Automotive History: 1928 Dodge Victory Six, In the Year Walter Chrysler Purchased Dodge

The 1928 Dodge Victory Six was produced by a company that was founded in 1900 by the brothers Horace and John Dodge. They died tragically in 1920, and the company was crippled by debt. Previously, it had been a parts supplier to other automobile companies. The first car the Dodge brothers built was the Model 30, built in 1914. It was the first all-steel car and helped make Dodge the number two car seller in the United States.

However, after the brothers’ deaths, the company was under the control of investment bankers. The company was eventually purchased by Walter Chrysler, the same year the 1928 Dodge Victory Six was produced. As such, 1928 was a transitional year for the Dodge company. Not only was there new ownership, but the four-cylinder history of the Dodge company was forgone for a six-cylinder future. Do you think producing a new, more powerful engine is disruptive to a car company?

1928 Dodge Victory Six Summary

The new model produced by the essentially new company joined Dodge’s Senior Six, a pre-existing model. The Senior Six was Dodge’s first six-cylinder engine model, which was introduced in late 1927 for the 1928 model year. The 1928 Dodge Victory Six was placed on a 112-inch wheelbase and was sold as a step between the Standard Six (another pre-existing Dodge model) and the Senior Six.

Production of the 1928 Dodge Victory Six began in November 1927 and continued for the 1928 calendar year. The Standard model was dropped, and the 1928 Dodge Victory Six was renamed the Dodge Brothers Six, in their honor. The 1928 Dodge Victory Six automobiles were known as the ‘M’ Series, signifying the first mark of their serial numbers.

The 1928 Dodge Victory Six model lineup and pricing were moderate. It is interesting to see how the pricing for these Dodge models was set. There were three standard types. The Standard Six was on a 110-inch wheelbase; the six-cylinder engine produced 58 horsepower and was priced in the $875 to $970 dollar range. The Victory Six was on a 112-inch wheelbase; the standard six had 58 horsepower and was priced between $1030 to $1170. The Senior Six was once a 116-inch wheelbase and produced 68 horsepower. It was priced from $1,495 to $1,800.

The 1928 Dodge Victory Six was unique for the time in that it had an all-steel body. The body was made by the Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Company in Philadelphia. There were several reasons a steel body was preferable. Compared to the composite bodies, which were popular at the time, the all-steel bodies were quieter, had a longer life expectancy, were lighter and stronger, and their paint dried faster due to the body’s ability to be baked. Companies at the time, perhaps inspired by Henry Ford, were obsessed with efficient production, and the composite bodies had to wait almost two weeks for their paint to dry.

Pricing

Pricing for the 1928 Dodge Victory Six varied by body type. The four-door tourer was priced at $1,030, the coupe at $1,040, the five-passenger sedan at $1,095, and the four-passenger coupe, two-door Brougham, and Deluxe Sedan at $1,170. People back then, almost one hundred years ago, were like people today. They were stratified into various income levels. Dodge’s, regardless of model type, were moderately priced.

Parting Shots

This car was interesting because it was powerful. It was unusual at the time for cars to have a six-cylinder engine. It was also unusual for a car’s body to be all steel, despite the several advantages. Finally, because it was moderately priced, the 1928 Dodge Victory Six appealed to consumers.