| Star | |
|---|---|
 Star Improved Four Coach c-1923 | |
| Overview | |
| Type | Passenger 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 theDurant Motors Company between 1922 and 1928. Also known as theStar Car, Star was envisioned as a competitor against theFord Model T andChevrolet. In theUnited Kingdom, it was sold as theRugby, to avoidconfusion with the Britishmarque.[1][2]
Like other products of the Durant Motors Company, theStar was an "assembled car", built from parts supplied by various outside companies. Originally, Stars were powered by afour-cylinder engine. In 1926, the line introduced asix-cylinder engine. All factory-installed engines were built byContinental. Durant was Continental's biggest customer in the 1920s taking up to 85% of its output.[1][2]
Star cars were first produced in Durant'sLong Island City plant before production moved to the new factory inElizabeth, New Jersey. Star would also be manufactured in other Durant factories inLansing, Michigan,Oakland, California andToronto, Ontario.[2]
Star was planned to undercut Chevrolet prices and match Ford prices, starting in 1922 at $348 (equivalent to $6,537 in 2024) for atouring 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 $9,503 in 2024) in 1927 for a touring car.[1][2]
In 1923, Star became the first car company to offer a productionstation wagon. Instead of shipping achassis 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 theDurant Star and was only available with a four-cylinder engine. The car was replaced in the latter half of the 1928 model year by theDurant 4.
Production from 1923 to 1928 totaled 358,689 vehicles.[2]
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| Model | Year | cylinder | performance | wheelbase | bodies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four | 1922-1923 | 4 | 35 bhp (26 kW) | 102-in | Runabout 2 seats, Roadster 2 seats, Touring car 5 seats, Coupé 2 doors, Sedan 4 doors |
| F | 1924 | 4 | 35 bhp (26 kW) | 102-in | Roadster 2 seats, touring car 5 seats, coupe 2 doors, sedan 4 doors |
| F-25[4] | 1925 | 4 | 35 bhp (26 kW) | 102-in | Roadster 2 seats, touring car 5 seats, coupe 2 doors, sedan 4 doors |
| Four | 1926-1928 | 4 | 30 bhp (22 kW) | 102-in | Roadster 2 seats, touring car 5 seats, coupe 2 doors, sedan 2/4 doors |
| Six | 1926-1927 | 6 | 40 bhp (29 kW) | 107-in | Roadster 2 seats, touring car 5 seats, coupe 2 doors, sedan 2/4 doors, landaulet 4 doors |
Star offered lightcommercial vehicles derived from the passenger cars.[1]
1921–1932 Historic vehicles | ||
| Durant |   | |
| Affiliated with | ||
| Related topics | ||