BEYONDDODGEThe Ultimate Dodge Resource

1914–1928

Dodge Brothers motor cars

The brothers introduced their own car in 1914. After both founders died in 1920, the company was sold to bankers in 1925 and purchased by Walter Chrysler in 1928.

Illustrative reconstruction of a 1910s–1920s Dodge Brothers touring car outside a period dealership

Illustration

Overview

The first Dodge Brothers car left the plant on 14 November 1914, and 249 cars were built by the end of that year. According to Dodge's parent company, Dodge ranked third among U.S. automakers by sales in 1915.

Corporate context

John Dodge died in January 1920 and Horace Dodge in December 1920. The company kept the Dodge Brothers name, was sold to New York bankers in 1925, and was purchased by Walter Chrysler in 1928.

Technology and engineering

Stellantis describes the 1914 car's all-steel body as the first of its kind. Britannica credits the brothers with one of the first all-steel cars in America.

Milestones in this chapter

Sources

  1. History of the Dodge BrandStellantis North America (corporate blog)Official / corporate2023-08-03blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com (opens in a new tab)
  2. Horace E. Dodge and John F. DodgeBritannica Editors · Encyclopaedia BritannicaReference workbritannica.com (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Dodge Brothers: The Men, the Motor Cars, and the LegacyCharles K. Hyde · Wayne State University PressBook2005-04-08 · ISBN 9780814332474wsupress.wayne.edu (opens in a new tab)