The Road Rolls On
A lot has changed in the American auto industry since John and Horace Dodge decided to quit building parts for other automakers and go into the car-building business for themselves in 1913. The Dodge brothers quickly built their company into a contender among Detroit automakers, but they didn’t enjoy success long — both died in 1920. By the end of the decade, their heirs had sold out to Chrysler, which also owned the Plymouth and DeSoto brands. Today, Dodge and Chrysler both are owned by Stellantis, an international conglomerate that also includes Fiat and Peugeot, and Dodge is known mostly for its minivans and muscle cars. Take a look at some of most iconic cars, trucks, and other vehicles produced by Dodge over the decades.
Dodge 30-35 (1914-16)
The first vehicle to roll off the Dodge Brothers Co. assembly lines in Hamtramck, Michigan, was the 30-35 touring car. It had a four-cylinder engine that produced a maximum of 35 horsepower, considerably more powerful than rival Ford’s Model T. Some of these vehicles were acquired by the U.S. Army, leading to Dodge’s producing cars and trucks for the military during World War I.
Power Wagon (1946-80)
Four-wheel-drive cars and trucks are commonplace today, but in the mid-1940s, they were unheard of. Using the knowledge gained from building vehicles for the U.S. military, Dodge in 1946 unveiled the Power Wagon, considered to be the first four-wheel-drive truck built for the civilian market. Various iterations of the Power Wagon were produced through the 1980 model year, when it was replaced by the Ram.