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Dec 16, 2008 · Gerald Perschbacher. Dec 16, 2008. William C. Durant. Because of a national economic crisis and flamboyant leadership, General Motors was placed at risk in 1920. But its recovery became legendary. When the First World War ended in November of 1918, millions of Americans who had been drafted into military service were quickly returned home.
- Early Years = Early Successes
- Big Dreams = Big Risks
- Facing The End
- Durant The Dealmaker Or Durant The Dreamer?
William Crapo Durant was born on December 8, 1861, in Boston, Massachusetts, to William and Rebecca Durant. His mother came from a wealthy French family from Massachusetts, but Durant spent what historians call a “turbulent” childhood in Flint, Michigan. By the time he reached high school, he had little interest in his studies and eventually droppe...
Buick’s success made it the foundation of Durant’s future vision, especially since he signed a 15-year contract with Canadian automobile manufacturer Samuel McLaughlin that guaranteed Buick’s success for the next decade. Durant hoped to merge Buick with Ford, Maxwell-Briscoe, and Oldsmobile, which meant every company had to agree to the terms. Howe...
Durant’s growing financial struggle left him no other choice but to make a deal to resign from his position with GM in 1920 to satisfy his debts. With Durant finally back in the clear, he didn’t waste any time and established Durant Motors in 1921. But unfortunately, his timing was terrible, and the Great Depression ended Durant’s automotive dreams...
Durant’s success in establishing General Motors isn’t questioned. GM proudly stands as one of America’s “Big Three” automakers, with brands like GMC, Chevy, Buick, and Cadillacin its fleet. In this regard, Durant brought his vision to life. He created an automotive conglomerate held up by best-selling nameplates. Even more impressive is that his ap...
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William Crapo Durant (December 8, 1861 – March 18, 1947) was a leading pioneer of the United States automobile industry and co-founder of General Motors and Chevrolet. He created a system in which a company held multiple marques – each seemingly independent, with different automobile lines – bound under a unified corporate holding company.
Jun 10, 2021 · While Durant did think big, and take big risks, it was ultimately his ability to hire strong management that allowed him to properly grow General Motors. It is hard to sum up the career of Durant, in so few words, but first and foremost he was adept at growing his business infrastructure.
- Jesse Roberts
Aug 20, 2019 · William C. Durant founded General Motors in 1908 alongside Charles Stewart Mott and Frederic L. Smith. He was later pushed out of the firm, but then he started Chevrolet and returned when...
Jun 27, 2018 · The American industrialist William Crapo Durant (1861-1947) was the founder of General Motors, an automobile manufacturing company. William C. Durant was born in Boston, Mass., on Dec. 8, 1861. He grew up in Flint, Mich., where he became a leading carriage manufacturer.
His years of heady success building General Motors were marked by epic struggles with bankers. But he depended on only a few sources of big money to finance his exploding business, and pitted himself against forces he underestimated or refused to consider.
