Our Purpose
Preserve the automobiles manufactured by the Durant Motor Company, provide enjoyment for each member with meets, tours & technical assistance.
This forum is provided by the Durant Motors Automobile Club located at durantmotors.org
Where Are You From? South Australia
Do You own a car built by Durant? Chassis only, model M
Thankyou everyone again and especially Don. I just bought the original plate below off Ebay USA which looks correct to me based on Don's advice. So, my chassis has now become a 1927 one built in Lansing, 08/1926? :grinning: I can finally plan my build, most of which will be done in CAD before any cutting or welding is done.
no man is an island lyrics by john donne
Where Are You From? South Australia
Do You own a car built by Durant? Chassis only, model M
Ha ha ... lets confuse you more. vins are model year not production year. So Aug 1 to July 31 of next year in most cases with Billy's empire. Effective 1930 and later they stopped that practice and model year would only be when a model was updated. As example the 1930 614 Durant was Jan 4 1930 to Dec 31 1930. 1931 614 model year was Jan 1 1931 to Jan 31 1932. 1932 model year was Feb 1 1932 to end of Durant's in 1932. Only the Frontenac and Rugby trucks went to Dec 1933 when all production stopped for good at Dominion Motors in Leaside. Lansing the last plant US stopped Aug 1931. Leaside became totally Canadian owned and operated Jan 14 1931 to make whatever it wanted, name changed to Dominion Motors later. They decided to continue the Durant / Rugby lines.
Having said that your vin plate L 389786 is 1927 model year from Lansing plant. 1926 model year for M Star at Lansing is L 350,000 to L 379,999 Jan 1 1926 to July 31 1926. 1927 model year is L 380,000 to L 414,999 Aug 1 1926 to July 31 1927. 1928 model year is L 415,000 to L 425,000 Aug 1 1927 to Dec 31 1927 and M model was replaced by the M2 Jan 1 1928 and I won't confuse you more after that ha ha.
So production wise your plate could be in 1926 and I would go with that. You can claim the car was imported from Lansing by some owner in its past, which is why it has the Star plate not a Rugby plate. Exports are Rugby to OZ and other countries since Britain already used the Star name.
"Beside badges and right hand drive for some models, the vehicle was identical to Durant's Star car, and was assigned to export markets by Durant Motors, due to the name Star being under copyright by The Star Motor Company in the British Commonwealth. The Rugby was built from 1923."
One of our members in Ontario owns a 1930 407 Rugby (Durant) touring that was exported to Argentina by Leaside, brought back and restored by him.
Where Are You From? Ottawa Ont
Do You own a car built by Durant? 1932 Dominion built 614 Sedan
Where Are You From? South Australia
Do You own a car built by Durant? Chassis only, model M
This has been a long series of posts, so I'm not sure where to butt in. It sounds like you need
a frame of a legitimate car to start with, which you have. In the US you can build anything and
get a title after inspection. Thus the Rat-rod phenomenon.
I would suggest that putting it on wheels wouldn't be so hard, even in Australia. [In my case,
who would have guessed 1958 Ford pickup axle would fit precisely to the springs on a 1928 Essex. This frame was used with a 1925 Dodge Brothers Coupe Body]. The width varies with cars and trucks, but the late model axles are still pretty antique-looking, and come with hydraulic brakes. Studebaker, Dodge, Ford, Chevrolet.
As for engine, you could simulate Durant by using any of the flathead sixes, which also look
antique. Such as American Motors, Fords, Hudsons, REO, Studebaker, Willys Overland, Kaiser, Chrysler. Last Dodge Power Wagons still used them in 1980's. Many Continental and Chrysler engines were used in farm machinery. Perhaps even in Australia.
Ideally, you would want a floor-shifted transmission and flywheel clutch. Heavy truck trannies
are probably overkill. Perhaps a stick shift from a Jeep Cherokee [Japanese-made], or equivalent.
Rear axles are wide open for selection. It would be nice to fit in the fender area and to have
same bolt pattern as front wheels.
As for cowl, firewall, body, you have to have a eye for what can be cut and pasted together from
old farm equipment, truck cabs, etc. Radiators, being a prominent feature would be difficult
unless you can build one from other parts, like a tractor grille. There still are Durant grilles around.
As for the body, you may take some tips from the movie, "Chitty Chitty, Bang, Bang!"
Boat tails were built. Aircraft cloth and Shellac had their day. I visualize the panels of old
grain combines with their compound curves. Weld up a roadster body.
yesterdaystractors.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=harvest&th=40436
Enough of this castle-building. Thanks.
Do You own a car built by Durant? Yes
Where Are You From? South Australia
Do You own a car built by Durant? Chassis only, model M