About Us
Inspired by History,Driven by Innovation
At Duryean LLC, we stand proudly at the crossroads of motorsports heritage and advanced transportation innovation. Our name is a tribute to the Duryea Motor Wagon Company, the pioneering American automobile company founded by Charles and J. Frank Duryea. This historic company produced the Duryea Motor Wagon, which won America’s first automobile race in 1895, a remarkable achievement that established the Duryeas as trailblazers in the automobile industry.
History Drives Us
The Duryea brothers, both born in Central Illinois, were instrumental in shaping the early American automotive industry. Their victory in the Chicago Times-Herald race with the Duryea Motor Wagon set the stage for over a century of automotive advancements. We honor their legacy by bringing that same spirit of innovation into the 21st century, aiming to revolutionize both modern transportation and motorsports.
HenryFord Museum
At Duryean LLC, our mission is to continue the innovation started by the Duryea brothers by creating a world where technology, sustainability, and fair competition thrive. We offer groundbreaking services through our ridesharing app, designed to provide fairer fares for riders and more earnings for drivers. Additionally, we are at the forefront of sustainable racing with the Duryean Grand Prize Challenge (GPC)—a unique non-profit racing league that encourages unlimited engineering creativity and promotes electric vehicle racing.
Innovation
Duryean LLC is a Delaware-registered company with an operational headquarters in New York, NY. By adopting the Duryea name, we link ourselves to a history of pioneering automotive achievements, while driving forward with cutting-edge ideas and technology that shape the future of transportation and motorsports. Join us as we continue to innovate, lead, and redefine what’s possible—just like the Duryea brothers did 130 years ago.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions about Duryean Art and Duryean GPC
After their early successes, the Duryea Motor Wagon Company faced challenges. Frank Duryea continued to innovate, while Charles Duryea pursued other ventures. The company dissolved in the early 1900s, but the Duryea name remains a significant part of American automotive history.
Yes, the Duryea Motor Wagon Company is recognized as America’s first car company, producing the first gasoline-powered vehicles in the United States. Their flagship vehicle, the Duryea Motor Wagon, won America’s first automobile race in 1895.
Yes, the Duryea Motor Wagon was a gasoline-powered vehicle. It was one of the first successful internal combustion engine automobiles in America, marking a key moment in the evolution of motorized transportation.
The Duryea brothers built the first successful American gasoline-powered car in 1893. Their car won America’s first automobile race in 1895, competing against electric cars. Frank Duryea drove the winning car in the Chicago Times-Herald race, marking the birth of American auto racing. They were also early advocates for mass-producing automobiles in America.
The history of Duryea cars began in 1893 with the brothers' first successful gasoline-powered vehicle. They went on to produce several models, but their defining moment came in 1895 when their car won America’s first car race. Despite their contributions to early automotive innovation, the company eventually ceased operations in the early 20th century.
The Duryea Motor Wagon, which won the 1895 Chicago Times-Herald race, reached a top speed of around 7.5 miles per hour (12 km/h). Though slow by today’s standards, it was revolutionary at the time and proved the feasibility of gasoline-powered vehicles.
The Duryea brothers are regarded as early pioneers of the American automotive industry. Their success with gasoline-powered vehicles and their victory in America’s first automobile race helped lay the foundation for modern vehicle manufacturing in the United States.
By building and racing the first successful gasoline-powered car in America, the Duryea brothers proved that motorized vehicles were practical. Their innovations influenced other inventors and laid the groundwork for the development of the automobile industry.
Duryean is a modern company inspired by the legacy of the Duryea Motor Wagon Company. It focuses on revolutionizing transportation and motorsports through innovations like a groundbreaking ridesharing app and the Duryean Grand Prize Challenge (GPC), an electric vehicle racing league.
Duryean's ridesharing app provides lower fares for riders and higher earnings for drivers compared to traditional platforms. It ensures that drivers keep a larger share of their earnings, creating a more equitable experience for both drivers and riders.
Duryean focuses on two key areas:
- Ridesharing innovation: Offering a platform that provides affordable transportation and better compensation for drivers.
- Motorsports: Through the Duryean Grand Prize Challenge (GPC), a non-profit electric vehicle racing league promoting sustainability, engineering creativity, and inclusivity.
Duryean works with non-profit organizations to host the Duryean Grand Prize Challenge (GPC). These organizations will help facilitate the event, and profits generated from the race are reinvested into communities, projects, and technologies that promote inclusivity and innovation in motorsports and beyond. This collaboration ensures that the GPC is not only a platform for competition but also a force for positive social impact.