1937 Dodge Series D5

Brothers Horace and John Dodge founded the Dodge Brothers Company in Detroit in 1900, manufacturing engine and chassis components for many automobile firms. Among their earliest customers was the Olds Motor Vehicle Company and the new Ford Motor Company.

In 1913 the Dodge Brothers Motor Company was established and the following year the brothers debuted their first automobile, a four-cylinder Dodge Model 303/5 Touring car. The company soon moved into second place in American automobile sales, a position it held in 1920 when John Dodge passed away from pneumonia, soon followed by his brother Horace due to cirrhosis. Ownership of the company passed to the brothers' widows, who promoted long-time employee Frederick Haynes to the company presidency. As the 1920s progressed, the company slowly slipped to seventh place within the U.S. market. In 1925, the company was sold to an investment group called Dillon, Read & Co. for US $146 million, the largest cash transaction in history to date. In 1928, the company was sold to the new Chrysler Corporation.

At the time, the Chrysler Corporation consisted of the low-priced Plymouth and the medium-priced DeSoto. Dodge prices were just above DeSoto and below the top-of-the-line Chrysler. In 1933, DeSoto and Dodge swapped places in the market, with Dodge dropping down between Plymouth and DeSoto. As Plymouth cars were sold at Chrysler dealerships, Dodge branded vehicles were sold as a lower-cost alternative to DeSoto.

Much of the Chrysler corporation was restyled for 1935 with the 'Wind Stream' look. Chrysler and DeSotos of 1934 to 1937 used more exaggerated streamlining designs, with the radical Airflow styling which caused a dramatic drop in sales for both of these brands.

The 1937 Dodge junior models were fashioned similarly to the 'senior' Chrysler models. In the front was a new split-grille and chrome was used extensively throughout. Standard equipment included all-steel disc-type wheels, 'No-Draft' ventilation, hydraulic brakes, Autolite ignition, new 16-gallon fuel tanks, dual taillights, and reading lamps over each rear window. Power was from a six-cylinder engine which displaced 218 cubic-inches and breathed through a single barrel carburetor that helped it produce nearly 90 horsepower. The engine was mated to a three-speed sliding gear manual transmission and buyers had the option of selecting several different body styles, including a longer-wheelbase version.

For 1937, the only model in Dodge lineup was the D5, and available in nine body styles. A total of 295,047 examples were built in 1937.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2019