The First Ford Cars Had Dodge Engines

When Henry Ford launched the Ford Motor Company in 1903, he had a grand vision but a significant problem: he had no factory capable of manufacturing cars. His Mack Avenue plant was essentially an assembly shed with minimal equipment. So Ford made a deal that would change automotive history—he hired the Dodge Brothers to build his cars for him.

John and Horace Dodge weren't just parts suppliers; they were mechanical wizards who ran Detroit's most respected machine shop. They manufactured the engines, transmissions, chassis, and axles for Ford's original Model A. In fact, they produced nearly every mechanical component. Ford's factory simply bolted on the body and wheels, then sold the cars.

A Partnership Built on Trust (and Stock)

The arrangement was extraordinary. Henry Ford gave the Dodge Brothers a 10% stake in his new company in exchange for $10,000 worth of goods and their manufacturing expertise. The brothers received $250 for each engine and chassis they delivered, and they also secured a line of credit to buy all the tools and materials they needed.

This wasn't a typical supplier relationship. The Dodge Brothers actually redesigned key parts of Ford's original prototype, improving the engine, rear axle, and other critical components. Without their engineering skills and manufacturing capacity, the Ford Motor Company might never have gotten off the ground.

When Partners Become Rivals

The partnership lasted over a decade and made everyone involved spectacularly wealthy. Ford's cars flew off the lots, and the Dodge Brothers' shares in the company became worth millions. But by 1914, the brothers had learned everything they needed to know about automobile manufacturing—and they wanted to build cars under their own name.

They left Ford and launched Dodge Brothers Motor Company, instantly becoming one of Ford's fiercest competitors. Their first car, the 1914 Dodge Model 30, was rugged, reliable, and gained a reputation for quality that rivaled Ford's.

The irony is delicious: Henry Ford's earliest success was built on engines that said "Dodge" on them, and those same brothers later became his rivals. It's a reminder that in the early days of the auto industry, collaboration and competition were often just a contract negotiation apart.

• 1900: Dodge Brothers Company founded as a machine shop
• 1903: Partnership with Ford begins; Dodge Brothers manufacture Model A components
• 1914: Dodge Brothers leave Ford to start their own car company
• 1920: Both brothers die during the influenza pandemic; company later sold to Chrysler