Star (automobile)

Last updated
Durant Star logo Starcarlogo.jpg
Durant Star logo
Star
Star Improved Four Coach circa 1920s.jpg
Star Improved Four Coach c-1923
Overview
TypePassenger Car
Manufacturer Durant Motors, Star Motors, Inc.
Also called Rugby, Durant Star
Model years 1922–1928
Assembly Elizabeth, New Jersey

Star was an American automobile company that was assembled by the Durant Motors Company between 1922 and 1928. Also known as the Star Car, Star was envisioned as a competitor against the Ford Model T and Chevrolet. In the United Kingdom, it was sold as the Rugby , to avoid confusion with the British marque. [1] [2]

Contents

History

Share of the Star Motors, Inc., issued 14. November 1924 Star Motors, Inc. 1924.jpg
Share of the Star Motors, Inc., issued 14. November 1924

Like other products of the Durant Motors Company, the Star was an "assembled car", built from parts supplied by various outside companies. Originally, Stars were powered by a four-cylinder engine. In 1926, the line introduced a six-cylinder engine. All factory-installed engines were built by Continental. Durant was Continentals biggest customer in the 1920's taking up to 85% of its output. [1] [2]

Star cars were first produced in Durant's Long Island City plant before production moved to the new factory in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Star would also be manufactured in other Durant factories in Lansing, Michigan, Oakland, California and Toronto, Ontario. [2]

Star was planned to undercut Chevrolet prices and match Ford prices, starting in 1922 at $348 (equivalent to $6,335in 2023) for a touring car, Ford slashed prices by $50 in mid 1923, which Star could not match. Star was able to match Chevrolet prices during most of its life, ranging from $443 in 1923 to $525 (equivalent to $9,209in 2023) in 1927 for a touring car. [1] [2]

In 1923, Star became the first car company to offer a production station wagon. Instead of shipping a chassis out to a custom builder, who added a wooden wagon body, the wagon body was delivered to the Star factory and fitted to the chassis there. [3] [1] [2]

For the early part of the 1928 model year, the Star was known as the Durant Star and was only available with a four-cylinder engine. The car was replaced in the latter half of the 1928 model year by the Durant 4.

Production from 1923 to 1928 totaled 358,689 vehicles. [2]

Models

ModelYearcylinderperformancewheelbasebodies
Four1922-1923435 bhp (26 kW)102-inRunabout 2 seats, Roadster 2 seats, Touring car 5 seats, Coupé 2 doors, Sedan 4 doors
F1924435 bhp (26 kW)102-inRoadster 2 seats, touring car 5 seats, coupe 2 doors, sedan 4 doors
F-251925435 bhp (26 kW)102-inRoadster 2 seats, touring car 5 seats, coupe 2 doors, sedan 4 doors
Four1926-1928430 bhp (22 kW)102-inRoadster 2 seats, touring car 5 seats, coupe 2 doors, sedan 2/4 doors
Six1926-1927640 bhp (29 kW)107-inRoadster 2 seats, touring car 5 seats, coupe 2 doors, sedan 2/4 doors, landaulet 4 doors

Star offered light commercial vehicles derived from the passenger cars. [1]

See also

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References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kimes, Beverly Rae; Clark Jr., Henry Austin (1996). Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 (3rd ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN   978-0-87341-428-9.
  3. Mort, Norm (2010). American Woodies 1928-1953. Veloce Publishing Limited. p. 10. ISBN   978-1-845842-69-7 . Retrieved 2017-05-12.