American Institute: Dodge Trucks Through the Years

Dodge trucks have come a long way from their humble beginnings in the early 20th century. In 2019, more than 630,000 new RAM trucks were sold in the US alone, however, the brand has been at risk of being phased out multiple times in the past.

Learn the history behind some of the most iconic American pickup trucks ever made and Chrysler's clever ways to stay relevant and save the brand from bankruptcy. What makes Dodge trucks such an enduring part of automotive history? Keep reading to find out.

First, learn about the history of the company, which dates back to the early 19th century.

The Dodge Brothers - The Beginning

Henry Ford's reputation plummeted after numerous bankruptcies in the early 1900s. He was desperately looking for a supplier for the Ford Motor Company, and the Dodge brothers offered him a helping hand.

Since the Ford Motor Company was on the verge of bankruptcy, the Dodge brothers were well aware of the high risks. They demanded to own 10% of the Ford Motor Company, as well as all rights to it in the event of a possible bankruptcy. The brothers also demanded an advance payment of $10,000. Ford agreed to their terms, and the Dodge brothers soon began designing cars for Ford.

The partnership turned out to be worse than expected

Dodge pulled out of all its other ventures to focus entirely on Ford. In the first year, the brothers built 650 cars for Henry Ford, and by 1914 over 5,000 employees had produced 250,000 car parts. Production volumes were high, but neither the Dodge brothers nor Henry Ford were satisfied.

Dependence on a single supplier was risky for the Ford Motor Company, and the Dodge brothers soon discovered that Ford was looking for alternatives. Dodge's concern grew even greater when they saw that Ford had built the world's first moving assembly line in 1913.

How Ford actually financed the Dodge brothers

In 1913, Dodge decided to terminate the contract with Ford. The brothers continued to develop Ford cars for another year. However, the problems between Ford and Dodge did not end there.

Ford Motor Company stopped paying Dodge stock in 1915. Of course, the Dodge Brothers sued Ford and his company. The court ruled in favor of the brothers and ordered Ford to buy back their shares for $25 million. This large amount was ideal for the Dodge brothers to create their own independent company.

First Dodge

The first ever Dodge car was built in late 1914. The brothers' reputation remained high, so even before the first sale, their car was served by more than 21,000 dealers. In 1915, Dodge Brothers' first year of production, the company sold over 45,000 vehicles.

The Dodge brothers became extremely popular in America. By 1920, Detroit had over 20,000 workers who could assemble a thousand cars each day. Dodge became America's number two brand just five years after it was first sold.

The Dodge Brothers never made a pickup

Both brothers died in the early 1920s, having sold hundreds of thousands of cars. In addition to passenger cars, Dodge Brothers only produced one truck. It was a commercial van, not a pickup truck. The Dodge Brothers commercial van was introduced during World War I but never caught on with the popularity of the automobile.

The brothers never made a pickup truck, and the Dodge and Ram trucks sold today were born from a completely different company.

Keep reading to find out how Dodge started selling trucks.

The Graham Brothers

Ray, Robert and Joseph Graham owned a very successful glass factory in Indiana. It was later sold and became known as Libbey Owens Ford, which made glass for the automotive industry. In 1919, the three brothers produced their first truck body, called the Truck-Builder.

The Truck-Builder was sold as a basic platform consisting of a frame, cab, body and internal gear drive, which customers could then customize to suit their individual needs. Customers often equipped trucks with engines and transmissions from conventional passenger cars. As the Truck-Builder grew in popularity, the Graham brothers decided it was time to develop their own complete truck.

Graham brothers truck

The Graham Brothers truck was an immediate success in the market. The brothers were approached by Frederick J. Haynes, who was then president of Dodge Brothers. Haynes saw a good opportunity to enter the heavy truck market without interrupting Dodge vehicle production.

In 1921, the Graham brothers agreed to develop trucks fitted with Dodge components, including a 4-cylinder Dodge engine and transmission. The 1.5-ton trucks were sold through Dodge dealerships and were very popular with buyers.

Dodge Brothers acquired Graham Brothers

Dodge Brothers bought a 51% controlling interest in Graham Brothers in 1925. They bought the remaining 49% in just a year, acquiring the entire company and getting new plants in Evansville and California.

The merger of the two companies was good news for the three Graham brothers, as they remained part of the company and were given leadership positions. Ray became general manager, Joseph became vice president of operations, and Robert became sales manager for Dodge Brothers. The brothers became part of a larger and more developed company. However, just two years later, all three decided to leave the Dodge Brothers.

After the Dodge Brothers acquired Graham, the company was bought by a car magnate.

Chrysler acquired Dodge Brothers

In 1928, the Chrysler Corporation acquired Dodge Brothers, receiving Dodge cars as well as trucks built by Graham. Between 1928 and 1930 heavy trucks were still called Graham trucks while lighter trucks were called Dodge Brothers trucks. By 1930, all Graham Brothers trucks were Dodge trucks.

As mentioned earlier, the three Graham brothers left Dodge in 1928, having bought the Paige Motor Company just a year before they left. At 77,000 they sold 1929 cars, although the company went bankrupt in 1931 after the October 1929 stock market crash.

The last truck of the Dodge brothers

Dodge introduced the half-ton pickup truck in 1929, just a year after Chrysler bought the company. It was the last truck designed entirely by the Dodge Brothers (the company, not the brothers themselves).

The truck was available with three different engine options: two six-cylinder Dodge engines with 2 and 63 horsepower respectively, and a smaller four-cylinder Maxwell engine with just 78 horsepower. It was one of the first trucks to be equipped with four-wheel hydraulic brakes, greatly improving vehicle safety.

Chrysler Dodge Trucks

From 1933, Dodge trucks were powered by Chrysler engines, as opposed to the earlier Dodge engines. The six-cylinder engines were a modified, more robust version of the power plant used in Plymouth cars.

In the 1930s, Dodge introduced a new heavy-duty truck to its existing lineup. Throughout the 30s, minor updates were made to the trucks, mostly to improve safety performance. In 1938, a Warren truck assembly plant was opened near Detroit, Michigan, where Dodge trucks are still assembled to this day.

Dodge B series

A replacement for the original post-war Dodge Truck was released in 1948. It was called the B series and became a revolutionary step for the company. Trucks at the time were very stylish and sleek. The B-series was far ahead of the competition as it featured a larger cabin, taller seats and larger glass areas, which were nicknamed "pilothouses" due to the excellent visibility and lack of blind spots.

The B-series was more thoughtful not only in terms of style, the trucks also had improved handling, a more comfortable ride and greater payload.

Just a few years later, the B series was replaced by a brand new truck.

Series C came just a few years later

The new C-series trucks were released in 1954, just over five years after the debut of the B-series. The introduction of the C-series was not just a marketing ploy; The truck has been completely redesigned from the ground up.

Dodge decided to keep the "wheelhouse" cab for the C series. The entire cab was lower to the ground, and the manufacturer introduced a large, curved windshield. Once again, comfort and handling have been improved. The C Series was the first Dodge truck to feature a new engine option, the HEMI V8 engine (then called "double rocker"), which was much more powerful than its competitors.

1957 - Year of change

It became apparent to Dodge that style was a major consideration for potential buyers. Therefore, the automaker decided to update the C series in 1957. Trucks released in 1957 featured hooded headlights, a stylish design borrowed from Chrysler vehicles. In 1957, Dodge introduced two-tone paint to its trucks.

The trucks were named "Power Giants", justified by the new V8 HEMI power plant, which had a maximum output of 204 horsepower. The largest six-cylinder variant received a power increase of up to 120 hp.

Light electric van

The legendary Power Wagon was introduced in 1946 and the first light civilian version was released in 1957 along with the W100 and W200 trucks. Consumers wanted the Dodge reliability of their commercial trucks combined with all-wheel drive and the high payload of Dodge military vehicles. The Power Wagon was the perfect midpoint.

The light Power Wagon featured a conventional cab and all-wheel drive system previously used by the military. Other than the XNUMXWD system, the trucks didn't have much in common with the original Power Wagon.

Series D debut

The C-series successor, the D-series Dodge truck, was introduced to the public in 1961. The new D series featured a longer wheelbase, stronger frame and stronger axles. In general, Dodge's D-series trucks were stronger and larger. Interestingly, the increased strength of the truck worsened its handling compared to its predecessor.

The D-series introduced two new slant-six engine options that topped out at 101 or 140 horsepower, depending on engine size. In addition, Chrysler has installed the latest high-tech component in the D-series - an alternator. The part allowed the battery to charge at idle.

Dodge Custom Sports Special

Dodge changed the performance truck market in 1964 when it debuted the Custom Sports Special, a rare optional package for the D100 and D200 pickups.

The Custom Sports Special package included an engine upgrade to a powerful 426 horsepower 8 Wedge V365! The truck was also equipped with additional features such as power steering and brakes, a tachometer, a dual exhaust system, and a three-speed automatic transmission. The Custom Sports Special has become a very rare collector's gem and one of the most sought after Dodge trucks ever.

After the release of the Custom Sports Special, Dodge introduced an all-new high-performance truck in the 70s.

Dodge adult toys

In the late 1970s, Dodge had to introduce an addition to its current line of trucks and vans to keep sales from dropping year after year. This is the reason why the Dodge Toys for Adults campaign was launched.

The undisputed highlight of the campaign was the launch of the Lil' Red Express Truck in 1978. The truck was powered by a modified version of the small-block V8 engine found in police interceptors. At the time of release, the Lil' Red Express Truck had the fastest 0-100 mph sprint of any American vehicle.

Dodge D50

In 1972, both Ford and Chevrolet introduced a new addition to the compact pickup segment. The Ford Courier was based on a Mazda truck, while the Chevrolet LUV was based on an Isuzu pickup truck. Dodge released the D50 in 1979 as a response to its competitors.

The Dodge D50 was a compact truck based on the Mitsubishi Triton. As the nickname suggests, the D50 was smaller than the larger Dodge pickups. Chrysler Corporation decided to sell the D50 under the Plymouth Arrow brand along with Dodge. The Plymouth was available until 1982 when Mitsubishi began selling the Triton directly to the US. However, the D50 remained until the mid-90s.

Dodge RAM

Dodge Ram was introduced in 1981. At first, the Ram was an updated Dodge D series with a new brand. The American manufacturer retained the existing model designations, Dodge Ram (D) and Power Ram (W, pictured above) indicating that the truck was equipped with either 2WD or 4WD respectively. The Dodge Ram was offered in three cab configurations (regular, extended "club" cab, and crew cab) and two body lengths.

Ram paid homage to Dodge cars from the 30s to 50s as they had a unique hood ornament. The same ornament can be found on some first generation Dodge Ram trucks, mostly XNUMXxXNUMXs.

The Rampage is the answer to the Dodge Chevy El Camino

Car-based pickup trucks were nothing new in the 1980s. The most popular model was the Chevrolet El Camino. Naturally, Dodge wanted to get in on the act and released the Rampage in 1982. Unlike most other trucks in the segment, the Rampage was based on a front wheel drive Dodge Omni.

The Dodge Rampage was powered by a 2.2L inline-four engine that peaked at less than 100 horsepower—it certainly wasn't fast. It wasn't too heavy either, as the truck's carrying capacity was just over 1,100 pounds. The addition of a rebadged Plymouth variant in 1983 did not improve low sales, and production was discontinued in 1984, only two years after the original release. Less than 40,000 units were produced.

The Rampage may not have been a big hit, but Dodge introduced another smaller truck than the Ram. Keep reading to find out all about it.

Dodge Dakota

Dodge made a splash with the all-new Dakota midsize truck in 1986. The brand new truck was slightly larger than the Chevrolet S-10 and Ford Ranger and was originally powered by either a boxer four-cylinder or V6 engine. The Dodge Dakota effectively created the mid-size truck segment that still exists today.

In 1988, two years after the truck's debut, an optional Sport package was introduced for 2WD and 4×4 transmissions. In addition to additional comfort features such as FM radio with cassette player, the 5.2 L 318 cubic inch Magnum V8 engine was introduced as an optional extra on the Sport trim.

Dakota and Shelby convertible

For the 1989 model year, Dodge released two unique variants of the Dodge Dakota: the convertible and the Shelby. The Dakota Convertible was the first convertible truck since the Ford Model A (released in the late 1920s). Aside from its unique appearance, the convertible pickup truck idea was controversial, and the truck never caught on. Its production was discontinued in 1991, with only a few thousand units sold.

In 1989, Carroll Shelby released the high performance Shelby Dakota. Shelby ditched the 3.9-litre V6 engine, the limited truck only came with a 5.2-litre V8 found in the optional sport package. At the time of its release, it was the second most productive truck ever made, only surpassed by the Lil' Red Express.

Cummins Diesel

While the Dakota was a brand new truck in the 80s, the Ram is outdated. The body belonged to the D-series of the early 70s with a slight update in 1981. Dodge had to rescue its dying flagship truck and the Cummins diesel engine was the perfect solution.

The Cummins was a massive flat-six turbocharged diesel engine that was first introduced in the Dodge Ram in 1989. The engine was powerful, high tech for the time, and easy to maintain. Cummins has made Dodge heavy pickups competitive again.

Dodge Ram second generation

In 1993, less than 10% of new pickup truck sales came from Dodge trucks. Cummins accounts for almost half of Ram's sales. Chrysler had to update the Ram to stay relevant in the market.

A year later, the second generation Ram debuted. The truck was redesigned to look like "big rigs" and was light years ahead of its competitors. The cabin has become more spacious, the engines have become more powerful, and their carrying capacity has increased. Ram has undergone a major update inside and out.

After Dodge updated the Ram, it's time for its little brother to get a similar treatment.

New Dakota

After the Ram received a refresh in 1993, it was time for the midsize Dakota to get similar treatment. The new second generation Dodge Dakota was introduced in 1996. The exterior mirrored the Ram, so the midsize truck soon earned the nickname "Baby Ram".

The second-generation Dodge Dakota was smaller and sportier than the Ram, with three cab options and engines ranging from a 2.5-liter inline-four to a powerful 5.9-liter V8. In 1998, Dodge introduced a limited edition R/T package for the Sport trim. The R/T was powered by an 5.9-cubic-inch 360-litre Magnum V8 engine that peaked at 250 horsepower. Available only in rear wheel drive, the R/T was a true high performance sports truck.

third generation dodge ram

The third generation Ram made its first public debut at the Chicago Auto Show in 2001 and went on sale a year later. The truck has received a major update in terms of exterior, interior and styling. It also had better overall performance and durability.

Updated Dodge Ram rapidly increased the number of sales. Over 2001 units were sold between 2002 and 400,000, and over 450,000 units were sold between 2002 and 2003. However, sales were still far below those of GM and Ford trucks.

Dodge Ram SRT 10 - pickup truck with the heart of a viper

Dodge introduced a crazy high-performance variant of the Ram in 2002, although the second-generation Ram-based SRT prototype dates from 1996 and went public in 2004. In 2004, the truck set a world record as the fastest production truck. Production ended in 2006 with just over 10,000 units produced.

The Ram SRT-10 held the record mainly because of its powerplant. Dodge engineers put a massive 8.3-liter V10 under the hood, the same engine as the Dodge Viper. Basically, the Ram SRT-10 was able to hit 60 mph in less than 5 seconds and hit a top speed of just under 150 mph.

Disappointing third generation Dakota

Dodge updated the midsize Dakota for the third time in 2005. The debut of the third generation Dakota was rather disappointing as the truck was not even available in a standard (2-seat, 2-door) cab configuration. Dakota, despite the disapproval of the public, was one of the most powerful trucks in its class.

The legendary R/T (Road and Track) trim that was optional on the second generation Dakota returned in 2006. It turned out to be rather disappointing as it had only minor stylistic changes that set it apart from the base model. R/T performance remained the same as the base V8.

Return of the Power Wagon

The Dodge Power Wagon returned in 2005 after being out of the market for decades. The truck was based on the Ram 2500 and had improved off-road performance.

The new Dodge Ram Power Wagon was equipped with an 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine. On top of that, the special off-road version of the Dodge 2500 Ram was equipped with electronically controlled locking differentials both front and rear, massive tires and a factory body lift. The Power Wagon has stood the test of time and is still available for sale.

2006 Ram facelift

Dodge Ram received an update in 2006. The truck's steering wheel was changed to that of the Dodge Dakotas, the infotainment system came with Bluetooth support, and a DVD entertainment system was added for the rear seats along with wireless headphones. The Ram was fitted with a new front bumper and updated headlights.

2006 marked the end of serial production of the SRT-10, just two years after its debut. That same year, Dodge introduced a new "mega-cab" variant available for the Ram that provided an additional 22 inches of cabin space.

Fourth generation ram

The next generation Ram was first introduced in 2008, with the fourth generation going on sale a year later. The Ram has been further upgraded inside and out to keep up with its competitors.

Some of the new features of the fourth generation Ram included a new suspension system, an optional four-door cab, and a new Hemi V8 engine option. At first, only the Dodge Ram 1500 was released, but the 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 models were added to the lineup less than a year later.

The birth of RAM trucks

In 2010, Chrysler decided to create the RAM, or Ram Truck Division, to separate Ram trucks from Dodge passenger cars. Both Dodge and Ram use the same logo.

The creation of the Ram Truck Division influenced the names of trucks in the lineup. The Dodge Ram 1500 was now simply called the Ram 1500. The change affected the younger brother of the Ram, the Dodge Dakota, which was now called the Ram Dakota.

End of the Dakota

The last ever Ram Dakota rolled off the assembly line in Michigan on August 23, 2011. The Dakota's production run spanned 25 years and three different generations. In the early 2010s, interest in compact trucks waned and the Dakota was no longer needed. The dubious reputation of the third generation did not help either.

Another issue that led to the Dakota being phased out was its price. The midsize truck cost the same as its larger Ram 1500 counterpart. Naturally, most customers preferred the larger, more powerful alternative.

RAM upgrades in 2013

The Ram received a minor update in 2013. The interior Dodge badge was changed to RAM due to Chrysler's decision to separate Ram trucks from Dodge vehicles in 2010. The front of the truck has also been updated.

Starting in 2013, RAM trucks were equipped with optional air suspension and a new infotainment system. The 3.7L V6 engine option was discontinued and the base truck engine became the 4.7L V8. An all-new 3.6L V6 engine was introduced, which provided better fuel economy than the outdated 3.7L. There were also new trim levels to choose from, Laramie and Laramie Longhorn.

Ram Rebel

The RAM Rebel debuted in 2016 and was a more discreet alternative to the Power Wagon. The Rebel's blacked-out grille, large tires, and 1-inch body lift made it easy to distinguish the truck from other trims.

The Rebel was powered by either a 3.6-liter V6 engine (a new engine variant introduced in 2013) or a massive 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine with 395 horsepower. Four-wheel drive was available with either engine option, but the rear-wheel drive system was only available with the V8.

Fifth generation

The latest, fifth generation of RAM was introduced in Detroit in early 2018. The updated Ram features an updated, more aerodynamic appearance and additional full LED headlights. The tailgate and steering wheel received an updated ram's head emblem.

There are seven different trim levels available for the fifth generation Ram Truck, as opposed to 11 trim levels for the fourth generation. The Ram 1500 is only available in a four-door cab configuration, while its Heavy-Duty counterpart comes in either a two-door regular cab, a four-door double cab, or a four-door mega cab.

Dakota Resurgence

After its absence since 2011, the FCA is expected to bring back the Dakota. The manufacturer has confirmed the return of the midsize pickup.

There are no confirmed specifications at this time, but the truck will likely be similar to the existing Jeep Gladiator pickup. The 3.6L V6 powerplant, widely used in FCA vehicles, will certainly be an option for the upcoming Dakota as well. Perhaps, like the upcoming Hummer pickup, the revived Ram Dakota will be an electric truck?

Next: Fargo Trucks

Fargo Trucks

During the period from the 1910s to the 1920s, Fargo produced trucks of its own brand. However, in the 1920s, Chrysler acquired Fargo Trucks and merged the company with Dodge Brothers and Graham Trucks over the next few years. Since then, Fargo trucks have essentially been rebadged as Dodge Brothers trucks. Chrysler discontinued the Fargo brand in the US in the 30s, but the company continued to exist.

Chrysler continued to sell Fargo-badged Dodge trucks outside the US until the late 70s, when the automaker stopped making heavy trucks and Chrysler Europe was bought by PSA Peugeot Citroen. The Fargo brand did not disappear then, as part of the trucks were produced by the Turkish company Askam, a descendant of Chrysler, founded in Istanbul in the 60s. After the bankruptcy of Askam in 2015, the Fargo brand disappeared forever.