Billy Durant drew on his carriage industry experience and his success with the Buick Motor Company to set out in 1908 to form General Motors by acquiring Oldsmobile of Lansing, and on September 16, 1908, the company was incorporated. He then bought the Oakland Motor Company in Pontiac and Cadillac of Detroit, and General Motors began purchasing other automobile companies at a rate of one every thirty days. Walter Chrysler said, “Builly Durant was a person who could charm a bird right down out of a tree.” Durant also made an offer to buy Ford but could not raise the cash needed to finalize the deal.