New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-07
/ oertner Shows
Durant's New Car
To New Workers
Unusual Features Mark Pro-
duction of Leading Auto
mobile Manufacturer Ma
chine Described in Detail

mobile Manufactures: Ma
chine Described In Detail
Something altogether new and I'M
usual in the way Of motor car goes
on display tomorrow at the Poertncr
Motor Gar Company, 1859 Broadway.
The complete new Durant line will, be
on exhibition, a line which aims to ex-
press the intention of it's producers to
make It car to withstand more than
the usual abuse, operate with more
thar the usual economy, he maintained
with more than the usual ease and
transport its passengers with more
than the usual comfort"
The purant Is the personal produc-
ton of William G.. purant, commanding
genius of the motor industry, and
marks his ideas Of what an automo-
bile should be--accumulatea by him ia
thirty-fve years OF manufacturing We
hicles and the production of more than
100000 automobiles. To the end Of
offering this line TO the metropolitan
motoring public the Durant Motor
Company OF New York, Inc, has ssso-
ciated itself with the Poertner Motor
Car Company, OF New York, Brooklyn
and Newark. This company is headed
by William G. Poertner and George S.
McCutchen, two veterans of the retail
trade.
To describe the new Durant in detail
Is to make list of steps in designing
car with mechanism that is really
"get-at-able" and that can stand UP and
deliver speed, power, comfort and per-
Torrance. The man who has driven
automobiles will appreciate that &C
feasibility is something much more
often claimed than actually found in
motor cars. He will be interested in
been achieved in Durant's new produc-
ton.
Tubular Backbone" Feature
To begin with, it has been possible
In the Durant to make engine, clutch,
transmission, etc, series of separate,
readily removable units by means of a
device which can be best described as
the tubular backbone" of the chassis.
This tubular backbone" is sheet
metal torsion tube running parallel to
the side members of the frame, with
head fianges attached to the cross mem
bers. In riding over rough or winding
roads twisting of the frame is avoided,
the springs being made to absorb all
road unevenness. That brings in its
train freedom from body squeaks, rat
ties, jamming of the doors and host
Of minor troubles that cars not SO
equipped are likely to encounter.
To show how the tubular backbone"
works, if the front end of Durant
frame without the backbone in place
is lifted, the frame can be made to
weave as it does in the car of ordinary
construction, though this frame is of
standard weight and construction.
ha ha hnI bo fra 70
mains solid. Ordinarily in a motor car
this solidity is attained by assembling
the units in such 81 way that when 1T
comes to taking down one vital part
all must be removed.
In the Durant, solidity having been
attained; Independently in the frame
construction, the various units, such
as engine. clutch, transmission, rear
end, brakes and other parts that in
all cars require occasional adjustments,
can be handled with a minimum Of
time and trouble. The pistons can be
taken out through the lower part Of
the cylinder block without removing
the head casting or taking down the
the crank shaft. The single disk
clutch is removable through the TAX
usual feature Of its construction is a
series of radial gashes made in the
steel plate which allows for expansion
when hot and avoid slipping and chat
tering. Another excellent point is
that the clutch collar contains sup
ply of grease sufficient for years
use on one filing.
Play, if any, in the rear axle shafts
can be taken up by means Of threaded
caps at either hub. One Of the points
of construction that will be appre-
ciated by every owner-driver is that
the internal brakes can be set by the
turn of lever and external brakes
by means OF an adjusting nut.
SDurant Specifications
The leader of the Durant line is
a five-passenger touring car priced
$500 +. o. b., Lansing, Mich. The four
cylinder valve-in-head engine is made
by Continental from Durant designs.
1t has 81 inches bore and Az inches
stroke. Quiet of the valve mechanism
and timing gears is feature in an
engine of this type. The vacuum tank
is bolted directly to the engine block,
thus shortening the travel Of the
vibration of the dashboard, where or
binary construction places the tank.
Electric starting and lighting are, of
course, included in the car.
The body on the 109-inch wheel
chassis is roomy and comfortable, with
plenty of leg room and foot room for
the driver and the passengers. The
upholstery is genuine leather through
out--another unusual feature of a car
of this price. Real curled hair goes
into the seat cushions and the springs
are covered with wire mesh SO that
the seats cannot get lumpy. The neat
ness of the top and it's appointments is
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