LANSING, Mich. — Nearly a century after it first rolled off the line at Lansing’s REO Motor Car Company, a rare 97-year-old bus is beginning a remarkable new journey, one that will bring history home. The Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (Tri-County), in partnership with community collaborators, has launched an ambitious restoration effort to return the last known version of this bus model to its former glory.
“This bus is a tangible link to Lansing’s deep roots in transportation and manufacturing,” said James Snell, executive director of Tri-County. “Transportation planning and coordination have always been central to what we do at Tri-County, and historic preservation is a natural extension of that. When you see this vehicle in person, you can’t help but feel its story – and the desire to preserve it. It’s truly one of a kind, and we want to share this piece of history with our community.”
The bus’s chassis was built by the REO Motor Car Company, founded in Lansing in 1904 and an early pioneer of automotive innovation. It represents not only a significant piece of local manufacturing history but also a broader story about how mid-Michigan helped shape modern transportation. Over the next 12 to 18 months, the bus will undergo a meticulous restoration to bring it back to operational condition, a process that combines craftsmanship, research, and engineering expertise.
The journey to this point has already been one of adventure. After being located and secured, the bus made its way to Michigan for assessment, sparking awe from everyone who saw it. Despite its rust and wear, its sturdy REO-built frame remains intact, a testament to the quality and ingenuity of Lansing’s early automotive industry.
“This project captures what makes this community special,” said Snell. “It’s about pride in our history, in our craftsmanship, and in the people who built the foundation of transportation as we know it today.”
When the restoration is complete, the bus will return home to Lansing’s REO Town. Once restored to working condition, the bus will be used for on-site events, and when possible, displayed at locations across the region – allowing residents to see, experience, and celebrate a remarkable piece of Lansing’s transportation history brought back to life.
As the regional public planning commission for Clinton, Ingham, and Eaton counties in mid-Michigan, Tri-County’s mission is to develop a sustainable future for the region’s economy, natural resources, and transportation system and infrastructure. The bus project offers an opportunity for residents, students, and visitors to learn about Lansing’s industrial past and the evolving role of regional transportation planning, a key community service of which few are aware. Community and local student education efforts tied to the bus will help people understand and get engaged in how the region’s transit providers are working together to improve the efficiency of the service provided, and provide more capacity to areas that currently do not have service.
“This is more than a restoration. It’s a revival,” Snell added. “We’re breathing life back into a piece of Michigan’s history, and in doing so, we’re reconnecting our community to the legacy that helped move it forward.”
The restoration process will be documented and shared on Tri-County’s website, mitcrpc.org, and social channels through video, photography, and interactive storytelling, showcasing the “before” and “after” of the extraordinary vehicle. Community members are invited to follow along as the project unfolds, and to help welcome the bus home when it returns to Lansing for its public debut in approximately 18 months.
