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some amusing trivia about Dodge and Ford:

In 1902 the Dodge Brothers were approached by Henry Ford, who was looking for help in financing his own automobile company. Dodge Brothers helped finance the start of the Ford Motor Company as well as manufacturing parts for early Fords, to Ford and the Dodge Brothers mutual financial benefit.

In 1914 the Dodge Brothers started their own auto company, which they named the Dodge Brothers Motor Vehicle Company. Early models had some similarities to the Ford Model T, but with such refinements as electric rather than crank start, as were becoming popular with the middle class. The new Dodge cars were a commercial success.
In 1917 Dodge Brothers began building motor trucks as well, at first for use by the United States Army during World War I, then commercially after the war's end.
In 1925 the Dodge Brothers Company was purchased by Dillon, Read & Company for $146 million, said to be the largest cash transaction in history up to that time. Dillon Read in turn sold Dodge to the Chrysler Corporation on July 31, 1928.

I think I watched something about that on the history channel a while ago...

good stuff

I think GM tried to get a loan to buy Ford during the depression (or near it), and was refused.

Buick is who started GM because of their profits and success, and were the backbone for a long time. Hard to imagine now saying that it's been decades since a desirable Buick has rolled off the assembly line.

Walter Chrysler actually used to be the head of Buick, got in an argument with Billy Durant (owner of Buick and founder/head of GM), resulting in Chrysler getting pissed and going to Willys. Willys flopped, so he moved to the Maxwell Motor Company, turned them around, and used that to create his empire (Plymouth, Dodge, De Soto, and of course, Chrysler at the top).

Just think of what it would be like today if the "Big 3" didn't exist. Though I'm rather thankful that it isn't, you need some competition. If the car market keeps sinking like it is, though, I wouldn't doubt seeing a huge merger in the future.

ford + dodge + chevy = a whole lot more cars made in mexico!

joeyc wrote:ford + dodge + chevy = a whole lot more cars made in mexico!

Don't forget Canada!

Jonathan wrote:Hard to imagine now saying that it's been decades since a desirable Buick has rolled off the assembly line.

GNX.

Which ended in 87 (I think?), almost 2 decades since they stopped production We're turning into old farts, or I am anyway .

The new Buick laCrosse is a fairly cool looking car imho.

Since there is no more Oldsmobile the old farts need a GM product alternative...

Not this old fart Maybe with a about 20 more years on me. Old farts like me would be buying the (hopefully) upcoming Dodge Challenger, or that GT500 that'll be out this year.

I've heard the Lucerne is a hit. Hard to define what a "hit" is for Buick, they aren't exactly a volume automaker compared with the rest of GM.