Dodge - Chrysler Repair and Service in Eugene and Springfield
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1934 Chrysler Airflow, the first American car to use a wind tunnel to determine styling elements, producing a then-futuristic streamlined body.
Brief Dodge and Chrysler history
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Wayne's Garage, serving Eugene and Springfield, Oregon has been performing Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth service and repair since 1973. We have experienced technicians to properly service and repair your Dodge, Chrysler or Plymouth Vehicle.
We are an AAA Approved Auto Repair shop and have been awarded the Blue Seal of Excellence by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.
Our technicians are ASE certified
We offer a 2 year/36,000 mile warranty.
We have a courtesy vehicle to get you home or to work.
Your car is hand washed and vacuumed.
Most repairs are completed in one day.
We can perform all maintenance necessary to keep your new Dodge/Chrysler warranty in effect.
Integrity, Quality and Unmatched Service.
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A Brief History of Dodge and Chrysler
Dodge
The first Dodge vehicle made by brothers John and Horace Dodge was a bicycle featuring a special dirt-proof ball bearing created by Horace. The bicycle was manufactured under the Evans & Dodge name. In 1902 Ransom Eli Olds, maker and owner of Oldsmobile contracted with the Dodge Brothers to make transmissions for his curved-dash Oldsmobile. The Dodge Brothers had a small staff, but kept up with demand once production was under way, and later expanded to meet higher demand.
During the time that the Dodge Brothers were perfecting their machining skills Henry Ford was trying to develop a successful car and car company.
After meeting Ford, the Dodge Brothers were intrigued by his car and its engine.
The Dodge's agreed to give Ford the $7,000 worth of automobile parts and $3,000 in cash that he needed to launch his car in return for a ten-percent stake in Ford Motor Company.
Under the terms of the contract with Ford, Dodge would receive all of Ford's assets if Ford went bankrupt. This was included in the contract because Ford needed money to launch his car, money that he didn't have.
Dodge manufactured every part of the Ford car except for the wooden seats and rubber tires. The Dodge brothers received $10,000 in stock dividends the first year. Ford stock would eventually pay out to them millions more and at the time the Dodge Brothers profited handsomely by both selling Ford the parts he needed to manufacture his car, and again by owning stock in his prospering company.
Henry Ford built his own manufacturing plant in Detroit in 1914 and he no longer needed Dodge to manufacture parts for his cars. Dodge then announced they would design, build, and sell their own car, and on July 15, 1914, the Dodge Brothers made their last Ford part.
The Dodge Brothers were known for quality, and the announcement that they would build their car was huge in the automotive world. The Michigan Manufacturer and Financial Record claimed in August 1914 that "the Dodge Brothers are the two best mechanics in Michigan," and that, "to a great extent, the splendid work of the Dodge Brothers and their quality production, has been the silent compelling factor behind the record-breaking sales of Ford."
The Dodge Brothers knew all of the Model T's weaknesses, so they set out to build their own car to compete with it. The Dodge car, which they'd build in their own factory, would include all of the improvements they had suggested to Henry Ford over the years but Ford refused.
Dodge Brothers cars were ranked at second place for U.S. sales as early as 1916.
In the same year, Dodge Brothers vehicles won wide acclaim for durability while in service with the US Army's Pancho Villa Expedition into Mexico.
Tragically on January 14, 1920 John Dodge died from the Spanish flu and on December 20, 1920 Horace Dodge died from complications resulting in pneumonia after contracting the same flu.
The brother's wives inherited all of the company and sold it in 1924. It was purchased by the Wall Street firm Dillon, Read, & Co. for $146 million. At the time of the transaction, it was the largest in history. In 1928 it was sold to Walter P. Chrysler, the head of Chrysler Corp. for $170 million. In 1929 the Great Depression hit and many automobiles went bankrupt, but Chrysler was strong and survived it.
Chrysler
Walter P. Chrysler started out as a machinist and railroad mechanic. He later became works manager of the Allegheny locomotive erecting shops of the American Locomotive Company at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Chrysler's automotive career began in 1911 when he became works manager (in charge of production) at Buick in Flint, Michigan. He was later made president.
He resigned from his job as president of Buick in 1919 because he did not agree with Durant's vision for the future of General Motors. Durant paid Chrysler $10 million for his GM stock. Chrysler had started at Buick in 1911 for $6,000 a year, and left one of the richest men in America.
Chrysler acquired a controlling interest in the ailing Maxwell Motor Company in 1924 and from it created a new company, the Chrysler Corporation, in 1925. In addition to his namesake car company, Plymouth and DeSoto marques were created, and in 1928 Chrysler purchased Dodge.
Chrysler Corporation began dividing its vehicle offerings by price class in 1928 and the Plymouth brand was introduced at the low priced end of the market.
Chrysler introduced the Chrysler Airflow in 1934. It was the first American car perfected in a wind tunnel which was overseen by Orville Wright It changed the architecture of American cars by placing the passengers between the axles for a vastly improved ride. The Airflow coupe was also one of the first American cars to conceal the spare tire in the trunk. As often happens with radical changes the Airflow was not a big seller and its greatly advanced design was not recognized until years later.
Chrysler acquired the Jeep trademark when it bought AMC in 1987.
