William Crapo “Billy” Durant 1861-1947

Flint’s William Durant, unlike most automotive pioneers, was not an inventor but a co-owner of the nation’s largest horse-drawn carriage company and a super salesman who recognized the automobile’s sales and marketing potential. Impressed with a 1904 Buick, he reorganized the company, and in 1908 he incorporated General Motors, capitalized at $2,000. Within its first two years, he brought more than 30 firms into GM, including Buick, Cadillac, Oakland (Pontiac), Oldsmobile, and the predecessors of AC Spark Plug and GMC Truck. After being forced out of GM, he formed Chevrolet and other companies, and after gaining and losing control of GM again, he created Durant Motors, which had factories in Flint and Lansing.

Lansing, Michigan · United States