CLIFF DURANT AUTOMOBILES

SEVENTH CAR DURANT SPECIAL 500 MILE RACE MAY 1923 INDIANOPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY Collection of Michele Harris, 9-12-06

 

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES via email from Michele Harris, 9-14-06       Cliff should also be noted for his contribution to the world of auto racing. Because of his insight and financial backing the Miller Straight Eight Front Wheel Drive Racing Engine was developed by Harry Miller and Tommy Milton. That engine was revolutionary and dominated the international racing scene for approximately the next 50-75 years. You can cross-reference this in books by Mark Dees and Griffith Borgestrom. Cliff's car, the Junior Eight, is in the Indy 500 museum. Another one of his cars (pleasure) is in the Auburn Cord Museum. Miller was an automotive design genius and also developed motors for airplanes and boats.       In addition to his aviation, racing and golf he was also a yachtsman who sailed around the world on his yacht, the Aurora. He was also an excellent musician, violin, among other instruments. You can find reference to his violin, "Guarneri del Jesu", on Google.       Cliff was also the Vice President for Sales and Marketing for Chevrolet of California and later West Coast Distributor and General Manager of Durant Motors of California.

Durant's Castle Collection of Michel Harris, 9-12-06

I’ve enclosed a picture of "The Castle", Cliff and Lea’s home in Roscommon that burned. The land they owned aprox. 2,600 acres, is now a state nature preserve, The Mason Tract. If you’re a fly fisherman, this is the Holy Grail.       Cliff was an amazing guy who lived an incredible life; I’m glad some of it is finally coming to light. Thank you Ralph once again for your work on the website. Best Wishes Michel

 

ONLINE RESOURCES      If you search for "Cliff Durant" +racing, using the Google search engine, (9-13-06), you will find about 360 links. If you are especially interested in this phase of his career, you will find plenty of relevant links.

 

oldracingcars.com      You will find some of the vital statistics for Cliff on this website. You can access the page by clicking on the title above.

 

Beverly Hills Speedway Collection of Michele Harris, 9-12-06 Tommy Milton, in a Durant-Miller, won the race on April 2, 1922, going 115.24mph Source: tvWiki.tv

 

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