They surely don’t make them like they used to. Sifting through the photos of this 1928 Durant M2 Coupe is like looking into a time machine. The starting bid price is $7,500 and it is located in Saline, Michigan. There is a VIN listed and the title is clear. It has 19,716 miles on it. You can view more on eBay.
Powering this antique machine is the original Continental 4 cylinder engine fitted with a Tillotson R6A updraft carburetor. There is no word on if the little power plant will run or start. It is connected to a 3-speed manual transmission.
Inside is well preserved. The seats are still stitched together and the dash is made of a beautiful wood with metal casings for all the gauges. Those are rusting a minor amount. The wood floor does not have any rot or holes.
The car has been repainted many years ago. It was done well. According to the listing, an inspector of some sort suggests having the car properly looked over and set up for museum life rather than fully restoring it. That seems like a safe decision considering there are not many examples of this car out there.
Saline, eh? I’m usually there once or twice a week for business. It’d be fun just to get a look at this car, and marvel at how it has managed to survive so long.
As I view the photos, it strikes me just how far we have come in 90 years. But the evolution has not been anywhere near as shocking as going from horse and buggy to the Durant, that jump occurring in 1/4 the time.
I can’t help wonder why they didn’t wash it so you could get a better sense of its condition. I think it should be cleaned, polished, touched up where needed, serviced, started, and used sparingly on nice days. Its hard to tell the condition of the paint with all that dust on it so I can’t say I wouldn’t repaint it, that would have to be determined later. Nice little pre war car.
I sifted through the photos as well, it’s just to bad the sifting didn’t remove the dust.
This is a rather nice old car.
To the purchaser
If there are parts needed, here is another one for sale.
https://greatfalls.craigslist.org/cto/d/1928-durant-star/6726706510.html
If I may ask what state are you in? Thanks
I tried to live in a state of confused euphoria.
For shipping purposes could you let me know where parts vehicle is
located? Thanks
Lamont,
The ad is back-up
https://greatfalls.craigslist.org/cto/d/1928-durant-star/6768792532.html
good luck!
wow……
It’s a neat Model A alternative (I’m a blue oval guy, but it’s nice to see something else too). However, since it is a pre war car, and a small marque at that, I’m sure the parts availability would be disheartening. I’d still let it find it’s way back to my garage though.
Note the exposed ring gear and starter motor pinion. Never seen one exposed before. Gearbox must be separate and driven by a short prop-shaft.
Being a rather rare car I’ll keep my comments about how killer this car would be rodded, you wouldn’t have to change a thing on that body for a good looking street machine.
Leave it as it is !
Looks like a Hot Rod enough as it is !
Lovely car !
I liked to picture of it sitting at the gas pump. That shot takes me back to one of my first jobs. Neat memory.
As for the car…. I’d keep it like it is doing only needed work to allow me to use it for short trips around town and a local show now and then.
That picture of the gas station reminds me of the stations that were still present along the Merritt Parkway in New York in the sixties. I wiped a few windshields there. ‘ Regular of Ethyl, Sir?” lol
I never worked at a Gulf station. I did my time at Texaco, Shell and Sunoco. At Texaco I wore a green hat that had a black patent leather bill and a Texaco star on the front of it. It matched the rest of my green uniform. Cool stuff. I wish I still had that hat.
At Shell and Sunoco it was just your basic baseball cap with a patch on it.
The car has amazing presence, a very modern stance. I’m usually a very casual admirer of pre-ware cars. But this really feels very modern, I don’t think there is anything to do but clean it up.
Seeing those snow chains in the trunk seals the deal for me. I love this thing.
I agree parts availability is a concern. I like to drive my cars regularly which could be a problem if parts are scarce.
Seems like a reasonable starting bid for this one. I would just clean it up and get it running.
– John
This is NOT a Star. Billy Durant fielded the Star, Flint, Durant, and later added the Locomobile to his Corporate lineup, much as GM had Chevrolet, Olds, Buick, and Cadillac in the day. This was a more upscale car than a Star.
The key to owning an old orphan car is getting in tune with the existing network of others who have them, or know where parts/special services are available. Like I do with my DeSoto, I pick up “unobtainium” parts as they come up, even if I don’t need them at the moment. They are neat hanging in the shop and when I need them, they are there. The Continental engine is a sourced engine, and was used in everything from airplanes to farm tractors. Parts are NOT an issue. I drive the wheels off my Model T truck, but don’t care if I ever see another Model A. They are like flies at a picnic. But a car like this is so refreshing to see. I would not think twice about pulling the trigger on this one, if I did not already have a shop full of cars and not enough time to drive them. This thing is wonderful !
Wonder if Rock On has seen this car. He
recently sold a 4-door similar to this one.
As for me, haven’t seen one in 50 years.
Would make an excellent auto portrait
though. Have to try making one if I can
find the time to do it. I’ve got a great
model here!
Not Rock On,………..On and On and yes saw it a week ago. It will sell but not for much. More interest in the esthetics than the car.