What does the Dodge brothers logo mean?
The emblem most people associate with Dodge—a ram’s head— signifies strength, power and rugged capability. It originated with a hood ornament introduced in the early 1930s and has evolved into a lasting brand symbol, now closely linked to Ram Trucks while remaining part of Dodge’s overall heritage.
Origins of the emblem
The emblem’s most famous incarnation began as a hood ornament on Dodge vehicles in the early 1930s. Known widely as the Flying Ram, the figure of a charging ram was designed to convey speed, power and performance—qualities the brand wanted to project to buyers during a dynamic period of automotive design.
Before the emblem settled into a single, lasting badge, Dodge used variations of the ram motif on grilles, badges and marketing materials. Over the decades, the ram image became synonymous with Dodge’s performance-oriented image and its reputation for durable, capable cars and trucks.
The following milestones trace how the emblem evolved and how it came to be associated with Dodge and its trucks.
- 1932 — The Flying Ram hood ornament debuts, establishing a striking symbol of power and forward momentum for Dodge.
- Mid-20th century — The ram motif appears more broadly on grilles and badges across Dodge models, reinforcing brand identity.
- Late 20th century — Dodge strengthens its performance and durability messaging, with the ram emblem continuing to appear on various models.
- 2010 — Ram Trucks becomes a standalone brand within the Chrysler group, adopting its own ram-head emblem for trucks while Dodge maintains its car-focused branding.
- 2020s — The ram head branding is refined for modern trucks, emphasizing rugged capability and American manufacturing heritage.
Concluding: The Flying Ram origin and its subsequent evolution solidified the ram’s association with power and resilience, a visual shorthand that has endured across generations of Dodge and Ram vehicles.
Symbolism and evolution in modern branding
Today the ram head remains a potent symbol of strength, resilience and performance. The emblem’s association with Dodge is most visible in the Ram Trucks channel, where the ram head serves as a bold, easily recognizable badge that conveys rugged capability to a largely truck-buying audience. For Dodge’s passenger cars and crossovers, the branding has often focused more on the Dodge wordmark and design language, but the ram motif persists in heritage-inspired branding and model cues.
Before the list, it’s helpful to understand the core ideas the emblem communicates to consumers in today’s market.
- Power and capability, especially in heavy-duty and performance-oriented vehicles
- Durability and reliability under demanding use
- American engineering heritage and a long brand lineage
- Distinctive, aggressive styling that helps the brand stand out
- Instant recognition, particularly among truck buyers and enthusiasts
Conclusion: The logo continues to function as a reliable shorthand for Dodge and Ram’s market positioning, bridging a storied past with current design and engineering focus.
Summary
In essence, the Dodge Brothers logo—the ram’s head—means strength, speed and endurance. Its origins lie in a 1932 hood ornament called the Flying Ram, a symbol chosen to communicate power and performance. Over time, the emblem migrated into badges and branding that eventually contributed to the Ram Trucks identity as a separate brand, while Dodge maintained its own distinctive styling. Across eras, the ram remains a unifying emblem of rugged capability and American automotive heritage.
What's the story behind the Ram logo?
However, what you might not know is that the concept goes back to the earliest days of the founding of Dodge as a brand. True to the name, the Ram logo was inspired by a charging ram, or a bighorn male sheep, which is often seen as imposing, unstoppable, or dominant.
What religion are the Dodge Brothers?
Although their logo resembles the Jewish Star of David, John and Horace Dodge were Presbyterians. Chrysler purchased the Dodge Brothers company in 1928. After several years as suppliers to Ford Motor Company, brothers John and Horace Dodge formed their own automobile company in 1914.
What is the Dodge Brothers logo?
The original Dodge Brothers logo featured two interlocking triangles forming a six-pointed star with the initials "DB" at its center, a design that was used from 1914 to 1938. Although it resembles the Star of David, the brothers were not Jewish, and the emblem is believed to symbolize their bond through the Greek letter delta (representing Dodge) or simply a design they liked. Other logos have included a ram ornament, a crest, and the "Forward Look" boomerang design.
Dodge Brothers logo history
- Interlocking Triangles (1914–1938):
- Design: A six-pointed star created from two interlocking triangles, with the letters "DB" in the center.
- Meaning: The design is believed to symbolize the relationship between the brothers, possibly using the Greek letter delta (Dcap D𝐷) for both, or as a symbol of the unification of their minds and bodies. The "DB" initials stand for "Dodge Brothers".
- Discontinuation: The logo was discontinued for the 1939 models, potentially due to concerns about its resemblance to the Star of David.
- Other notable logos:
- Ram Ornament (c. 1932–1951): A leaping ram that was used extensively on the vehicles.
- Crest (1941–1957): A shield-like design with horizontal and vertical bars, a center "O," and a knight's head at the top.
- "Forward Look" (1962 onwards): Two interlocking boomerang shapes to represent speed and progress.
- Pentastar (c. 1981): A five-sided star within a pentagon, used for many years across Chrysler brands.
What is the meaning behind the Dodge logo?
1914-1938: Star Logo
An interlocked “DB” was at the center of the star, and the words “Dodge Brothers Motor Vehicles” circled along the outside edge. The Dodge brothers weren't Jewish, as the symbol represents two Greek deltas combined to create the impression of a star.
