To the DMAC Members,
I have been busy trying to find Durant owners in Australia. This is a Email from a Rugby Owner Russel Medhurst of Melbourne
Hi Robert Heath,
Nice to hear from you.Is your a C or an F as models overlapped a bit owning to the time they they took to get to OZ.
Yes I've been a Rugby enthusiast for many years and owned a few (F,M,M2/D40 and R,currently enjoy a 1926 Model R 6 cylinder Tourer of which I am its second owner in having purchased it via the estate of the original owner in the late seventies and restored it in the eighties.
For a number of years I was a member of the Durant Family Register (DFR) in America but let that lapsed long ago although I still have a stack of their old news letters.There was a Sub branch contact in South Australia for a while but he sold his Cars and has since lapsed too.Haven't heard of DMAC but seems it may have evolved from DFR in the eighties and nineties.I assembled a spreadsheet of all the rugby,and Star and Durant owners.I could track it down.
There was also years ago, the Rugby owners had a Pioneers Picnic group formed by one of the active dealership.I am in other vintage car a and I am in several Clubs and as you'd expect I am in contact with a few Rugby and Durant owners here in Melbourne.I am busy loading my T Model Ford for the Melbourne Cup week rallyin northern Victoria starting tomorrow so will close now and get on with my loading. Regards Russell Medhurst. rgmedhurst@bigpond.com

Also hello to all Durant owners we met at Modesto from Robert and Margaret Heath.

Where Are You From? Armidale 2350 Australia.

Do You own a car built by Durant? Yes. Durant Rugby 1924 model.

Hi Robert and good work on flushing out more enthusiasts. Oh oh, the new mate has not heard of DMAC before....hmmm need to spread the word! Well, let's get them on board and keep sharing info for everyone's benefit. Meanwhile, drive safe there on the other side of the road.

Where Are You From? Oro, Ontario

Do You own a car built by Durant? 1925 Star Touring

A couple of questions about Durant in Aust-Were they supplied CKD(completely knocked down) for local assembly? Most of the cars I read about seem to be the earlier models, must have been fading out like in the US? I seem to remember that the Japanese in WW2 used engines from Durant/Star in their PT type boats because of something with the way the engines were configured. Do you know if Japan had any Durant suppliers prior to the war?

Where Are You From? Orygun USA

Do You own a car built by Durant? 1930 6-14

We believe there were 13 Durant Star models 1921/22 that came to Australia and something the same went to New Zealand in 1922 or 23. My Fathers Diary records shows he ordered his 1924 Rugby F model in early August 1923.It arrived late in November 1924. He said after he took delivery,his friends and himself celebrated long into the evening.One of my close Friends has a Star 1922 model which he says he is the second owner beautifully restored. I also understand after talking to a Gentleman from South Australia, that Rugby's started arriving there in the middle of 1924 in Boxes to be assembled by Richards and Son of Adelaide, that I am not sure of but the Guy was very confident of his facts.

Where Are You From? Armidale 2350 Australia.

Do You own a car built by Durant? Yes. Durant Rugby 1924 model.

Where Are You From? Armidale 2350 Australia.

Do You own a car built by Durant? Yes. Durant Rugby 1924 model.

Where Are You From? Armidale 2350 Australia.

Do You own a car built by Durant? Yes. Durant Rugby 1924 model.

Many Durant products were sent from the Canadian plant ( British Commonwealth Country like us)in crates to state capital cities in Australia and assembled with locally made bodies. My D65 was fitted with a Holdens built roadster body originally. My 1930 614 fitted with Ruskin built sedan body all wood frame which differs from USA all steel body. Some cars were fully imported from New Jersey plant. I would estimate Durant made cars i have come across in old DFR registry and other cars i have found would be around the hundred mark. This includes Rugby Durant Flint and Continental. The Rugby is the most popular.

Where Are You From? Biloela Queensland Australia

Do You own a car built by Durant? D65 and 614

Hi Sid, Thanks for your comment. I am trying to get a few Durant followers together here in Australia to meet in different places.Do you know of any enthusiasts who might be interested? The DMAC in the US would like to see a Chapter formed here. DMAC are a highly organized large group there with the aim of promoting William Durant's Vehicles and Club functions. My car is on display at the Inverell Motor Museum NSW.
Regards Robert Heath.

Where Are You From? Armidale 2350 Australia.

Do You own a car built by Durant? Yes. Durant Rugby 1924 model.

Rugby Trucks
New York Auto Show 1928 Grand Central Palace





Rick

Do You own a car built by Durant? two of them

The local car club that I am a member of has 3 Rugby Members.Two Tourers and my van.

Where Are You From? Bjundaberg Queensland

Do You own a car built by Durant? 15cwt Light Van D40 Rugby

No bars in the grille. Bonnet flutes different to usual 1928 (closest to camera, rear car has usual bonnet flutes). Might have been pre production prototypes.

Do You own a car built by Durant? yes 2

Robert and Margaret- We are soooo happy that the DMAC meet fired you two up to go and research are Australian Durant Cars! Enjoying reading all the updates of information you have found! Hopefully you two can make another meet in the future. Charlie and I will contact you when we decide to make a trip your way!

Where Are You From? NJ/SD

Do You own a car built by Durant? 4

Hi Russel. I am after any onfo you might have come across about Mason Road King Speed Trucks.
"Mason Truck, founded by A.C. Mason in cooperation with William C. Durant, was a U.S. truck manufacturer based in Flint, Michigan. As a subsidiary of Durant Motors, Mason Truck built Road King Speed Trucks in the early 1920s." Wikipedia.
Dad, now 91 has decided to sell a lifetime collection of vintage machinery. The Mason was bought 45 years ago and put in the back of a shed and forgotten about. Chassis and drive line are complete, body work all gone although it looks as though it was a spartan model any how. Will be selling Febuary 24 2018.
Any help greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Colin.

Where Are You From? Melbourne Australia

Do You own a car built by Durant? Mason Road King Speed Truck