Founded in 1900 as the Dodge Brothers Company, Dodge became a Chrysler division in 1928. Initially designated as a mid-priced brand above Plymouth, Dodge.
Commonly defined as the period stretching from 1973 to 1983 (some argue that it continued into the 1990s), the Malaise Era was a very sad decade for the American car industry. The 1973 oil crisis and new fuel economy regulations killed off the gas-guzzling muscle car, while consumer taste shifted to more efficient compact vehicles.