Owned by Greg and Kay Shuker.
The Durant Motor Company, in its quest to export its Star motor cars outside America and Canada in 1923, found that the name Star had already been registered for commercialization in England. This prompted them to export cars under the trademark Rugby, which was incorporated with a few changes in some specifications, relative to the Star production line.
The 1924 Rugby Tourer was a variant of the four cylinders Star Model F and had several special features in order to attract the customer’s attention, such as:
Equipped with a nickel radiator and disc wheels.
Furnished body panels in maroon or blue
Engine: Continental W-4, four-cylinder, 3-1/8″ bore; 4-1/4″stroke; and 130.4 cubic inches displacement.
Piston: Piston and connecting rod assembly was detachable from the top or bottom of case.
Tank: 10 gallon capacity fuel tank attached to the rear.
Transmission: Standard, selective sliding-gear type; three speeds forward and one reverse.
Brakes: External contracting; internal expanding; 10-inch brake drums
Carburetor: One-inch, single jet.
Cooling System: Honeycomb type radiator; 16-inch fan; four blades; water pump; radiator capacity, 8 quarts.
The Rugby make of cars was produced at three Durant motor factories located within the United States and Canada. However the public identity of the 1924 Rugby was never stable, due to the lack of consistently performing models coming out of the assembly lines.
I have restored my Fathers first car a 1924 Durant Rugby in 2014.He placed an order for the Car in late August 1923 and received and took delivery in early December 1923. I refer to his Farm Diary where he recorded this event which I still have in my possession.
You are right. There were rugbys in Oz in 1923. I have one and rugby competed in world,s first rally for cars 1922-4. An endurance rally of 34 cars . they left Ballarat.
and travelled to Bairnsdale Vic,then to Omeo,Mount hotham and Falls creek. they continued on to Tallangatta
Ten via Beechworth to Bright. They did time trials up Mount Buffao and then went back to Ballarat via the highway including Kempsey.
The 100th anniversary was promoted in 1922 by RACV and Vintage Drivers Club.
The Rugby entrant finished along with European and USA cars. Some : Bugatti, Chevrolet,Alvis,Ford,Rolls etc
David Higginbottom ….1922/3 Rugby 4 cyl pickup from scap yard Euroa,Previous 1926 tourer ,6 cylinder from Ross Town hotel Vic.