100 Years of Dodge in Photos

Originally named the Dodge Brothers Company, the brand we now know simply as Dodge was started in 1900 by two brothers - John Francis Dodge and Horace Elgin Dodge. Twenty years later, both brothers died, and the company was eventually sold to Chrysler. Photo: Megan Green

During World War I, Dodge Brothers provided ambulances and cargo trucks to the government for the war. They offered the  Screenside Commercial Car beginning in 1918 after the war. Pictured is the 1920 model which could could carry up to half a ton.

Dodge was the more affordable Chrysler vehicle line in the Depression-era United States. In 1934 the Dodge DeLuxe sedans got a little longer and a bit more power than previous Six or Eights.

Once again, the world was plunged into war. During World War II, the long-wheelbase WC54 3/4 ton was manufactured and used by the Army as an ambulance. Over 250,000 were manufactured of the 4x4 light truck. Pictured is a 1944 model.

Dodge wasn’t the first automaker to create and market a car specifically for women, but the “Heather Rose” La Femme was certainly - pink - and quite possibly the most memorable. Since it was an option package for the 1955 Royal Lancer, actual sales records are sketchy. The tapestry was dotted with pink rosebuds, and the La Femme was highly accessorized with a rain bonnet and umbrella with matching rosebud print, as well as a calfskin purse (pink, of course) containing a lipstick case, compact, and cigarette lighter and case. Tres chic, madame.

The two-tone 1956 Custom Royal hard top coupe was the top-of-thee-line Dodge and came with a V8 engine. The Royal was available as a 4-door wagon called the Sierra, and the Coronet below that was available with a V6 or a V8 engine and as a wagon called the Suburban.

Dodge survived their financial troubles of the 50’s, and started the 60’s off with the smaller Lancer, which was soon succeeded by the Dart. The inexpensive and popular Dart was manufactured from 1960 to 1976. Photo: Megan Green

The Dodge A100 van was a compact competitor to the equally quirky-looking VW Type 2. Driver and front seat passengers sat above the axel, and the engine came in two Slant 6 and two V8 variants.

Built by Jim Shaeffer and John Collier with a 426 Hemi engine, the highly modified A100 pick up named the Little Red Wagon” was a hit at the drag strips. Bill “Maverick” Golden drove it from 1965 to 1975, then it toured shows for decades after, ultimately being sold for $550,000 at auction in 2009.

The Challenger, Dodge’s pony car, is a two-door produced from 1969-1974. It’s the car driven by Kowalski in the 1971 movie “Vanishing Point,” which is always on top ten lists for best chase scenes. Available with either slant 6 or V8 engines, the 440 pictured here was the most powerful with a Chrysler RB V8. Photo: Megan Green

Another famous Dodge is the Charger. While over the first three generations it greatly varied in size and configuration, the most famous Charger is probably the two-door 1968 General Lee from the tv show “The Dukes of Hazzard.” Shown here is the Charger Daytona with a 23-inch spoiler, a limited edition performance edition of the Charger engineered to compete in NASCAR. The Charger became a sub-compact in 1983, and was made until 1987.