Reading rank 234
Billy Durant: Creator of General Motors
, subject: William C. Durant, founder of General Motors and major early automobile-industry organizer, 1973
A full biography of Billy Durant that follows his personal life and his business career together in one sustained account.
72
Coverage Score
4
Scored evidence
About the book
Lawrence Gustin's biography of Billy Durant, the salesman who assembled General Motors, lost it twice, founded Chevrolet to win it back, and died managing a bowling alley. The cautionary twin to every empire-builder story in the index.
Why read it
Best if you want one detailed account of Billy Durant's life and business career, told together rather than as a brief sketch.
Key themes
- Durant's life and career in one account
- A full-length source on Durant
Evidence and original sources
Sources: official Founders episodes — #120, #121, #123
This record is supported by 5 public evidence rows linked to original Founders episodes.
- Billy Durant (Creator of General Motors) — The episode is dedicated to this biography of Billy Durant and uses it as the main source for his life and business career.
- Billy Durant and Alfred Sloan (General Motors) — David says he covered a Billy Durant biography the previous week while introducing William Pelfrey’s Billy, Alfred, and General Motors.
- Albert Champion (Record-Setting Racer to Dashing Tycoon) — David says the Billy Durant biography he covered earlier led him to Albert Champion.