History of the Dodge car brand

The name Dodge in the modern automotive world is associated with powerful vehicles, the design of which combines a sporty character and classic lines that come from the depths of history.

Here's how the two brothers managed to win the respect of motorists, which the corporation still enjoys today.

Founder

Two brothers Dodge, Horatio and John, did not even know about the glory that their joint venture would have. The reason for this was that their first business was only distantly related to vehicles.

In 1987, a small bicycle manufacturing business appeared in old Detroit, USA. However, the enthusiastic brothers in just 3 years were seriously interested in re-profiling the company. An engineering plant bore their name that year. Of course, new muscle cars did not come off the assembly line then, which a little later turned out to be the basis of the whole culture of the entire West, which gradually took possession of the minds of young people around the world.

The plant produced spare parts for existing machines. So, the Oldsmobile company made orders for the manufacture of its gearboxes. After another three years, the company expanded so much that it was able to provide material support to other companies. For example, the brothers produced the engines that Ford needed. The developing company was even its partner for some time (up to 1913).

Thanks to a powerful startup, the brothers have gained enough experience and financial resources to form an independent company. In the factories of the company from the 13th year there was an inscription "Dodge Brothers". From next year, the history of the automaker begins with a capital letter.

Emblem

The logo that appeared on the first car of the company was in the shape of a circle with a “Star of David” inside. In the center of the crossed triangles are two capital letters of the company - D and B. Throughout history, the American brand has significantly changed the emblem by which motorists recognize iconic cars several times. Here are the main eras of the development of the world famous logo:

• 1932 - instead of triangles, a figurine of a mountain ram appeared on the hoods of vehicles;
• 1951 - a schematic drawing of the head of this animal was used in the Leib. There are several options to explain why such a symbol was chosen. According to one version, the exhaust manifold of the motors originally produced by the company looked like a ram's horn;
• 1955 - the company was part of Chrysler. Then the corporation used an emblem that consisted of two boomerangs pointing in one direction. This symbol was influenced by the development of astronautics in that era;
• 1962 - The logo is changed again. The designer used a steering wheel and a hub in its structure (its central part, which was often decorated with just such an element);
• 1982 - The company again uses a five-pointed star in a pentagon. To avoid confusion between the vehicles of the two firms, Dodge used a red one instead of a blue emblem;
• 1994-1996 argali returns to the hoods of famous cars again, which has become a symbol of punching power, which was demonstrated by sports and "muscular" cars;
• 2010 - The Dodge lettering appears on the grilles with two red stripes placed at the end of the word - an integral design of most sports cars.

Vehicle history in models

After the Dodge brothers made the decision to establish an individual car production, the world of car enthusiasts saw many models, some of which are still considered cult.

This is how production has evolved throughout the brand's history:

• 1914 - The first car of Dodge Brothers Inc. appeared. The model was named Old Betsy. It was a convertible with four doors. The package included a 3,5-liter engine, however, its power was only 35 horses. However, in comparison with the contemporary Ford T, it turned out to be a real luxury car. The car immediately fell in love with motorists not only for its design, but also for its almost identical cost, and as for the quality, this car was more reliable and solid.
• 1916 - The body of the model received an all-metal structure.
• 1917 - the beginning of the production of freight transport.
• 1920 is the saddest period in the company. First, John dies from the Spanish flu, and soon after his brother left the world. Despite the decent popularity of the brand, no one was interested in its prosperity, although a fourth of the production of the entire country fell on this concern (as of 1925).
• 1921 - the model range is supplemented with another convertible - Tourung Car. The car had an all-metal body. The automaker is expanding its sales boundaries - Europe gets relatively cheap, but high-quality vehicles.
• 1925 - Dillon Red Co. acquires the company for an unprecedented $ 146 million. During the same period, W. Chrysler became interested in the fate of the auto giant.
• 1928 - Chrysler buys out Dodge, allowing it to join Detroit's Big Three (the other two automakers are GM and Ford).
• 1932 - the already legendary brand at that time releases the Dodge DL.
• 1939 - in honor of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the company, the management decides to make a restyling of all existing models. Among the luxury liners, as these cars were then called, was the D-II Deluxe. The complete set of new items included hydraulic power windows and original headlights installed in the front fenders.
• 1941-1945 the division is engaged in the manufacture of aircraft engines. In addition to the modernized trucks, off-road vehicles in the back of a Fargo Powerwagons pickup are also coming off the assembly line of the concern. The model, popular during the war, continued to be produced until the 70th year.
• In the late 40s, the Wayfarer sedan and roadster were on sale.
• 1964 - A limited edition sports car is introduced to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary.
• 1966 - the beginning of the "Muscle Cars" era, and the legendary Charger became the flagship of this division. The famous 8-cylinder V-engine was located under the hood of the car. Just like the Corvette and Mustang, this car is becoming a legend of American power.
• 1966 - The worldwide Polara model emerges. It was collected at the same time in factories located in several countries.
• 1969 - on the basis of Charger, another powerful car was built - Daytona. Initially, the model was only used when NASCAR was being organized. Under the hood was a motor with a capacity of 375 horsepower. The car turned out to be out of competition, which is why the competition management decided to impose restrictions on the volume of engines used. A new rule came into force in 1971, according to which the volume of the internal combustion engine should not exceed five liters.
• 1970 - A new type of car was introduced to motorists - the Pony Cars series. The Challendger model still attracts the eye of connoisseurs of American classics, especially if the Hemi engine is under the hood. This unit reached seven liters in volume and a capacity of 425 horsepower.
• 1971 - The situation around the world is changed by the fuel crisis. Because of him, the era of muscle cars ended as soon as it began. Along with it, the popularity of powerful passenger cars fell sharply, as motorists began to look for less voracious transport, guided more by practical than aesthetic considerations.
• 1978 - The range of cars and trucks is expanded with spectacular pickups. They embodied the characteristics of cars and trucks. So, the Lil Red Express model is in the category of the fastest production car. Start of production of the front-wheel drive Rampage pickup. At the same time, the modernization of the production line was approved to create a supercar, the base of which was taken from the Viper concept.
• 1989 - Detroit Auto Show showed fans of extreme on the road a new product - Viper coupe. In the same year, the creation of the Caravan minivan started.
• 1992 - the start of sales of one of the most anticipated sports cars Viper. The stabilization of oil supplies has allowed the automaker to return to positive displacement engines. So, in this car, units with a volume of eight liters were used, which could also be forced. But even in the factory configuration, the car developed 400 horsepower, and the maximum speed was 302 kilometers per hour. The torque in the power unit was so great that even a 12-cylinder Ferrari could not cope with the car in a straight section.
• 2006 - the company revives the iconic Charger and Challenger, as well as the model presented to motorists crossover Caliber.
• 2008 - The company announces the release of another modification of the Journey crossover, but despite the excellent performance, the model does not receive a special ovation.

Today, the Dodge brand is more associated with powerful sports cars, under the hood of which there is an incredible 400-900 horsepower or huge pickups that border on the category of trucks than with practical cars. Proof of this is the video review of one of the most popular models of the concern:

Dodge Challenger TOO DANGEROUS FOR ORDINARY DRIVERS AMERICAN POWER.

Questions and answers:

Who created Dodge? Two brothers, John and Horace Dodge. The company was founded in 1900. Initially, the company was engaged in the manufacture of components for cars. The first model appeared in the fall of 1914.

Who makes the Dodge Caliber? This is a car brand made in a hatchback body. The model was produced from 2006 to 2011. At this time, Chrysler was planning to terminate the contract with Daimler.

Where is Dodge Caliber Collected? This model is assembled only at two factories - in the city of Belvidere, USA (before that Dodge Neon was assembled here), and also in the city of Valencia (Venezuela).