The amazing career of William Durant is unparalleled. Starting with an innovative, 2 wheeled cart, he and his partner Dort, became the 2nd largest horse drawn wagon producer in the world ( behind Studebaker ). In 1903 Durant took control of failing Buick and built it into a powerhouse. He formed General Motors in Nov. 1908 buying Cadillac, Oakland and Oldsmobile. He kept buying auto manufacturers through 1910. Overextended financially, he was ousted from his creation. He then started Chevrolet and Little. Chevrolet did not do well until he moved the name to the Little. Through the success of Chevrolet, Durant gained controlling interest of GM stock and took over GM again. He again overextended by buying to many companies and was ousted in November, 1920. He then formed Durant Motors in 1921 and tried to recreate another GM, Durant Motors declared bankruptcy in 1933. Durant declared bankruptcy in 1936. He tried supermarkets and a bowling alley but a stroke made him an invalid the last 3 years of the great salesman's life. For more details check: https://www.americanheritage.com/general-general-motors and read his biography, The Dream Maker by L.A.Weisberger
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