A Brief History of the Dodge Brothers

Ready for some Dodge Brothers history? Curious about who founded Dodge Motors? When Horace and John Dodge started their careers, they never envisioned that their brand would one day sport some of the hottest muscle cars on the market. No, the two brothers started as trained machinists working in iron forges and in 1896 the brothers created a bicycle alongside Fred S. Evans, branding it under the Evans & Dodge. 

John Dodge, the more skilled machinist of the two, created a dirt-proof ball bearing that same year. Horace was more skilled in finances and made sure that the two brothers were never taken advantage of by slimy businessmen. The two began to produce auto parts rather than the bicycles with which they had made a name for themselves.

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It wasn’t until 1902 that the two brothers left the bicycle business to open their own shop, producing auto parts full-time for anyone that would buy the increasingly popular components. 

Even the legendary machinist Henry Ford knew that the Dodge brothers were on to something. He commissioned the two to begin producing parts for Ford and, soon, the brothers and their team were building every part of the Ford vehicles but the seating and tires.

Eventually, after differences in employee treatment and workplace environment, Henry Ford split from the brothers, but this didn’t faze them. The brothers knew the weaknesses of Ford models, weaknesses that they had tried to resolve, but never received the green light for. They were going to make their own car–one that had no weaknesses. 

The year was 1914. Dodge Brothers finally became a fully-fledged car company. The brothers pushed their first model off of production lines during November that year and the rest is history. Only 249 Dodges were built in 1914, easily recognizable by their cone-faced clutches, real grain leather interiors, wooden spoke wheels and all-black touring paint. 

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The brothers sold 150 cars to the U.S. Army in 1916, helping the armed forces to catch Pancho Villa and establishing the first, harrowing, mechanical cavalry charge. General George S. Patton would later go on to proclaim a preference for the brother’s trucks during World War II.

Sadly, in 1920 Horace contracted pneumonia while at the New York Auto Show, rendering him bedridden. John, the loyal brother that he was, sat by Horace’s bedside, ultimately catching the debilitating sickness and passing from it ten days later. Horace fought the illness, but succumbed to its effects just a few months later. 

Innovative, honest and wild, the Dodge Brothers changed the automobile industry forever with their advancements and understanding of machinery. So when did Chrysler buy Dodge? Walter Chrysler knew the brothers ran a tight ship and saw the value in helping continue their legacy. In 1925 he acquired the company and Dodge remains a part of the Chrysler automotive group to this day. 

Had Horace or John ever peeked into the future and seen the Dodge Challenger, we know they would have been proud to see what their brand would one day produce. The history of the Dodge brothers inspires the automotive enthusiasts in us and seeing just how far they’ve come makes today’s modern marvels all the more impressive.

Interested in what a century of innovation feels like? Drop by McLarty Daniel Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Bentonville and take a Challenger for a spin today. We’d love to see the grin on your face when you floor the pedal. We hope to see you soon!

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