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Where Is Dodge From

Dodge is known for its muscular-sporty vehicles and family-oriented SUVs, but did you know that Dodge was not an overnight success?

The Dodge brothers, John Francis Dodge and Horace Elgin Dodge, began what was known as the Dodge Brothers Motor Company in 1900, giving Dodge a 122-year history. But it took three people to create a bicycle company before the business model became about cars.

Three Men and a Bicycle

The Dodge brothers began as machinists in Michigan, and they focused their talents on bicycles that caught the attention of many cyclists of that day. The four-point, dirt-proof, adjustable ball-bearing bike was an invention by Horace Dodge and was patented in the fall of 1896.

In 1897, three years before the brothers invented the Dodge Brothers Motor Company, they teamed up with Frederick Samuel Evans. He was the key player in the three men-formed company, the Evans and Dodge Bicycle Company.

A co-worker at the Canadian Typograph plant, Evans, helped make the famous “E. & D.” or “Maple Leaf” bicycle alongside the Dodge brothers.

Since Evans took the lead, he had the bicycle on display at the New York Auto Show, which caught the eye of New York and Philadelphia dealers who bought fifty bikes to sell.

Various bicycle companies were developed by Evans and the Dodge brothers to be later bought by Nationals. However, Canada’s Cycle and Motor company soon bought out the quick-lived Nationals, and by 1900, John and Horace Dodge sold their investments in National to CCM for $7,500.

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John and Horace Dodge used the money to start another company, a machine shop back in Michigan, which became the spot for developing the Dodge car.

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The Beginnings of the Dodge Motor Company

Once the Dodge brothers opened their machine shop, they began as a car parts and assemblies supplier to the already Detroit-based automakers, Ford Motor Company, for example.

The Dodge main factory was in Hamtramck, Michigan, building complete automobiles in 1914. The brand of the vehicles was “Dodge Brothers,” and these automobiles predate the founding of the Chrysler Corporation. The production of the Dodge Brothers car was in Hamtramck until 1980.

Although the brothers passed on in the same year of 1920, a mere six years after making their first Dodge vehicle, they left the company to family members. However, in 1925 the family sold the Dodge Brothers Motor Company to Dillion, Read, and Co.

At the time, the acquisition was the largest cash transaction in history. The Dodge Brothers Motor Company sold to Dillion, Read, and Co. for $146 million. But they did not own the company for long, when only three years later, Dillion, Read and Co. sold it to Chrysler in 1928.

The Early Chrysler Years Until Today

The Dodge Brothers company became a part of the Chrysler family and integrated it into their lineup for the 1930s. Therefore, the lineup was trimmed down to the leading group of two with thirteen models, down one line and two models from the previous year.

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From 1932 until 1971, Los Angeles became the new spot for the Chrysler factory, as they needed to enhance production.

However, the Dodge vehicle was being outshone by Plymouth, which Chrysler also sold on their lots. A transformation needed to happen, and that is when Dodge introduced the new eight-cylinder line to replace the existing Senior six-cylinder engine. The engine options continued into 1933, where the exterior of the Dodge car needed to match the times.

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That is when the body of the Dodge vehicle lengthened and became more streamlined with an introduction of the Dodge DeLuxe Six in 1934, which only lived for one year. In 1936, a long-wheelbase model became a long-standing edition of the Dodge-Chrysler family.

Many decades have come and gone within the Chrysler company and many Dodge vehicles. The one thing that remains long after the passing of the Dodge brothers is their legacy of Dodge cars, trucks, and SUVs that Poughkeepsie Dodge owners know and love today.

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Dutchess CJDR Dodge Dealership Near Me

When looking for a trusted Dodge dealership near Newburgh, think of Dutchess CJDR! We offer exceptional customer service and budget-friendly Dodge vehicles that have their history in time, yet just as relevant today.

Take a look at our new Dodge inventory, and we encourage car owners in Beacon to connect with our service department for all your servicing needs. At Dutchess CJDR, we work together to get you the Dodge you deserve!

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