Selling Dodges

Founded in 1900 as the Dodge Brothers Company to supply parts and assemblies for Detroit's growing auto industry, Dodge began making its own complete vehicles in 1914. Its initial offering, the four-cylinder Dodge Model 30/35 touring car, was marketed as a slightly more upscale competitor to the ubiquitous Ford Model T. It pioneered many features later taken for granted, like all-steel body construction; at a time when the vast majority of cars worldwide still used wood-framing under steel panels, Dodge made steel construction standard.

Likewise, 12-volt electrics were standard, while most cars were still making do with six volts well into the Fifties. Once the Dodge brothers had started producing their own vehicles, John Dodge was quoted as saying: "Someday, people who own a Ford are going to want an automobile."

As a result of the brothers' well-earned reputation for the highest quality, Dodge Brothers cars were ranked second place for US sales as early as 1916.

The brand was sold to Chrysler