William "Billy" Durant: 1920 to 1932

William C "Billy" Durant: 1920 to 1932Show more

Billy Durant was an automobile titan leading up to the 1920s. His experience in the auto industry dates back to 1886 when he started Durant-Dort Carriage Company. This was the same year that Carl Benz was just inventing the automobile in Germany in 1886.

Durant eventually became responsible for creating the family of brands that fell under the General Motors umbrella as well as Chevrolet. His career took many twists and turns as he was consistently guilty of trying to grow too quickly.

His growth plans often paid off in the short term but the economic waves that occurred in those days consistently resulted in his companies being taken from him. For example, in 1920 he was forced out of his company which at the time comprised Chevrolet as well as General Motors which he had to purchase back in 1918. This time, he was forced out by the Du Pont's who were purchasing GM shares since 1914.

After being removed from his company, he started a new one in 1920-21 called Durant Motors. He hoped to challenge General Motors with his new company and it continued producing cars throughout the 1920s, but as happened in the past, economic downturns, this time the Great Depression, swallowed Durant's over-leveraged company and he was forced into bankruptcy.

1932 ended Durant's illustrious career in the automotive industry. Ironically, his manufacturing plant for Durant Motors was purchased for use in 1935 by General Motors.

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