When Horace Elgin Dodge and John Francis Dodge formed the Dodge Brothers Company in 1900, the concept of the blazingly fast cars Dodge would one day become synonymous with was barely on the brothers’ minds. In 1896, Horace was focused on applying for patents for a dirt-resistant bicycle bearing. A year later, production was underway for the Evans & Dodge Bicycle Company.
Thankfully, by 1901, the mechanically-inclined brothers would begin to pivot towards automobiles. The rest, as they say, is history. In 1903 the brothers entered into a partnership with newcomer Ford Motor Company and went to work manufacturing Ford’s engines and transmissions. In 1914 they branched out on their own and introduced the first Dodge vehicle. 249 Dodges would be built in 1914, and by 1915, Dodge already ranked third among the country’s top-selling automakers. Rising from their humble upbringing in the small town of Niles, Michigan, the Dodge brothers had fully abandoned bicycles and established one of the most successful auto manufacturing companies in the country.
Horace and John both passed away in 1920, but the legend of Dodge would continue to grow. In 1928, the brothers’ family sold the company to Chrysler; it continues to function as Chrysler’s mid-priced brand today. But despite its continued success, there’s still much about the Dodge brand’s history you may not know. Without further ado, here are five little-known Dodge facts:
Mechanizing the War Effort
In 1916, Lt. George Patton Jr. led the first mechanized cavalry charge in U.S. Army history. Patton himself helmed a Dodge WC57 Command Car, and with the aid of just two additional Dodge vehicles and 15 soldiers, he led the charge against Pancho Villa, eventually vanquishing the Mexican revolutionary’s lieutenants. Over the decades and wars that followed, mechanized cavalry charges would become the norm for the American military. (Their final horse-mounted cavalry charge would take place in the Philippines in early 1942.)
Engineered to Excel
Dodge has always been at the forefront of developing and testing powerful new engines. The first eight-cylinder engine by Dodge was produced in 1930, the same year that Dodge began offering its first factory car radios. Though that engine was discontinued in 1934 amidst the woes of the Great Depression, it was later reinstated in 1952. Then, in 2014, the Dodge Ram 1500 became the first compact pickup to offer a Diesel engine.
Ladies’ Choice
In 1955 and 1956, Dodge produced the Dodge La Femme, a full-sized automobile designed specifically for women. The La Femme was conceived by Chrysler’s marketing department upon observing that women were beginning to take on a more active role in the car buying process. Therefore, the La Femme was designed to give Dodge a foothold in the women’s auto market.
Accordingly, the interior of the La Femme was a garish 1950s’ vision of femininity. 1955 La Femmes featured pink rosebud upholstery on a pale silver-pink background. Each vehicle came with a keystone-shaped, pink calfskin purse outfitted with accessories, including a face-powder compact, cigarette case, lipstick case, and change purse. Furthermore, a compartment on the back of the driver’s seat contained a raincoat, rain bonnet, and umbrella made with the same rosebud fabric. It was all a bit much, and car buyers in the 50’s tended to agree – the La Femme was not a big seller, and Dodge dropped the line for good in 1957.
The Origin of the “Fratzog” Emblem
From 1962-1976, Dodge’s logo was comprised of three interlocking triangles, a geometrical arrangement dubbed a “Fratzog.” The origins of the emblem’s unique name? Needing a placeholder title in the early 1960’s, one of Dodge’s designers came up with the meaningless moniker “Fratzog” and… it was simply never topped. If anyone on Dodge’s design team attempted to come up with a better name than the Fratzog, they were unsuccessful. The emblem would continue to be used in parts such as steering wheel center hubs until the late 1970’s.
Highs and Lows on the Racing Circuit
Dodge’s history on the racing circuit is one of both triumph and infamy. Lee Petty put Dodge on the racing map in 1953, when he became the first driver to earn a NASCAR victory for Dodge, ascending the podium at a race in Palm Springs, Florida.
But in 1971, the Indianapolis 500 was marred by a crash involving the race’s pace car, a Dodge Challenger. Eldon Palmer, a local Indianapolis-area Dodge dealer, lost control of the Challenger at the race’s start. It crashed into a photographer’s stand, injuring 29 people – at least two of whom were treated for severe injuries. Yikes!
Drive a Dodge Home Today
Here at Sky Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, we continue to champion Dodge’s present as we honor its past. Whether you’re looking to buy new, used, or sell us your vehicle, we’re Center Point’s one-stop destination for all things Dodge. From service to parts, Sky has everything you need to keep you on the road in 2024, as you continue to write your own history.
