Dodge research
Dodge history: from Dodge Brothers to the Hellcat era
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Dodge began when brothers John and Horace Dodge built their first car on November 14, 1914; Chrysler bought the company in 1928. Its performance story runs through the 1966 Charger, 1970 Challenger, 1992 Viper, the 707 hp Hellcat of 2015 and the 1,025 hp Demon 170, before the electric Charger Daytona arrived for 2024.
Dodge history timeline
Milestones link to a full history page with years and production numbers, key variants, what changed and what to check before you buy one.
1914
The first Dodge Brothers car
John and Horace Dodge, who had supplied parts to early automakers, built their first complete car — a four-cylinder touring car — on November 14, 1914.[1]
1928
Chrysler buys Dodge
Chrysler Corporation bought Dodge Brothers in 1928, and Dodge has been a Chrysler (now Stellantis) brand ever since.[1],[2]
1964
Plymouth Barracuda
Chrysler's Plymouth division launched the Barracuda on April 1, 1964, two weeks before the Ford Mustang.[3]
1966
Charger launches
The fastback Charger arrived for 1966 on Chrysler's B-body; 37,344 were built that first model year, 468 of them with the 426 Hemi.[4]
1968
Road Runner, Super Bee and the second-gen Charger
Plymouth's low-priced Road Runner and Dodge's Coronet Super Bee arrive, and the restyled 1968 Charger sells 96,100 cars.[4],[5],[6]
1969
Charger Daytona
The winged, nose-coned Charger Daytona was built for NASCAR; 503 were made for the U.S. On March 24, 1970, a Daytona became the first car to lap a NASCAR track at over 200 mph.[7],[8]
1970
Challenger and Superbird
Dodge launched the E-body Challenger (76,925 built in its debut year), and Plymouth built 1,935 winged Road Runner Superbirds for U.S. dealers.[9],[10]
1981
17-character VINs
U.S. vehicles adopted the standardized 17-character VIN with the 1981 model year — the cut-off for VIN-based build lookups.[11]
1992
Viper
The V10-powered Viper RT/10 roadster went into production with 400 hp; it ran, with gaps, through 2017.[12],[13]
2006
Charger returns as a sedan
The Charger name came back on a rear-drive LX four-door with an available 5.7L Hemi V8, plus a limited Charger Daytona R/T.[7],[14]
2008
Challenger revival
The modern Challenger arrived from Brampton, Ontario; every one of the 7,119 2008 models was an SRT8.[15]
2015
SRT Hellcat
The supercharged 6.2L Hemi Hellcat V8, rated at 707 hp and 650 lb-ft, arrived in the Challenger and then the Charger, which Dodge certified at 204 mph.[16],[17]
2018
Challenger SRT Demon
A one-year drag-strip special: 840 hp on high-octane fuel, a 9.65-second NHRA-certified quarter mile, and 3,000 cars for the U.S. plus 300 for Canada.[18]
2021
Durango SRT Hellcat
The three-row Durango got the 710 hp supercharged Hemi; it skipped 2022 and returned for 2023.[19]
2023
Demon 170 and Last Call
The 1,025 hp Demon 170 closed out the Hemi Charger and Challenger. The final cars were built at Brampton on December 22, 2023.[20],[21],[22]
2024
Electric Charger Daytona
The new two- and four-door Charger launched first as the electric Charger Daytona (496 or 670 hp with its power boost), followed by the twin-turbo SIXPACK six for 2026 and a 600 hp Charger Super Bee for 2027.[23],[24],[25]
Dodge Charger generations at a glance
| Generation | Model years | Body / platform | Notable engines and facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | 1966–1967 | B-body two-door fastback | 318 V8 base, 426 Hemi optional; 37,344 built for 1966, 15,788 sold for 1967 |
| Second | 1968–1970 | B-body two-door hardtop | 440 Magnum R/T, 426 Hemi; Charger 500 and 1969 Charger Daytona; 96,100 sold for 1968 |
| Third | 1971–1974 | B-body, restyled | R/T among six packages; output fell with emissions rules |
| Fourth | 1975–1978 | B-body personal-luxury coupe | Shared its body with the Chrysler Cordoba |
| L-body | 1982–1987 | Front-drive hatchback | 2.2L four, turbo from 1984 (Shelby Charger, 142 hp); last 1,000 were Shelby GLHS |
| LX | 2006–2010 | Four-door sedan | 5.7L Hemi V8; 6.1L Hemi in the SRT8 |
| LD | 2011–2023 | Four-door sedan | 6.4L Scat Pack/SRT 392; SRT Hellcat (2015) 707 hp; Hellcat Redeye (2021) 797 hp |
| LB | 2024–today | Two- and four-door liftback | Electric Charger Daytona first; 3.0L twin-turbo SIXPACK inline-six from the 2026 model year |
Dodge Challenger generations at a glance
| Generation | Model years | Platform / plant | Notable engines and facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | 1970–1974 | Chrysler E-body (shared with the Plymouth Barracuda) | Engines up to the 426 Hemi; 76,925 built in the debut year and 165,437 in all |
| Second | 1978–1983 | Rebadged Mitsubishi Galant Lambda coupe | 1.6L and 2.6L four-cylinder engines, 77–105 hp |
| Third | 2008–2023 | LC (shortened LX), Brampton Assembly, Ontario | All 7,119 2008 cars were SRT8s; SRT Hellcat 707 hp (2015), Demon (2018), Demon 170 1,025 hp (2023); last car built Dec. 22, 2023 |
Every Dodge model history
Hellcat, Demon and SRT
- Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat history (2015–2023)
- Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat history (2015–2023)
- Dodge Challenger SRT Demon history (2018 and 2023)
- Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat history (2021, 2023–today)
Charger history
- 1968–1970 Dodge Charger history (1968–1970)
- Dodge Charger Daytona history (1969–today)
- Dodge Super Bee history (1968–today)
Viper
- Dodge Viper history (1992–2017)
Plymouth muscle cars
- Plymouth Barracuda history (1964–1974)
- Plymouth Road Runner history (1968–1980)
- Plymouth Superbird history (1970)
How to check a Dodge's factory build
Standardized 17-character VINs began with model year 1981[11]. For a 1981-or-later Dodge, CarWhere can check a VIN for licensed factory build data and, when it exists, list the equipment the vehicle was built with in plain English: see the Dodge build sheet by VIN or the model pages for Durango, Charger and Challenger. Coverage varies by VIN and model year. Earlier vehicles are identified by their original serial number, body (fender or data) tag and engine stampings instead.
Frequently asked questions
When was Dodge founded?
John and Horace Dodge built the first Dodge Brothers car on November 14, 1914, after years as parts suppliers. Chrysler bought Dodge Brothers in 1928.
How many Dodge Charger generations are there?
Eight by the usual count: 1966–1967, 1968–1970, 1971–1974, 1975–1978, the front-drive 1982–1987 hatchback, the 2006–2010 LX sedan, the 2011–2023 LD sedan and the 2024-on two- and four-door Charger.
How many Dodge Challenger generations are there?
Three: the 1970–1974 E-body, the 1978–1983 Mitsubishi-built coupe and the 2008–2023 modern Challenger built in Brampton, Ontario.
When did the Hellcat come out?
The supercharged 6.2L Hellcat V8 debuted in the 2015 Challenger SRT Hellcat at 707 hp and 650 lb-ft; the 2015 Charger SRT Hellcat followed with the same rating.
When did Dodge stop making the Hemi Charger and Challenger?
The 2023 model year was the last. The final Charger (a Scat Pack Widebody) and final Challenger (an SRT Demon 170) were built at Brampton Assembly on December 22, 2023.
Is Plymouth part of Dodge?
Plymouth was a separate Chrysler division. Its muscle cars shared platforms with Dodge — the Barracuda with the Challenger, the Road Runner with the Super Bee — so we cover them here.
More Dodge research
Sources
Production figures and dates come from Stellantis (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram) press materials and brand sites, reputable automotive press and auction houses wherever available; auction figures are public results from the auction house. References marked secondary are encyclopedic or enthusiast sources used only where a primary figure was not available. Market medians are CarWhere's own analysis of live US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers.
- Dodge Brothers, Inc. — Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Dodge — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- Plymouth Barracuda — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- Dodge Charger (1966) — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- Plymouth Road Runner — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- Dodge Super Bee — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- Dodge Charger Daytona — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- The first car to break 200 mph in NASCAR — Motorsport Explained (secondary reference)
- Dodge Challenger — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- Plymouth Superbird — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- 49 CFR Part 565 — Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) requirements — eCFR (U.S. Government)
- Dodge Viper — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- Dodge Viper axed, factory to close — Kelley Blue Book
- Dodge Charger — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- Dodge Challenger (2008) — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is the Most Powerful Muscle Car Ever — 707 hp (July 2014) — Chrysler Group LLC via PR Newswire
- Dodge proves the 2015 Charger Hellcat can go 204 mph — Motor Authority
- Dodge Announces Pricing for 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon (May 23, 2017) — Stellantis North America (FCA US media)
- Dodge Durango — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- Dodge Fires Up Ordering for Challenger SRT Demon 170 (March 27, 2023) — Stellantis North America media
- 'Last Call' Countdown: New Teaser Series Fuels Final Dodge 'Last Call' Special-edition Reveal (Feb. 15, 2023) — Stellantis North America media
- The Last 2023 Dodge Challenger and Charger Have Been Built (Dec. 2023) — Car and Driver (via AOL)
- 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona EV: This Is It (March 2024) — Motor1
- Dodge Charger SIXPACK (3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six) press release — Stellantis North America media
- 2027 Dodge Charger Super Bee Launch Edition (Aug. 7, 2026) — Stellantis North America media
- Dodge Charger (LD) — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
Independent reference compiled by CarWhere Research — not affiliated with or endorsed by Stellantis. Ram, Jeep, Dodge, Plymouth, Chrysler, HEMI, Hellcat, SRT, Mopar, Wrangler, Cherokee, Gladiator and the other model names are trademarks of their owners.