Loading
Loading
Dodge was founded in 1900 by Horace and John Dodge as a precision machine shop supplying engines and components to Detroit automakers, most notably Ford Motor Company. The Dodge brothers became Henry Ford primary suppliers and were among Ford earliest investors. They founded the Dodge Brothers Company in 1914 to produce their own car, the Dodge Model 30.
Dodge automobiles earned a reputation for durability and innovation. The company pioneered all-steel bodies and was one of first manufacturers to use mass-production techniques. After the founders deaths in 1920, the company was sold to Chrysler in 1928 for $170 million, then one of the largest corporate acquisitions in history.
Under Chrysler ownership, Dodge produced a range of vehicles from compact cars to muscle cars. The Charger (1966), Challenger (1970), and the Hemi-powered performance models became icons of American muscle. Dodge also produced trucks through the Ram brand (spun off in 2010) and minivans that defined the segment.
[Note: Dodge has narrowed its lineup significantly. The Challenger and Charger nameplates ended production in 2023, with the Charger revived in 2024 as a two-door coupe with electric and inline-six powertrain options. The brand future as a performance-focused Dodge within Stellantis is in transition.]
The Dodge Charger Daytona (1969) was a limited-production high-speed stock car homologation special with a radical nose cone and rear wing, becoming the first NASCAR vehicle to exceed 200 mph on a closed course. Only 503 were built for the road.
The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat (2015) was the first production muscle car to offer over 700 horsepower, using a supercharged 6.2L Hemi V8 producing 707 hp. The engine was named one of Ward 10 Best Engines. The Hellcat nameplate eventually expanded to include Challenger, Charger, Durango, and Ram TRX versions.
Dodge introduced the first production all-wheel-drive muscle car with the 2009 Dodge Challenger, available with the 5.7L Hemi V8 and the AWD system from the Charger police package.
[Note: The claim of first AWD muscle car depends on definition. The Eagle Talon and Mitsubishi Eclipse in the 1990s were AWD performance coupes, but they were compact sports cars rather than full-size muscle cars. The 2009 Dodge Challenger AWD was the first full-size muscle car with AWD.]
The Dodge Charger Daytona EV (2024) introduced the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust system, which uses a physical chamber and amplifier to produce a synthetic exhaust note at 126 decibels, matching the volume of the Hellcat V8 — an attempt to address the sensory loss associated with electric muscle cars.
Horace and John Dodge founded the Dodge Brothers Company as a machine shop in Detroit, Michigan.
The Dodge Model 30, the company first car, was introduced with an all-steel body and 12-volt electrical system.
Chrysler Corporation purchased Dodge Brothers for $170 million, one of the largest acquisitions of the era.
The Dodge Charger fastback coupe was introduced, becoming an icon of the muscle car era.
The 707-horsepower Challenger SRT Hellcat was introduced, re-establishing Dodge as the horsepower leader.
How the platform works for buyers and dealers