I wanted to share some pics of my fathers project. As some of you already know, it's a 1930 Durant which I believe it is the 314a model. He had picked this car up off his cousin for free and slowly started working on it last year. Very few people know what Durant is cause it is as rare as it sounds. Rumors say that there are only 3 to 4 restored in the world of this particular model and at first my father and I thought this was going to be the first hot rod version. But found out that there was another being built and was way far ahead to completion. In the end, this will be 1 of 2 hot rod versions in the world I hope. LOL Now onto the car. As you can see, the body has been channeled over the frame a good 6 inches. The roof was chopped 2 inches and the doors were suicided with hidden hinges. The front frame rails were cut and bent in so the hood panels will cover the frame. The end look will show all body while the frame is completely hidden. Because we didn't have an panels for the back trunk area, the back will be all smoothed out with no trunk access at all. The first look will be fenderless and down the road the fenders might be added which all depends. Engine, chassis, etc is still all up in the open til the choices come up. I plan to design the paint scheme with the proper shoes, but will plan that out closer to completion. All I know is that there will be flames cause the ol man loves his flames and my main goal is to keep this project going as nostalgic as possible cause he loves the modern streetrod as much as he loves the nostalgic rods. I'll make this the official build thread and will try to update it as much as possible during the build. Hope you like. Thanks for looking. Marc
Nice looking body for a hotrod. Good luck. Billy Durant was responsible for starting General Motors as I recall. After he lost control of GM he started building his own cars. He was an interesting character.I have a photo of a Durant dealership in my home town from back in the day. The building is still there and is now a bus garage.
Thanks. There is a lot of history with Durant with GM and Buick. Don't remember the details, so don't want to try and come up wrong with the history.
Somebody has probably posted pics of the other "hotrod" Durant built out of a shop in Fontana Ca. If no one posts it, I'll scan it. Just to compare. I agree with Bob37, it looks like its going to be a great looking rod. Looking forward to more progress shots. Thanks
Durant motor company Muncie.Indiana William*****o Durant the founder of general motors. was shunted out of general motors in the 10s and decided to build a new and rival car company. founded in 1921 the company produced the brands stat, flint, locomobile, princeton, rugby, eagle, and durant. all of them but durant were gone by 1930. the best year durant had was 1923 they built 172.000 cars. in 1930 durant had six models with a 112 inch wheebase. they had continental six cylinder engines with 58 to 70 horse power and mechanical braking. 1931 had only four models. in 1930 only 20.900 cars were built in 1931 only 7.000 cars were built by 1932 very few cars were produced and by early 1932 durant was out of business though the canadian counterpart sold cars through 1933 under the name Frontenac. I got this out of an old book that I have****led cars of the 30s
I believe it is evil1 on here that has the other Durant build and his is way a head on it's build then my fathers. I need a garage to start my project, a 1956 DKW Auto Union Schnellaster
Interesting story Ghost must be US book. We built Durant's in Toronto in 1933 as well. See the two Durant sites for a bit better update if you are interested in our cars. Durant Motors failed May 4 1931 and a group of men had Dominion Motors up and running in the old Leaside plant for June. Rugby was the DMotors truck US and Canada but the export car out of NA via Leaside. There's a restored 1930 Rugby touring near Kingston. US one Durant plant became DeVaux cars short lived to become Continental's. US that lasted until Dec 1934. Here our Dominion making Durant's / Frontenac's 1931 to Dec 33 before that stopped. What I was wonder about is the remains of the 1930 being lost to a rod. This would be a Durant Motors car. Most parts are same 30 - 32 614's. I seem to have the only surviving 1932 614 sedan, known so far. So finding parts for this are limited. Add to that some of my missing parts are only 1932, makes it even harder. There are a few lads looking for 30 parts.
Oops Ghost missed Dort as another of Billys cars. Meth yours was probably a 614 as there was no such 314a model. 407 or 610, 611, 612, 614, 617, 618, 621, 622. 633 1930 - 33 or E, 670, 685, C400 and C600 Frontys 1931 - 33. Our site http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/durant/ or http://www.durantcars.com/basics/history.shtml which Terry hasn't updated for a few years now and missing our Canadian info. Funny as he's Winnipeg Man.
Thanks for the info. 614 sounds right, I know there was 2 versions, ones with your typical side hood panel louvers and the style that this one has with the 3 diamond shaped louvers.
Pretty interesting project. I am just getting started on a 1924 star car touring. It is missing the back half of the car or at least the back two doors and seat. So I am transforming it into a roadster pickup. It should be a one of a kind since Durant never made a roadster pickup that I have seen. I will post pics. So if any restorer needs parts for that year car email me and let me know because I had a pretty complete car other than some of the body.
Here's pics of a 28 I bought a few years ago. Motor was rebuilt in 49, never started. Had it running round the yard in about an hour. Paid more for tie downs to get it home than I paid for the car.
Killer projects. One thing I have always loved is odd tin cause parked beside others, it will always be one of a kind in everyway.
Meth .. the 1930 614 model had the spears in the hood and everywhere. V's as I have always called them. Dash spears, rad cap, door handles etc All the other models had the straight louvers but the spears on dash etc. However this is not gospel. A few 614's in the US have been found with straight louvers and its****umed dealers might have changed the hoods to appeal to customers wants. The 31 - 32 614 has the straight louvers, however different hood hinge. 30 was piano type but later was chromed strip down the center, both hood halves pivioted in. Luckily I can cheat and use the strip from a B42 Mack truck of the 50's as its the same strip but stainless and cut about 14 inches off it. Catsup if you have parts, or any of you guys have parts, you can advertize them on the DAMC forum. I have a feeling it was evil who did that to save the parts and not have them lost for all time.
Aww yes the demise of another Durant lol … looks great keep us posted with more pic’s!!! . I think you may have your 614 0n the road before mine…lol
Looking at what you have done to yours already, can't see that happening. Tons of work here. Also, will talk to the ol man about the handles and get back to ya.
Hey that is a nice Durant. I'm doing a Durant too ...1930 407. Look forward to following your progress. Mark
don,t forget the 30 durant 614 that was built by dave puhl for the dress shop in chicago to be used as a restroom, now in arizona before and after
I have a 1925 star coupe. With full race flattie. Will run for world record end of july at limestone me. In vintage class
So it has been a very long time since I updated this build thread. So I am going to start with the body work. As you can see, all the rot was cut out and replaced, the roof was filled and a custom roll pan that looks similar to the factory one was made. Chop is done, suicide doors work perfectly. Car is coming along great.
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