What is the oldest model of Dodge?
The oldest Dodge model is the Dodge Model 30, first introduced in 1914. This car marked Dodge’s first production vehicle under the Dodge Brothers and launched the brand’s lineage as an automaker.
Origins of the Dodge brand and the Model 30
John and Horace Dodge founded the Dodge Brothers in 1900, initially serving as engine and parts suppliers for other manufacturers. By 1914 they had built their own factory and introduced Dodge’s first car under the Dodge name—the Model 30—signaling the transition from supplier to full-fledged automaker.
Below are the core facts that establish the Model 30 as Dodge’s oldest automotive offering.
- Year introduced: 1914
- Model name: Dodge Model 30
- Engine: four-cylinder engine (commonly cited as delivering about 30–35 horsepower)
- Production context: produced by the Dodge Brothers Motor Car Company as one of the early mass-produced Dodge automobiles
- Impact: set the tone for Dodge’s emphasis on durability, practicality, and value in the years that followed
The Model 30’s launch is widely regarded as the starting point of Dodge’s independent car-building history, distinct from its prior work supplying parts and engines to others.
Why the Model 30 matters in Dodge’s history
As Dodge transitioned from a supplier-focused business to a consumer-facing automaker, the Model 30 established a brand identity centered on value, simple engineering, and reliability—a ethos that continued through Dodge’s many models in the 1910s and beyond. It also set a foundation for how Dodge marketed its vehicles to the growing American middle class in the pre-war era.
Legacy and later developments
After the Model 30, Dodge expanded its lineup and continued to innovate through the 1910s, contributing to the company’s long-term survival. The Dodge Brothers’ legacy persisted until the brand became part of Chrysler (later Stellantis) in 1928, with the Model 30 remembered as the entry point of a storied automotive lineage.
Summary
The Dodge Model 30, released in 1914, is recognized as the oldest Dodge car model. It marked the moment when Dodge began producing vehicles under its own name, laying the groundwork for a long-running tradition of durable, value-oriented cars that would carry the brand forward through the 20th century and into the modern era.
