What is the Dodge symbol?
The Dodge symbol is the ram's head — a stylized ram’s head emblem that has long stood for the brand’s power, performance, and rugged capability.
To understand its meaning and how it is used today, this article traces its history, how it evolved as Dodge and Ram vehicles matured under Stellantis, and what buyers should expect on current models.
The Ram head as the emblem
For decades, the ram’s head has served as the signature image for Dodge’s performance and truck lines. In recent years, the symbol has become the defining badge of the Ram brand, which sits alongside Dodge within Stellantis' corporate structure. The badge is most visible on the front grille and tailgate of Ram pickup trucks and on related marketing materials.
Origins of the emblem
The idea of a ram as a symbol of power and endurance appeared in Dodge's branding in the mid-20th century and has persisted through various design iterations. The emblem has taken multiple forms—from more ornate hood ornaments to simplified head silhouettes—while preserving the core image of a horned ram.
Modern branding and current usage
Today, the ram’s head remains the central badge for Ram trucks, the dedicated pickup and commercial-vehicle brand that split from Dodge years ago. Dodge passenger cars and performance models use different branding (the Dodge wordmark and model-specific badges), but the ram head continues to be closely associated with the brand’s lineage and its rugged image in marketing, catalogs, and on vehicles that carry the Ram badge.
Color, variants, and significance
Badge variations range from chrome to black to two-tone finishes depending on model and trim. The core image—a horned ram’s head—remains consistent, ensuring instant recognition for consumers familiar with Dodge and Ram products.
Summary
The Dodge symbol is a ram’s head, a long-standing emblem representing strength and resilience. While branding has evolved—most notably with Ram Trucks taking on its own brand identity within Stellantis—the ram head endures as a central marker of Dodge’s legacy and Ram’s modern lineup.
What does the Dodge symbol mean?
The meaning of the Dodge logo has evolved over time, from its original "DB" emblem for Dodge Brothers to its recent performance-focused "Dodge" lettering with red stripes. The initial "DB" emblem used two interlocked Greek letter deltas to form a star, symbolizing the brothers' connection, not the Star of David. Later, a powerful Ram emblem symbolized strength and was replaced in 2010 by the current "Dodge" text with red stripes that stand for speed, power, and performance.
Early logos
- Dodge Brothers "DB" emblem: Featured interlocked "DB" initials inside a six-pointed star formed by two Greek letter deltas, representing the founders, Horace and John Dodge.
- Ram emblem: Introduced in the late 1920s, this powerful leaping ram symbolized strength and was inspired by a charging ram.
Modern logos
- "Dodge" with red stripes: Introduced in 2010, this logo is a more modern and performance-oriented design. The silver "Dodge" represents purity and dignity, while the two red stripes symbolize speed, power, passion, and excitement.
- "4" on the stripes: On some vehicles, a "4" is placed over the red stripes to indicate four-wheel drive.
Why did Dodge change its logo?
2010-Present. Dodge changed its logo when Ram Trucks debuted as a separate brand in 2009, with its own logo in 2010 using a combination of red and silver colors. The primary Dodge logo changed to a silvery font associated with the brand since almost the beginning.
Does Dodge have a symbol?
The Birth of an Icon: The Early Beginnings of the Ram Logo
The Ram logo appeared in the late 1920s as a striking hood ornament on Dodge vehicles. In 1932, sculptor Avard Tennyson Fairbanks created the iconic leaping ram, symbolizing the strength Dodge wanted to convey, inspired by William Hornaday's book on animals.
What is the old Dodge logo called?
fratzog
Nor does it consider the long and storied technical and engineering heritage of Dodge, born out in the recent Dodge EV video by a simple historic visual icon known enigmatically as the "fratzog." Used on select Dodge production vehicles between 1962 and 1975, the fratzog was never used in advertising, but instead on ...
