1926 Dodge Brothers Series 126

The Dodge brothers, John and Horace, were engine and transmission suppliers to Ransom Eli Olds and then Henry Ford. In 1914, they diversified into automobile manufacturing. Their four-door touring sedan was powered by an L-head four-cylinder engine offering 35 horsepower and backed by a selective sliding three-speed transmission. It had floor shift controls, demountable wood spoke wheels, and two wheel mechanical brakes. The wheelbase measured 110 inches and carried a welded all-steel body with a 12-volt electric system. Pricing began at just under $800. Over the next decade, the well-built Dodge changed very little, apart from a couple of extensions in wheelbase length. By 1920, Dodge was second only to Ford in the United States automobile sales. This quickly changed when both brothers died in 1920, and the firm went into decline, falling to 13th place in the U.S. rankings by 1928 when it was acquired by Walter P. Chrysler. Mr. Chrysler was seeking a less-expensive alternative to his upmarket Chryslers, and after only a year under his control, Dodge had risen to 5th place in manufacturing. By this point in history, Dodge was offering its first six-cylinder car, and the last examples of the 'Fastest Four in America' would be built for the 1927/1928 (Series 128 and 129) model year. A distinguishable feature of the Series 129 were its four-wheel hydraulic brakes.

The 1926 Dodge Series 126 were similar to the prior year's design, and all bodystyles used triple door hinges. Closed bodied cars used the 'cadet' style sun visor. Early in 1926, the Dodge vehicles received a conventional three-speed 'H' system that had been standardized by the Society of Automotive Engineers. The business sedan received a two-inch reduction in its overall height, and in March, the hinged front seat feature was discontinued.

Late in 1926, the standard roadster and business sedan received a one-piece windshield; the standard touring continued to use the two-piece setup.

The 1926 Dodge was offered in various body styles in four different trim levels. The entry trim level was the Standard with prices ranging from $855 to $1,200. Prices were reduced by about $135 later in the year when the Sport and Deluxe trim levels were introduced. Standard trim-level bodystyles included a roadster, touring, coupe, sedan, business sedan, and coach.

The Special line had the same body styles as the Standard Line, and cost about $100 more. Special, Deluxe and sport models had rear fender guards, disc wheels, moto-meter, front bumper, taillight, automatic windshield wiper, and nickel-plated radiator. The Sport models and later production Deluxe sedans had new bullet-shaped headlights with nickel-plated rims. The earlier Deluxe sedans and Special models had nickel-plated headlight rims.

Bodystyles on the Deluxe and Sport models included a sedan, sport tourer, and a sport roadster. The sport roadster had been introduced in January 1926 at the New York Automobile Show.

Power was from a 212.3 cubic-inch L-head engine providing 35 horsepower. The wheelbase measured 126 inches and two-wheel mechanical brakes provided the stopping power.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2020