Dodge

Founded as the Dodge Brothers Co. in 1900, what is now known as “Dodge” was primarily a parts supplier. They company didn’t build its first independent car until 1914.

Horace Elgin Dodge and John Francis Dodge, were always very close brothers and had much success together. Known for the quality of their parts (which had previously been used in the manufacturing of other cars), Dodge Brothers cars were ranked second in sales in the United States within only two years of the release of their Model 30.

The Model 30 was a more luxurious option and competitor of the Ford Model T.

John Dodge died of pneumonia in the winter of 1920 and Horace died that very same year.

The company, now based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, originally had a factory in Hamtramck, Michigan, which was in operation from 1910 to 1979. Over the years, Dodge faced many economic ups and downs, nearly going out of business on numerous occasions. It now operates under the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA US LLC) umbrella.

Dodge has always been well-known for its high quality of pickup trucks from the very beginning. Ram trucks, which were originally called “Dodge Ram Trucks,” now operate exclusively under the Ram title. While they have formally split from Dodge, they still recognize their strong roots.Dodge also produces cars, minivans and SUVs.

After the Dodge brothers died, the car company took a significant turn for the worse falling to sixth in sales. It was bought by Dillon, Read & Co. for a then record $146 million dollars and then eventually sold to Chrysler in 1928. Dodge models originally became Chrysler’s mid-range brand above Plymouth.

The Dodge Caravan, which was built off the K platform model, has been one of Dodge’s best sellers for years. In fact, it is one big reason for the revival of Chrysler in the 1980s after the oil crisis of 1973. Many Dodge models have come and gone over the years, but the most popular models include the previously mentioned Grand Caravan, the Charger, Dart, Challenger and the V10 Viper.

The Charger, when introduced, was an instant sales leader and a big success on the NASCAR circuit.

Dodge had success in the production of military equipment, as their Model 30 touring cars were involved in the successful raid of a Mexican base that resulted in the killing of most wanted Julio Cárdenas. World War II military spec trucks were also a very popular item manufactured by Dodge. The reputation that they built during the war carried over to civilians after the war ended. Dodge saw a few years of prosperity after the war as the postwar seller market was advantageous.

Internationally, Dodge still has a fairly large presence with plants in Argentina, China, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom. The Dodge logo has undergone several different iterations, but the ram logo remained popular and is now used on Ram trucks.