... like this 1929 Durant Roadster. We didn't manage to find a model number on the car, but perusal of the Durant Catalog leads us to believe that this is a Model 40. Built as a roadster, a small wooden truck box has been added where the rumble seat once was.
The engine was an inline four cylinder water cooled design with a 3 3/8" bore and 4 1/4" stroke, yielding a displacement of 152 cubic inches. Power was listed as 36 HP at 2,400 RPM. The transmission was a three speed, with one reverse gear. The car had four wheel "Bendix" brakes and wood artillery style wheels. Tires were 4.5" X 28" balloon. This unit has a spare tire and wheel mounted at the left cowl - we're not sure this was standard equipment.
Controls available at the pilot's position consisted of gear shift and parking brake levers in center; accelerator pedal mounted on toe board, spark and throttle levers in center of steering wheel. Spark control is semi-automatic. Speedometer, ammeter and oil gauge are clustered in an indirectly lighted instrument panel. Ignition and lighting switch and choke are mounted on the instrument board.
Full Specifications for the Model 40 are available, as are specs for all models.
The Durant Company
Production of Durant vehicles began in 1921 with a four-cylinder car (model A-22). It was followed quickly in 1922 with a six (model B-22). The four cylinder car would endure until 1926 with only minor model year changes. The six-cylinder lasted only three years until 1924. It did not sell very well and was considered expensive at twice the price of the four cylinder car.
There were no Durant vehicles produced in 1927, but 1928 saw the launch of an entirely new line of Durant cars (models 55, 65, 75). Initially, Durant was to have only six-cylinder cars in its lineup leaving the four cylinder market to its companion Star line. However, by April 1928 economics dictated the shutdown of Star production, so the Star model M four-cylinder found a new home in the Durant line as the model M2. The M2 was replaced towards the end of the the year with the M4.
Durant launched another "entirely new line" in 1929 with models 40, 60, 63 and 70. Later in the year the model 66 would be added. January of 1930 saw yet another set of cars, the four-cylinder model 407 and the six-cylinder models 614 and 617. In the fall of 1930 the model 610 and model 612 are introduced.
In 1931, with sales slowing down and money running out, there was not a full scale change in the product line. The model 401 and the model 614 were retained. A new mid-price, six-cylinder the model 618 was introduced. Later in the year the model 619 was introduced.
1932 was the final year for Durant. Two new models the 621 and 622 were announced, although consensus seems to be that they were never produced.
From Tripod