For those new in their automotive interests, or even to many who have been In the loop for years and year, the main concern most often seems to be in the present and the foreseeable future; who can deny the allure of new technologies and those soon to come? However, knowing where you came from, and what happened to make the changes we see today, is invaluable when getting into conversations about your favorite cars and automakers.
So, to give you a little bit of history, we here at Route 46 Chrysler Jeep Dodge thought we'd discuss a big of Dodge history. Specifically, Dodge during World War II.
Dodge did make military vehicles for the soldiers at war, such as the Dodge WC-56 command car, but they also helped in much different ways. After the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7th, 1941, the automaker converted their main Detroit plant into a full-time military vehicle factory practically overnight, open and operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. But they also worked on special projects too.
From gyrocompasses to radars, components for guns to B-56 bombers, the Dodge plant played a crucial hand in helping out for the war. The number of employees doubled from 20,000 to 40,000, with their own in-house hospitals, schools, and fire department. The Dodge plant in Chicago became - at the time - the biggest building in the world, and set numerous records that have yet to be broken today, including having women comprise 75% of employees. Incredible stuff!
Today, these factories are back to just making vehicles, the result of which you can peruse here at our Little Falls, NJ dealership location. If you're like to check one out for yourself, visit today and see all that a new Dodge model can do for you.