William durant louis chevrolet. At the age of 10 his parents separated and he moved to flint michigan with his mother. But durant would not be bowed and he backed louis chevrolets eponymous company in 1911 with j. He has a number of companies in his name the most famous being general motors co founded with frederic l.
Durant who in 1908 founded general motors gm. Smith and chevrolet with louis chevrolet. After leaving general motors he founded the chevrolet motor car company named for the famed auto racer louis chevrolet who designed the companys first model.
Born in boston massachusetts in december of 1861 durant grew up long before horseless carriages. Louis chevrolet born december 25 1878 la chaux de fonds neuchatel switzerlanddied june 6 1941 detroit michigan us automobile designer and racer whose name is borne by the chevrolet division of general motors an enterprise from which he derived little profit and of which he was a minor employee in the last years of his life. William crapo durant founder of general motors company is probably one of the most important players in chevrolet history.
In 1913 dort stepped down as vice president of chevrolet and in 1914 durant disposed of his share of the durant dort carriage company. Dallas dort serving as the vice president and director of the company. On september 16 1908 buick motor company head william crapo durant spends 2000 to incorporate general motors in new jerseydurant a high school dropout had made his fortune building horse.
William was born into a wealthy family in boston massachusetts. Chevrolet originally a luxury nameplate became much more successful when durant added more moderately priced vehicles and within a few years the company was so profitable that durant used its cash flow and a loan from the du pont family to purchase control of general motors. His driving skills attracted the attention of the auto executive william durant and the two men combined their talents to form the chevrolet motor company.
Louis chevrolets racing prowess eventually caught the attention of william c. William durant thought that chevrolet had a pleasant sounding last name and had louis join him at general motors. With little formal education and a vast knowledge about automobiles he designed a stylish six cylinder touring car which proved that his design abilities matched his racing skills.