Ever heard of a Durant car?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (343692)
Rockingham, Australia
April 21, 2020 6:33pm CST
One of Vince’s brothers now lives in Bali. The hotter climate suits him better as he has a chronic lung condition. When he cleaned out his house here in Western Australia, he gave us a bundle of sheet music. One of the pieces is called ‘I Want to Drive a Durant’.
As you can see from the photo, it is a fox trot song composed by George H K Mitford and introduced at the Durant Dealer Organization Convention by Frank Oldfield and Chas. Bodley’s Dance Orchestra. The song was published in 1929.
I’d never heard of a Durant car but apparently it was assembled by Durant Motors in New York City from 1921 to 1926 and again from 1928 to 1932. For the first period, it was powered by a four- or six- cyclinder overhead valve Continental engine. Production was suspended in 1927 but reintroduced in 1928 as a six-cyclinder. Production ended early in 1932 due to the insolvency of the company.
William ‘Billy’ Durant founded Durant Motors when he was suspended for the second time by General Motors, his dream of building an automotive empire to rival General Motors coming to naught.
Maybe one of myLotters music buffs would like to do some discussions featuring various car models. There seems to be enough material for such a series.
23 people like this
26 responses
@RasmaSandra (81653)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 Apr 20
I have never heard about a Durant car. Very interesting,
3 people like this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
22 Apr 20
Too bad he wasn't able to compete with General Motors
3 people like this
@much2say (56699)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Apr 20
I know nothing about cars 
but I know I have seen similar cars like this. I just asked Hubby and he didn't know this one either (he knows way more about cars than I do). There are some classic car museums out here, I couldn't find any info - but it looks like one of the many 20s type cars there.
but I know I have seen similar cars like this. I just asked Hubby and he didn't know this one either (he knows way more about cars than I do). There are some classic car museums out here, I couldn't find any info - but it looks like one of the many 20s type cars there.3 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (105358)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
22 Apr 20
Thank you for sharing this story of the Durant car which I never heard of before.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (105358)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
23 Apr 20
@JudyEv I know about the Ford brand but that is it.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
25 Apr 20
@JudyEv Most definitely. When I was a little girl, my best friend had an old car like that in her yard. We used to play in it all the time, pretending we were driving..lol. When I think back on it now, I'm surprised that we never ran across any spiders. Also, can snakes get into old cars like that?
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
22 Apr 20
that looks like a collectors thing
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Apr 20
@JudyEv going to frame it?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (343692)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Apr 20
@Jessicalynnt No, we have enough things on walls.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
22 Apr 20
This is the first time that I've heard of that car. That may be a rare car.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
22 Apr 20
No I haven’t. What I have heard of is a Bentley. Not getting one - yet!
The cars I’ve seen in Europe, South America, Asia, Canada, etc. have familiar names, but most look so different or have different models from the ones I’m used to seeing in the USA.
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (35879)
•
24 Apr 20
Interesting writeup on Durant who founded GM. I also found out he founded Chevrolet too.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
22 Apr 20
Once, before GM and Ford were huge, there were 100 car makers in the US. Two of them were based in Indiana and I've visited their original factories (Stutz Bearcat and the Studebaker). Sad that sometimes we lose the connection to artistry.
the cars back then were hand made! Ford and the assembly changed everything.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (343692)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Apr 20
@DocAndersen Wow, that's a fancy looking car.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
22 Apr 20
@JudyEv in 1920 and before the Stutz Bearcat was the height of luxury!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stutz_Bearcat
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (183693)
• United States
22 Apr 20
I am not sure about that. The sheet music sounds like a classic though. Here in the UNited States it would probably turn up on a show called Antiques Roadshow where experts would appraise it, and the people would be flabbergasted at how much it was worth!
1 person likes this
@marlina (154130)
• Canada
22 Apr 20
I found this on Ebay:
Thought it might interest you.
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1923 I Want To Drive A Durant Sheet Music Fox Trot Song Vintage Canada Song at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26777)
• United States
22 Apr 20
Me, not heard of either car or song. Learned something here, thanks!
1 person likes this
