Celebrating National Inventors Month with GMC

Entering the vehicle business in 1886 at just 25 years old and creating General Motors just two decades later isn’t an easy undertaking. This National Inventors Month, we highlight our founder and inventor William Durant in an all-American story of grit, hard work, and success.

Origins of William Durant

Before GM, GMC, or even the vehicle industry, William Durant dropped out of school to pile lumber and sell cigars. While this doesn’t seem like a promising start for a seventeen-year-old who would later become a cornerstone of the American auto industry, Durant found success and talents in business of his own volition, carving his path into partnership at an insurance agency and eventually into automobiles. With two carts and a design patent, Durant secured a blue ribbon and cart orders, earning the title of “King of Carriage Makers” in only fifteen years. The Durant-Dort Carriage Company had grown from a small investment into a two-million-dollar business, earning the title of the largest vehicle manufacturer in the U.S. at its Flint, Michigan manufacturing plant.

Competition of horseless carriages were gaining popularity in the U.S. and Durant had a front-row seat to the early development of the auto industry. When James Whitling of Flint Wagon Works bought Buick, he asked Durant to work his business management magic. In only eight years, Buick’s production surpassed both Ford and Cadillac combined under Durant’s watchful eye.

The GMC Powerhouse

Did you know that Ford was almost acquired by General Motors? After a failed automobile merger between multiple parties, Durant proposed a new plan – To bring Buick and Oldsmobile under a new brand called General Motors. Incorporated on September 16^th, 1908, GM had enough success that only a year later, Durant had Henry Ford agree to sell the Ford company. Their only obstacle, a bank committee passing on the deal, meant that the future looks very different today. Could you imagine if Ford was a division of GMC?

Barring this minor setback, Durant was ready to make moves with GM. Investing in the 1909 equivalent of start-ups and small businesses, GM began acquiring talent, products, and patents left and right. In less than sixteen months, Durant had secured 22 companies under the GM brand. Some notable mentions now under the GM brand included Oakland (later Pontiac), and McLaughlin (later GM Canada). These brands joined the existing Buick, Cadillac, and Oldsmobile brands under General Motors.

Banks were under the impression that personal automobiles were nothing more than a trend, but Durant believed in the business. Bankers thought he was insane to predict that one day, 500,000 automobiles would be built and sold in a single year, and he was right.

The Later Years

Unfortunately, bad times were on the horizon as larger vehicle models fell out of popularity. Despite 21 different models, people were enthralled by Ford’s inexpensive Model T. Through financial troubles, Durant ‘s creativity paid off once again, partnering with Louis Chevrolet to use the Buick brand on America’s road races and bring back publicity to the brand. Using his momentum and retaking control, GM grew eight times as large as when banks managed the company due to financial hardship. The only thing that could stop William Durant now was the end of World War 1 and The Great Depression.

GM achieved many things under Durant’s command despite his rise and fall. From its early years, General Motors has been responsible for the electric starter when horseless carriages were hand-crank started. They also pioneered automatic transmission, the catalytic converter, and airbags, first introduced in the 1970 Cadillac, Buick, and Oldsmobile models.

Today, GM continues to offer great quality vehicles and pioneering the Electric Vehicle market through the introduction of the first Extended Range Electric Vehicle, the Chevrolet Volt. With such a history of accomplishments, what could be next for GMC and its brands? We’re certain the future is bright with new 2025 models continuing to revolutionize the auto industry.

Celebrate GMC With Us!

At Abeloff GMC, we’re ready to help you keep the history of General Motors going with an in-stock, brand new 2024 model car, crossover, SUV, or truck. Looking for something newer? 2025 GMC models are hot off the presses and we are eagerly awaiting their release dates and arrivals. Come visit us to purchase your new GMC, sell your old model, trade-in for an upgrade, and to celebrate over 100 years of GM history!