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DodgeDodge is a brand name of automobiles and light to heavy-duty trucks. From 1914 to 1927, the company was named the Dodge Brothers Motor Vehicle Company. The Chrysler Corporation acquired the Dodge company in 1928. In 1998, Dodge, along with all other Chrysler subsidiaries merged with Daimler-Benz.
Anyone who doubts an automaker's ability to give itself a convincing image makeover need only look at Dodge's recent efforts. After years of producing vehicles that offered middle-of-the-road looks and mediocre handling, the manufacturer gave its lineup a significant overhaul, redesigning many of its vehicles to offer aggressive styling and above-average performance. As a result, Dodge found itself attracting a whole new group of consumers, and sales improved.
Two brothers, Horace and John Dodge, began the Dodge Brothers Motor Vehicle company in 1914, after having worked as manufacturers of bicycles and automotive parts. Their first vehicle was a touring car that proved a fast favorite with car buyers; it was soon joined by a roadster and a four-door sedan. By 1917, the company's model line had grown to include trucks. Dodge cars and trucks were used as staff vehicles and ambulances in World War I.
Dodge was briefly owned by a banking firm and subsequently sold by its new owner to the Chrysler Corporation in 1928. From there, the brand slowly evolved into the division responsible for trucks and performance-oriented cars. Post WWII, Dodge introduced vehicles like the military-inspired Power Wagon truck, Hemi-powered Coronet and the Royal Lancer; in addition, the manufacturer began offering dealer-installed air conditioning.
Vehicles like the Dodge Dart and the Custom 880 kept the manufacturer in American driveways throughout the 1960s. That decade also saw the launch of one of Dodge's most iconic vehicles, the Charger. Dodge's muscle car was based on the Coronet platform, and featured a fastback roofline, hidden headlamps and a full-width taillamp panel. Best of all, the Charger could pack one heck of a wallop under the hood. A 318-cubic-inch V8 was standard, but buyers seeking maximum brawn could upgrade to a 426-cubic-inch, 425-hp Hemi V8. The company also introduced a Mustang-fighting pony car, called the Challenger, in 1970.
Like other American auto manufacturers, Dodge's fortunes started to slip in the '70s due to changing tastes and increased competition. The company was saved from extinction in the early '80s thanks to government loans and the sales success of its Omni and Aries economy cars (the former a blatant copy of the VW Rabbit). But 1984 was when Dodge made its mark in the history books with the introduction of the wildly popular Caravan. Ideal for families and able to seat up to seven, the space-efficient Caravan started a whole new vehicle segment -- the minivan. The early '90s saw the company wow the public with the V10-powered Viper roadster and an all-new Ram pickup.
Today, Dodge is a division of DaimlerChrysler, a result of the merger of the German company Daimler (owner of Mercedes-Benz) and Chrysler. The company's lineup includes everything from trucks, minivans and SUVs to high-performance coupes and sedans. Automotive consumers interested in buying a domestic vehicle that's a bit different than the norm should take a look at what Dodge has to offer.
In the early 1900s, two bicycle makers were destined to change the auto industry forever-- they were the Dodge brothers, John and Horace. They began their careers as bicycle machinists in their father's shop in Michigan. Upon moving to Windsor, Ontario, Canada, they adapted their skills to meet the needs of the fledgling automotive industry and found success producing intricate auto parts. It wasn't long before John and Horace came to the attention of Henry Ford. He was so impressed with the brothers that he offered them one-tenth interest in his new motor car company.That partnership lasted for the next 12 years.The brothers then split from Ford to pursue their own interests in automobile manufacturing because, at the time, Ford cars were built with virtually all Dodge parts. When asked why he and his brother wanted to build their own car, John Dodge reportedly said, "Think of all the Ford owners who will someday want an automobile." In 1914, Dodge Brothers, Inc. was formed. In that first year, Dodge introduced the "Old Betsy," a rugged car built for reliability and durability. That year Dodge built a total of 249 new cars.
In 1928, Chrysler acquired the much larger Dodge Brothers, Inc. It continued expanding its line of vehicles, which included the WWII Power Wagon - a vehicle that garnered enough acclaim to continue production a decade after the war. Through the years, Dodge has led the way with a number of styling and engineering advancements, including the first 140-horsepower "Red Ram" Hemi� V8 engine in the 1953 Coronet. In the 1960s and 1970s Dodge contributed to America's fascination with high-performance "muscle cars" by manufacturing the 505 Charger Daytonas for stock- car racing and as production cars.
Never forgetting the legacy the Dodge Brothers began by constructing durable and powerful cars, Dodge and Chrysler brought the domestic convertible back to the roads in the 80s in the form of the Dodge 400 and the Chrysler Lebaron. In the 90s, the eagerly anticipated Dodge Viper put the muscle back in "muscle cars." All of which soon culminated in the new, aggressive look on the Dodge Ram Pickup, Dodge Dakota and Dodge Durango.
Dodge is proud of its heritage and is looking forward to building on a tradition of power, style and rugged dependability.
1893
The company was founded by A. Johnson Dodge in Boston, Massachusetts. He manufactured embalming chemicals in the basement of his home, while his wife Clara did the bookkeeping. He also traveled the country holding training sessions for students of embalming. The demand for embalming began in the U.S. at the time of the Civil War (1860's), but few trained embalmers existed.
1907
A.J. set up a permanent school…The New England Institute of Anatomy, Sanitary Science, and Embalming...in the front rooms on the first floor of his home.
1910
The school was chartered as a tax-free, educational institution to separate the school from the business.
1921
Dodge produced the first issue of Climbing the Ladder, an educational magazine for funeral directors that is currently called The Dodge Magazine.
1923
One and two day Dodge continuing education seminars were started. These take place in various locations around the country and are attended by graduate, licensed embalmers.
1927
Our first shipping warehouse was set up in Los Angeles, California. Others followed in Fort Worth, Texas and Chicago, Illinois.
1934
The Dodge Company (Canada) was set up in Toronto.
1957
Dodge started annual, week-long continuing education programs for funeral directors which are still held today.
1983
Dodge began manufacturing and selling its own line of cremation urns. (Cremation urns had been in Dodge's catalog as far back as 1926.)
1984
The Dodge Company, Ltd. was established in Whitchurch, England.
Present
Dodge is the world's largest manufacturer of embalming chemicals. We currently have 117 employees in the USA...including 6 Dodge family members.
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