’s historical figures, not a like-for-like comparison of truck specifications.
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| Year | Reported production | What the date means |
|---|---|---|
| 1936 | 2,343 trucks | REO ended passenger-car production and focused on trucks. |
| 1937 | 2,226 trucks | The museum newsletter’s reported output for the truck line. |
| 1938 | 405 trucks | The museum newsletter’s reported output in the final year of the small REO/Mack pickup. |
Production figures and the price comparison above are reported by the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum’s 2021 newsletter. The figures describe the historical account in that source; they do not establish that every truck counted was the same configuration.
REO truck production continued after 1938
The end of the small pickup was not the end of REO truck manufacturing. The National Park Service describes REO’s broader company history, while Michigan State University’s REO Motor Company Records cover the company from 1904 to 1976. The later corporate timeline included a 1954 sale to Bohn Aluminum and Brass, a 1957 White Motor Company subsidiary, and a 1967 merger with Diamond T to form Diamond REO Trucks. Diamond REO Trucks, Inc. filed for bankruptcy in 1975, according to the archival chronology summarized in the research dossier.
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In short, 1936 marks the end of REO cars, 1938 marks the end of the small REO/Mack Jr pickup, and the company’s truck history continued beyond both dates.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
When did REO stop making cars?
REO ended passenger-car production in 1936 and concentrated on trucks, according to the National Park Service account.
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Did REO stop making all trucks in 1938?
No. The 1938 date refers to the small pickup associated with the REO Speedwagon line and Mack Jr name. REO truck manufacturing continued after that pickup ended.
Why did the REO/Mack Jr pickup end?
The R.E. Olds Transportation Museum’s 2021 newsletter identifies price as a key issue. It reports that a 1937 Ford pickup cost about $470, compared with more than $575 for the least expensive REO/Mack truck, and says buyers did not accept the pricing.
How many of the small trucks were made in 1938?
The R.E. Olds Transportation Museum’s 2021 newsletter reports 405 trucks in 1938, the pickup’s final production year.
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