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1920 Dodge Brothers Model 30

The Dodge brothers, John and Horace, established a small machine shop in Detroit with the purpose of supplying transmission and engines to automakers, including Ransom Eli Olds and Henry Ford. Their success enabled them to produce a car bearing their nameplate. Planning began in 1913 and the first Dodge Brothers vehicle left the factory on November 14th of 1914. Their vehicle was called the Model 30-35 and it had a 110-inch wheelbase platform, offered as a four-door tourer with seating for five, was priced at $785, and powered by an L-head, inline four-cylinder engine with a 212.3 cubic-inch displacement and delivered 35 horsepower at 2,000 RPM. Standard equipment included an electric self-starter, electric lighting, a speedometer, demountable rims, a windshield, and a folding top. By 1917, the Model 30-35 had become the Model 30, and the biggest change had been to the list of body styles which now counted six. The wheelbase measured 114-inches, and body styles included a roadster and tourer, plus 'Rex' versions of these two body styles which meant they had detachable side panels and a removable hardtop fitted with snap-on glass windows. The 'Rex' was built by the Rex Manufacturing Co. of Connersville, Indiana. The other two body styles were a permanently enclosed center door sedan coupe with windows that could be lowered and a two-passenger coupe.

By 1920, the Model 30 had gained higher radiators with headlights positioned ahead of the radiator, inner side aprons, and a narrow windshield for open-bodied cars. The 'Rex' coupe roadster had been replaced by a five-window coupe with a conventional design, and a four-door sedan with standard wire wheels joined the lineup in February of 1919.

1920 Dodge Model 30

The engine used to power the 1914 Dodge continued into 1920 devoid of changes. It continued to displace 212.3 cubic inches, had four main bearings, an L-head configuration, solid valve lifters, a cast-iron block, and delivered 35 horsepower at 2,000 RPM. It was backed by a selective sliding three-speed transmission with multiple disc clutch and floor shift controls. Two-wheel mechanical brakes provided the stopping power and wood spoke wheels were at all four wheels except for the sedans which had wire wheels.

Body styles included a two-door roadster and a four-door tourer priced at $1,085, a coupe at $1,750, and a sedan at $1,900. A five-passenger taxi was also available with a price of $1,650. None of these bodies were offered with the Rex top.

The 1920 Dodge vehicles were introduced on July 1st of 1919 and instead of showcasing annual styling updates, changes were implemented incrementally throughout the year. During the model year, open molds and the touring car received longer rear fenders, open bodies received a new convertible top with wraparound rear curtains, and the windshield on all body styles became slanted. 45-inch rear springs were one of the few mechanical changes for the year.

Dodge was the fifth larger automaker in the United States in 1918 and by 1920, they were the third best-selling car in America with approximately 141,000 examples sold. 1920 was also a tragic year for the company's John Dodge passed away on January 14th after battling pneumonia. Horace Dodge died on December 20th of that year after contracting the flu.

At the time, the Ford Model T was priced from $575 to $975, had a 100-inch wheelbase, a two-speed planetary transmission, contracting band on the transmission for braking, and a 176.7 cubic-inch four-cylinder engine with 20 horsepower. The Chevrolet Series 490 had a 102-inch wheelbase and was priced from $795 to $1,285. Its four-cylinder engine had overhead valves, a 171 cubic-inch displacement, 26 horsepower, and was backed by a three-speed selective sliding transmission. External contracting brakes on the rear wheels provided the stopping power. The other Chevrolet model for 1920 was the Series FB which had a 110-inch wheelbase and a 224 CID inline-4 with overhead valves and 37 horsepower. The Series FB prices ranged from $1,270 to $1,855.

Ford produced 806,040 units for 1920 and Chevrolet's production was 146.243 units.

The Dodge Model 30 continued through 1921 with only minor updates. In 1922, Dodge introduced two series of its four-cylinder models, called the First Series and the Second Series. The 212.3 CID engine offered 35 horsepower and the wheelbase continued to measure 114-inches. Four-cylinder engines were used exclusively by Dodge through 1926, and in 1927 they were joined by the Dodge Senior Six Series.

by Dan Vaughan

Sedan

The Dodge brothers, Horace and John, produced steam engine parts in Detroit in the late 1900s. They created automobile parts for many of Detroit's fledgling automobile manufactures, including Henry Ford who was one of their larger customers. As partial payment for supplying parts, the Dodge Brothers agreed to become major stockholders in the Ford company. From 1903 until 1913, the company supplied the bulk of Ford's engine and chassis parts. In 1913, they were bout out and received several million dollars.

In 1914, the Dodge Brothers began building their own cars. With appropriate funds, they were able to design and build a very popular and reliable automobile that were price more than the Ford Model T but less than other competitor's vehicles. Sadly, both brothers died during 1920 and in 1928 the company was purchased by the Chrysler Corporation and the vehicle was renamed Dodge in 1930.

Most of the Dodge Brother automobiles were open touring cars or roadsters. This example is a rare Enclosed Coach was one of the first bodies built for Dodge by the Budd Company in Detroit. Most of the Enclosed Coach vehicles (Sedans) were constructed with wood frames. This example is constructed with a welded-steel inner structure.

Speedster

The period between 1910 and 1930 was referred to as 'The Golden Age of Racing.' It embraced the 'Roaring Twenties,' which was literally that as roaring cars raced on tracks made of dirt and wood. Initially races were between production cars. As racing moved into the teens, the cars were cut down or otherwise modified for increased performance.

Horace and John Dodge founded a precision machining company in Detroit in 1900 and quickly found work producing engine and chassis components for Olds Motor Vehicle and Ford Motor Company among others. They were very successful and built a strong reputation for quality. So not surprisingly their decision in 1914 to introduce their first Dodge car, the Model 30, complete with the industry's first all-steel body, 12-volt electrical system and a sliding gear transmission, met with much success. By 1916 they were second in U.S. sales.

With the tragic death of both brothers in 1920, the company passed into the control of investment bankers and was then acquired by Chrysler in 1928. In addition to building complete cars, Dodge also sold chassis with an engine, cowl and fenders for use by custom body builders.

This car is the only example of this style of speedster in existence and its early ownership is unknown. It made have been built by a dealer as a promotional tool. It had been equipped in a manner allowing it to compete over long distances and on different surfaces. It is equipped with an early 1920s Roots-type supercharger with a pressurized fuel system and auxiliary oil tank. It has a four-cylinder engine displacing 212 cubic-inches. It was discovered as a 'basket case', but complete with the supercharger and gauges.

This car is believed by Dodge experts to be a custom-built speedster rather than a re-bodied car. While the chassis and engine were manufactured in 1920, the car has parts produced as late as 1925. It may have been built by a dodge Brothers dealer as a promotional car.

The car has been carefully restored to its original yellow hue and authentic brass trim.