Engine and transmission suppliers to Ransom Eli Olds and then Henry Ford, the highly respected Dodge brothers - John and Horace - diversified into automobile manufacture in 1914. Featuring a 212.3ci (3½-litre), 35hp, four-cylinder engine, welded all-steel body and 12-volt electrical system, the first Dodge was a robust, 'right-first-time' design that changed little, apart from a couple of extensions in wheelbase length, over the course of the succeeding ten years. Introduced in November 1914, the Dodge sold well and by the end of 1915 some 45,000 had left the Detroit factory, the US auto industry's best first-year performance thus far. And so production would continue to grow over the next few years, with minor refinements to a successful formula, in 1919 and 1920 production comfortably broke 100,000 units, easing a little for 1921 and in the season that this car was built, it came in at a whisker under six figures.

Through this time, initially Dodge's body style offerings grew, peaking with no fewer than nine variants in 1919, before honing this to a regular 4 or 5 main styles, basically being open and closed two or four door cars. The most notable styling change was the introduction of a raked windshield on the open cars from 1919.

In 1922, reflecting the austere post World War One era, prices were dramatically cut by 20-25% across the board, and for this year alone, Dodge built two series of their four cylinder car. This is an example of the first series which carried over many features of the former year's production, but could be differentiated from the cars produced later that year, by its low hood. In this collection, ascertaining the difference is simple as the Touring version is a second series car to compare with.

A simple, pretty two seater, the car has clearly been the recipient of a repaint to its present dark red livery, and has received replaced interior trim. It has cleaned up well since its extraction from longer term hibernation and with modest effort was made to run.

Without reserve