N1 & N2 vs 8-35 & 8-31

Asides from the skirted front fenders and the different radiator you mention... and basing my comments only on observation:

N1 and N2 have a completely different dashboard, with big round instruments in the center and a couple of glove boxes at each side.

Bumpers are one piece, curved downward in the center in the case of the front one.

Radiator emblem is very similar but different: REO in big letters, and Royale under it, instead of the Reo-Royale and Eight under it, as in 1931-32.

Apparently the grill has fixed vertical bars, verus the thermostatically controlled ones in 1931-32, which makes me think that for 1933-34 they already had an in line thermostat.

And of course, the possibility of the semi automatic transmission.

But again,this is only based on observation. There might be a ton more differences that I couldn't spot.

victor

Here is a picture of a 33 N.

Nice pic, A.J. thanks for posting what seems a very "colorful" car for the era, but clearly original.

Welcome to the Royale Forum .

Welcome, Nahart.
Additionally to what is posted above, one further note based on observation: by 1933 the Royales (in this case at least the N2 as I have not seen a pic of a N1, but I take it they would have the same treatment) do not use fender lights. The headlights must have had the parking lights inside the main headlight unit… but perhaps some of you 1933 owners can confirm on that one.
Also, as A.J. noted, the side spare tire covers are different, fully enclosed on the case of the N2 at least.
Now, as to your question: "Is the 1933 N1 basically the same as the 1931 8-35 and the 1933 N2 the "new" style with the sloped grill?"... I think you may be right!
I have only one "old" pic in which an N2 at some show is shown but that also shows a large sedan on it's side that could very well be an N1, and in the little that can be seen the grill would appear to be vertical (as in the 8-35) and it appears to have the one piece bumpers. Unfortunately parking lights cannot be seen.
It also shows external horns just like what your car has (earlier Royales use an internal Klaxon 18-C horn, if memory serves me right) and straight type door handles (earlier 8-35 has curved handles). 
The car that can be seen from the front is clearly an N2 and I believe the light car on the back is also an N2, a coupe in this case... the curious and interesting thing to me is the center car, which I am guessing that may be the N1, but it is the only pic I have seen of one, and it shows it basically as an 8-35 with the minor differences that I mentioned above. This would help settle the doubt some of us had on the "other" 1933 car that was auctioned some time ago and that shows also the earlier body style with the one piece bumpers and external horns... and the semi automatic gearbox which we know was introduced for 1933.
So, summary is, I think you may be right with your assumption. But of course, I am no authority.

Victor

Some comments from John P. on this subject along with production numbers:
Gentlemen, I vaguely remember some discussion years ago with John Barker about Royales that have 8000 serial numbers. As I recall, those were all model year holdovers and were retitled by the Reo Factory to reflect the year in which they were sold.

In my listing (which is by no means complete or entirely accurate) there are only a handful of Royales with a 8000 serial number. They are as follows:
1933 Coupe 35N8122
1931 Sedan 35N8072 formerly owned by Larry Vera
1932 Convertible 35N8118 (engine number N5053. An interesting note is that another 1932 convertible that was formerly owned by John Barker that is now reportedly in Europe, is serial number 35N2932 with an engine number of N5051.

My listing is only for 1931, 1932 and 1933 model years for Royales of all lengths. The lowest serial number i have is 35N11 (motor number N 410) which is a 1931 8-35 sedan owned by Gary Hagan of Washington State. Other than the three royales with serial numbers in the 8000s, the highest serial number I have listed is 35N3935, which is a 1931 8-35 sedan owned by Bill Cadman of Ont Canada..

Lots of mysteries here. How could a 1931 model have a higher chassis serial number than the 1932 models I have listed?

The 1933 Royales have chassis serial numbers of 2N107 thru 1N 3808 (except for serial number 1N5788 , a sedan, formerly owned by Nick Andricovich and Henry's coupe that has a serial number of 35N8122,

I will try to send you a chart given to me by George Swevde that shows that for model years 1930 thru 1933 there were only 3,140 Royales produced for 8-35, 8-52, snd 8-48 cars (this excludes the 8-31 cars)

Comment from Jeff Trahan:

I have a 1933 Royale sedan with frame number 1N2119. I believe the 1N means it is model N1. Mine is a holdover and is nearly identical to a 1931-32 model 8-35. I believe the cars with serial numbers starting with 2N are model N2, which have a 131-inch wheelbase.

I believe "true" 1933 models would have a slanted radiator grill (as opposed to vertical), like the Jame Tulloch car in the first message in this thread.

Another comment from John: I think that in model years 1933 and 1934 Reo was struggling and used 'left over parts' from the 31/32 model years.

I also think , but don't hold me to it, that 1N or N1 refers to the 8-31 car and 2N or N2 refers to the 8-35 car.