Before Dodge became known for its powerful engine cars, the founders of the brand started with other ventures. In the early 20th century, John Francis and Horace Elgin Dodge manufactured bicycles, produced car accessories, and supplied components to Ford. Eventually, they entered the automobile manufacturing industry.

In 1913, Dodge built its main factory and the following year, they constructed a test track. The first Dodge vehicle, the Dodge Model 30 (also known as Old Betsy), was produced. In 1917, the Dodge Screenside, a commercial truck, hit the road. However, in 1920, the Dodge brothers passed away, with John dying from the Spanish flu in January and Horace passing away in December.

In 1928, Chrysler acquired Dodge, and during World War II, the brand shifted to producing military vehicles. In the 1960s, Dodge introduced iconic models such as the Dodge Charger, Challenger, and Dart GTS. These muscle cars were known for their exceptional horsepower, torque, and aggressive styling. Today, they are still revered by car enthusiasts.

Dodge has made significant contributions to automotive history, and in tribute, we will shine a spotlight on some incredible vehicles that the brand has produced, but have seemingly been forgotten by history.

The information for this list of amazing Dodge cars that have been forgotten was collected from Dodge itself, as well as reputable websites such as Classic.com, Hagerty, and Hemmings.

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10 1931 Dodge Coupe

In the late ’20s, Dodge was producing over 50,000 cars per year and positioned itself between Chrysler and the DeSoto brand following the acquisition. During the Great Depression, the Dodge Coupe was introduced as a reliable and affordable vehicle for families and professionals. Today, a 1931 Dodge Coupe can fetch as much as $35,000. It had a modern-looking body style with a long hood and curved grille, rust-proof bodies, improved ignition systems, and tougher valve heads.

Engine Specs

The 1931 Dodge Coupe came in four versions: Series DD, DH, DC, and DG. The DD and DH had inline-six engines with 60 and 67 horsepower, respectively. The DC and DG were powered by inline-eight engines with 75 and 84 horsepower, respectively. The Coupe came with a three-speed manual transmission as standard and introduced the overdrive transmission. It also featured four-wheel hydraulic brakes, which was a step up from Ford’s mechanical drum brakes.

9 1949 Dodge Wayfarer Roadster

The Dodge Wayfarer was offered in various iterations, including a six-passenger sedan, three-passenger coupe, and two-door roadster. The Wayfarer Roadster, which had a starting price of $1,727, featured removable windows. Later versions of the Wayfarer included roll-up windows.

Engine Specs

The Wayfarer came with a 3.8-liter inline-six engine that produced 103 horsepower. It had a three-speed manual transmission and featured hydraulic drum brakes, independent front suspension, a single-barrel carburetor, and semi-elliptic leaf springs on its live rear axle. Due to California regulations, the Wayfarer Roadster was fitted with roll-up windows even though it originally came with removable windows. Only 5,420 Dodge Wayfarer Roadsters were produced out of a total of about 64,000 Wayfarers.

8 1955 Dodge La Femme

In the 1950s, car manufacturers targeted different consumer niches as the economy rebounded and people were willing to spend. Dodge introduced the La Femme, which came in pale pink upholstery and flashy trim. It featured unique paint that could be considered one of the coolest and most fun Mopar paint codes.

Engine Specs

This Dodge classic featured feminine designs such as its appearance, upholstery, and accessories. It came with a V-8 engine that produced 186 horsepower. The La Femme included a matching purse, a cigarette lighter, and a lipstick case as part of the package. Dodge only produced about 1,500 units of the La Femme and the car’s production was discontinued after 1956.

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7 1957 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer

The Dodge Custom Royal Lancer showcased a forward-looking design inspired by the trends of the late ’50s. It was a long and wide car with chrome elements, distinctive fins, and an understated grille. The Custom Royal Lancer was available in multiple versions, including four-door sedans and two-door hardtop and convertible models.

Engine Specs

The Custom Royal Lancer had a winged look and was equipped with a powerful V-8 engine. The base engine was a Super Red Ram V-8 that produced 260 horsepower. Customers had the option to upgrade to engines that delivered 285 or 310 horsepower. Most buyers opted for the three-speed TorqueFlite automatic gearbox over the standard manual transmission.

6 1960 Dodge Matador

The Dodge Matador was introduced in 1960 and was popular among consumers at that time. However, it was only produced for a single year, which could explain why it’s often overlooked. The Matador was a larger and more comfortable replacement for the compact Dodge Dart. The roomy interior made it perfect for young drivers who wanted to bring friends along for a quick trip. The Matador received positive reviews for its improved suspension, which enhanced the ride quality and reduced noise and vibration.

Engine Specs

The Dodge Matador was powered by a Super Red Ram V-8 engine that produced 295 horsepower. It had a starting price of $2,900 and featured an interesting space-age dashboard design with a sweep-style speed meter and a turret clock. The car also had a unique four-spoke steering wheel with an X shape.

5 1969 Dodge Charger 500

Before the Dodge Charger became a Hollywood icon, it was one of the cars that participated in the NASCAR Aero Wars of the late ’60s. To meet NASCAR requirements, Dodge had to sell at least 500 stock units to the public, thus the Charger 500 was born. It featured newly designed curves and lines that enhanced its aerodynamics. The Charger 500 had a starting price of $3,843.

Engine Specs

The Charger 500 was available with a 426 Hemi engine initially, but Dodge later made the more powerful 440 available as well. Only around 392 Charger 500s were sold to the public, making them rare and valuable today.

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4 1978 Dodge Magnum XE

The Dodge Magnum name might be familiar to today’s car enthusiasts because of the station wagon sold in the early 2000s. However, the name was first used in 1978 for a mid-size coupe based on Chrysler’s B-body platform. The Dodge Magnum XE was designed to be a mean and stylish vehicle. It was available in two trims, the XE and the GT. The Magnum XE featured a distinctive design that appealed to professionals and promised elegance, comfort, and a spirited driving experience. The car had a long wheelbase and used designs that reduced cabin vibration and noise for a smooth ride.

Engine Specs

The Dodge Magnum XE was equipped with a 5.9-liter V-8 engine that produced 155 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. It had a top speed of 103 MPH.

3 1979 Dodge Aspen