1924 Dodge Entry number 33 river Joe De-Caetano Navigator Chris De-Caetano
Dodge
1940 Dodge
1940 Dodge Entry number 56 Driver Trevor McCulloch Navigator Bev McCulloch
The Dodge Brothers (Horace Elgin and John Francis) were operators of a turn-of-the-century machine shop that made stove and auto parts. However, in 1913 the brothers decided to turn to automobile production after Horace had perfected a method of baking enamel onto steel. The Dodge Motor Company, as their business was now known, began officially operating in 1913. The first Dodge exited the assembly line on November 14, 1914 – one of America’s first all-steel cars. Both brothers died in 1920, leaving one of the largest auto-making companies. It was sold to the Chrysler Corporation in 1928 and is still a Division of Chrysler. The first Dodge model produced by Chrysler was called the DeSoto. Prior to the 1940’s war years and before domestic production was halted due to the company’s wartime government commitments, Dodge produced four popular models – all in the year 1940. speed transmission. They were the Dodge Deluxe Convertible (Deluxe 6 and Deluxe LWB), the Dodge Special 6 and for export, the Dodge Kingsway 6. Depending on the model, the cars averaged minimum/maximum weights of 2,867 lbs. to 3,550 lbs. Engines were 87 horsepower 6 cylinders. At the time, the selling price averaged between $800 and just over $1,000 pre-war dollars in the United States – depending on the model type. In 1940, the Dodge began to design and build cab-over engine trucks. Due to the popularity and reliability of the Dodge brand, it soon became the nation’s fourth largest producer of trucks. In that year, the base price for one of these units was $590 US Dollars. Trucks were then equipped with an in-line 6-cylinder L-head 79 horsepower engine and a three- speed transmission
1924 Dodge Tourer
Joe and Jan Hicks
At the start of the 1920s, the Dodge Brothers Inc. was one of the stronger independent automobile manufacturers. From their humble beginnings in a machine shop making engines for curved-dash Oldsmobile’s, they soon started manufacturing most of the assembly parts of the earliest Fords on a subcontracting basis. The brothers started building the cars bearing their own names in 1914. (Dodge’s first dealer was Cumberland Motors of Nashville, Tennessee, which remained in business until the late ’60s, proudly advertising their status as “World’s First Dodge Dealer”.)
In 1920, after the death of both the Dodge brothers the widows made several pioneering moves to keep the company in profit, but ultimately considered they would be unable to run the business themselves in the face of stiff industry competition.
During this period of uncertainty, the straight 4 cylinder Dodge 4-door touring sedan was released to regain the lost automotive market share. In its production period from 1922-1927, the Dodge Four saw several changes in the Dodge management, which certainly acted as a barrier to its subsequent technical development.
Still the long standing public appeal and heritage of the Dodge 4×2 rear wheel drive front-motor car was enough to keep the company in profit despite the lack of innovative breakthroughs. The rugged dependability of the Dodge vehicles in the face of on-road adversity and its traditional styling created a throng of Dodge enthusiasts across the world.
1934 Dodge Sedan
owned by Brian, Kay and Jack Sole
In 1928 after the aggressive acquisition of the Dodge Motor Company by Walter Chrysler of the Chrysler Corporation, the company’s new management undertook several innovative measures to improve its market hold, but the historical Depression forced them to drastically change their commercial plans.
It’s interesting, and a little unsettling, to imagine how the two firms would have weathered the upcoming Depression had they remained separate, with Chrysler’s new multiple makes and relatively low levels of production capacity, and Dodge’s independent ownership by an investment firm with no other ties to the auto industry.
But the depression never stopped the innovative outflow of the development team of the new Chrysler Corporation.
This was vividly portrayed in the Dodge’s 1934 production line in the form of the following classics, commercialized in several unique body modifications:
1 DR DeLuxe Six
2 DRXX New Standard Six
3 DS DeLuxe Six
The 1934 Dodge Sedans were truly automotive marvels and introduced several innovations unseen at the time. Some of the technical innovations associated with the 1934 Dodge Sedans include:
1 Straight 6 – cylinder, 217.8 Cu.In. Engine generating 87 HP
2 Bore x Stroke: 3.25 x 4.38 inches
3 4×2 rear wheel drive front-motor car
Thus under the Chrysler Corporation’s management, the Dodge continued its proud heritage and tradition of power, style and rugged dependability.
1927 Dodge Tourer
owned by Alan and Rondah Rodda
The legacy the Dodge Brothers began by constructing durable and powerful cars starting with the 1914 “Old Betsy”. The Dodge brothers adapted their skills to meet the needs of the fledgling automotive industry and found success producing intricate and innovative auto parts which coupled with unique designs started the Dodge’s tradition of power, style and rugged dependability.
But in 1920, after the death of both the Dodge brothers, in spite of several pioneering moves to keep the company in profit, the widows ultimately considered they would be unable to run the business themselves in the face of stiff industry competition.
The widows sold the company to New York investment bankers Dillon, Reed & Co. in 1925 for $146,000,000, an astronomical sum in an era when a new Ford sold for less than $30
While Dillon-Reed apparently bought Dodge with the intention of selling it for a profit, it continued to operate at a profit after the takeover. Dodge management under Dillon, Reed went on to buy out the Graham brothers in 1926 (who went on to Paige-Detroit, renaming it Graham-Paige) and consolidate all truck manufacture under the Dodge Brothers name.
In the face of compromising situations and uncertain management moves, the Dodge design and development team manufactured the 1927 Dodge Four 128 touring sedan to sense the public reaction to the changes at Dodge Inc.
Following the traditionalism in the Dodge designs, the 1927 Dodge Tourer was a 4×2 rear wheel drive front-motor car with the following technical specifications:
* Straight 4-cylinder L-head, 212.27 cu.in. engine generating a
mod erate 35-40 BHP.
* Stewart up-draft vacuum type carburetor.
* 3 speed + 1 back gearbox.
* 5-bearing chrome-vanadium steel crankshaft
* Fuel consumption of 25 miles per gallon at touring speed
The Dodge motor company was acquired from Dillon-Reed by Walter Chrysler in 1928 after some aggressive and intimidating proceedings for $170 million.