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January 11, 1989 – Dodge Viper concept debuts
11Jan By Brian CoreyNo Comments
This Day

January 11, 1989 – Dodge Viper concept debuts

First generation Dodge Viper After only a year of development, a non-running prototype Dodge Viper made its first appearance at the North American International Auto Show on this day in 1989. It received an enthusiastic response, prompting Chrysler to put in line for production. However, then chairman Lee Iacocca hesitated on green lighting the $70 million required for the job, citing no guarantee of financial return. However, within a few months the project was underway with chief engineer Roy Sjoberg at the helm. Dodge Viper history With Lamborghini being a subsidiary of Chrysler at the time, the team of more than 80 engineers benefited from the Italian connection. Lamborghini cast an aluminum block for the concept in May of 1989. By fall, a test mule was on the track being pus...
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January 2, 1994 – Introducing the Dodge Neon
2Jan By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
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January 2, 1994 – Introducing the Dodge Neon

Chrysler introduced the Neon on this day in 1994. At various times, the name would find itself on Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth cars until production ended in 2005. While the US only saw Dodge and Plymouth Neon cars, Chrysler carried the name in Canada and Europe. The compact provided some stablility for Chrysler, as it continually exceeded sales goals. However, it was often deemed bare bones by buyers. But what the Neon lacked in comfort, it tried to make up for in speed. Whereas other small car producers added accessories to their compacts, Chrysler added horsepower. The original Neon R/T could hit 60 mph in 7.6 seconds, a solid time for a compact. Neons regularly entered competition in SCCA Solo autocross and showroom-stock road racing. After a trip to SEMA in the late 1990s...
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December 28, 1870 – Edward Budd, automotive frame pioneer, is born
28Dec By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
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December 28, 1870 – Edward Budd, automotive frame pioneer, is born

In the early 1900s, thousands of people aimed to make a name for themselves in the early automotive industry. While most failed outright, there are some integral folks who should be noted in any automotive history book, even though their names didn't end up on a radiator badge. One of those men is Edward G. Budd, born on this day in 1870. His contributions to the auto industry revolve around all steel manufacturing, which he first pioneered on the railroad. Edward G. Budd c. 1925 After attending a Philadelphia engineering school in 1888, Budd began a machine shop apprenticeship where he learned about pressed steel manufacturing. He eventually moved to the rails, working for Pullman. There he led efforts to build the first all steel rail car for the Pennsylvania Railroad. At the time...
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November 11, 1978 – The Dukes of Hazzard films iconic jump
11Nov By Automotive History1 Comment
This Day, Videos

November 11, 1978 – The Dukes of Hazzard films iconic jump

On the campus of Oxford College in Alabama, “The Dukes of Hazzard” crew filmed the iconic General Lee jump that takes place in the opening credits of the show on this day in 1978. The 16 foot high, 82 feet long jump over Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane’s cruiser totaled the orange 1969 Dodge Charger. Of course, they had plenty more Chargers in the studio lot. The stunt coordinator for the show bought as many of the cars as he could find. At the time there was no shortages, as Chrysler sold about 85,000 Chargers in 1969. The cars received roll bars, heavy duty suspension, altered brakes and other custom touches to make them safe and show ready. The cars that went airborne often received trunks full of concrete to prevent them from flipping. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKs1iF-g...
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August 4, 1928 – DeSoto is founded
4Aug By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
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August 4, 1928 – DeSoto is founded

1929 DeSoto On this day in 1928, Walter Chrysler founded DeSoto, which provided Chrysler Corporation a vehicle line aimed at the mid priced auto market. The plan was to pit the brand against Oldsmobile, Willys, Studebaker and other similarly valued automobiles. However, Chrysler acquired Dodge Brothers soon after DeSoto made its 1929 model year debut, giving Chrysler two mid priced brands. Additionally, Chrysler had just announced Plymouth about a month prior, which was to be Chrysler’s entry level vehicle. Chrysler was soon trying different juggling acts to make their entire line up profitable. DeSoto had a strong first year, selling 81,065 cars in 1929. This broke a record for the most vehicles sold for a new model of car in 365 days. Chrysler priced Dodge slightly above DeSoto at...
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April 30, 1925 – Dodge Brothers is sold for record amount
30Apr By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
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April 30, 1925 – Dodge Brothers is sold for record amount

An interesting transaction took place on this day in 1925 when Dillon, Read & Company, a formerly prominent American investment bank, purchased Dodge Brothers, Inc. It wasn’t so much the actual sale that stirred interest, but the terms of the deal. The car company sold for $146 million, plus an additional $50 million to be dispersed to various charities. At $146 million alone, the sale became the largest deal to date for any automaker. When adjusted for inflation, this totals more than $2.7 billion in 2020 dollars. Above: 1925 Dodge, from the year of the saleTop: Horace and John Dodge in the first production Dodge in 1914. Dillon, Read & Company was an investment powerhouse in the 1920s. They had a reputation for daring transactions outside the purchase of Dodge, which t...
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January 5, 1924 – The first Chrysler car debuts
5Jan By Brian CoreyNo Comments
This Day

January 5, 1924 – The first Chrysler car debuts

Visitors to the lobby of the Commodore Hotel in New York City on this day in automotive history in 1924 may have been treated to the public unveiling of the first Chrysler car to use the trademarked name. Released under Maxwell as the Chrysler Six during the New York Motor Show, the car had only began rolling off the assembly line on December 20, a few weeks prior. Getting to this point was no easy task for proprietor Walter Chrysler. Maxwell-Chalmers hired Chrysler to head the ailing automobile brand just a year before. They had high hopes that Chrysler could save the company, as he had recent success revitalizing Willys-Overland. Among the first steps Chrysler took to get MC out of the hole: shutting down production of Chalmers in 1923. This left Maxwell on its own. To give the c...
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Coming or Going? Dual Nose 1941 Dodge For Sale
19Dec By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
Cheap Classic Cars

Coming or Going? Dual Nose 1941 Dodge For Sale

Some cars look stunning coming straight at you, while others glisten when their tail lights glow. In the case of the looks of this 1941 Dodge, it really doesn't matter which way it is going! This unique build features dual noses, steering wheels, dashboards and everything else needed to mirror its image front to rear, or is that front to front? It even has two working radios! Any way you look at it, you're sure to get a few confused gazes as you cruise down the street. It appears that confusion started long ago, assuming the newspaper clipping included in the ad (pictured below) is about the same car. More on that in a minute. If you're interested in angering fellow commuters or having a grand ole time in the parade, you can buy this 1941 Dodge "Luxury Liner Dual Nose" in Los Angeles ...
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December 5, 1977 – Chrysler Corp debuts FWD compacts Omni & Horizon
5Dec By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
This Day

December 5, 1977 – Chrysler Corp debuts FWD compacts Omni & Horizon

The first mass produced front wheel drive cars from the Chrysler Corporation debuted on this day in 1977. The subcompact Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon would help save the company. They became a popular alternative to economical imports at a time when Chrysler was losing major money. Aside from being the first FWD cars from Chrysler, they're among the first from any American automaker. Previous domestic FWD cars include the Cord 810/812, introduced for 1936, followed by the Oldsmobile Toronado, first offered in 1966, and the 1967 Cadillac Eldorado. The cars remained in production for eleven years with few changes. Some 2,500,000 Omnis and Horizons left the factory by the end of their run in 1990.
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November 14, 1914 – The first Dodge car leaves the factory
14Nov By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
This Day, Videos

November 14, 1914 – The first Dodge car leaves the factory

Horace Dodge (left rear) and John Dodge (right rear) in “Old Betsy” in front of John Dodge’s Boston Boulevard home on November 14, 1914. Guy Ameel, superintendent of final assembly for Dodge Brothers is driving. This is likely a pre-production vehicle. After finding massive success as a partsmaker in Detroit's blossoming auto industry in the early 1900s, the Dodge Brothers, John and Horace, signed a deal to build parts exclusively for Ford. Since Henry Ford didn't have the capital to pay them directly for their services, he awarded them $10,000 in Ford Motor Company stock. As the brothers produced engines and other parts for the new Ford Model T starting in 1908, Ford's success amplified their own wealth beyond their wildest dreams. However, the two were not content building other peop...
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This Day in Automotive History is a transportation history, car history and general automotive history website dedicated to providing informative and entertaining content. Our goal is to enlighten our readers by producing and publishing automotive content on a wide range of topics, including famous cars, important automotive inventors and engineers and other historic automobile related events, places and people. We encourage you to share our page and connect with us on Facebook or sign up for our automotive history newsletter at the top of this page. If you have any questions about the content we publish, including our car videos and car history pictures and text and the use of them, please don’t hesitate to contact us using the below email address. On occasion we post classic cars for sale from Craigslist, Facebook and other online marketplaces. We utilize imagery from those ads in a fair use fashion. This includes barn finds for sale, muscle cars for sale, vans for sale, station wagons for sale, trucks for sale and other affordable old cars for sale. If you’d like your car featured, reach out to us!

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