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1920
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Maxwell and Chalmers |
Walter Chrysler joins Maxwell in August.
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| 1920 |
Dodge |
Both Dodge Brothers die; Frederick Haynes becomes President in 1921.
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| 1921 |
Maxwell and Chalmers |
The Good Maxwell ad campaign rejuvenates the brand’s reputation and sells the re-engineered and refurbished excess inventory at a token profit. Re-design and improvement of Maxwell cars undertaken by Zeder-Skelton-Breer.
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| 1921 |
Nash |
Nash launches high priced Lafayette.
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| 1921 |
Dodge |
Dodge allows the Graham Brothers (Ray 1887-1932, Robert 1885-1967, Joseph 1883-1971), truck body builders, to build trucks under the Graham name with Dodge running gear and engines exclusively; 6 months later Dodge buys controlling interest in Graham; the Brothers leave in 1927 to turn Paige into Graham-Paige and build cars.
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| 1921 |
Chrysler / Plymouth / DeSoto
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Walter P. Chrysler, managing Willys-Overland, takes on Maxwell and Chalmers. Maxwell rear axle re-engineered and sold as “Good Maxwell”.
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| 1922 |
Maxwell and Chalmers |
Chalmers merges with Maxwell; development of a new car to bear Chrysler name is begun; Chalmers discontinued.
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| 1922 |
Hudson |
Essex a closed car for only more than a touring car—by 1925 the coach was less.
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1922
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Chrysler / Plymouth / DeSoto |
A reworked Maxwell appears with improved engine and chassis. Maxwell and Chalmers merge; Development of a new Chrysler car is begun by Zeder-Skelton-Breer team. Chalmers discontinued.
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1923
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Dodge |
Dodge introduces first all-steel 4 door sedans.
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| 1924 |
Nash |
Lafayette discontinued, the wrong car at the wrong time.
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| 1924 |
Dodge |
Heirs sell Dodge to Dillon, Read and Co. for 46M. Dodge assumes control of Graham.
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1924
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Chrysler / Plymouth / DeSoto
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First Chrysler produced by Maxwell-Chalmers Motors. |
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1924
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A Key Strength: Chrysler Engineering and the Chrysler Institute 1924 - 1942 (pdf) -- The single most significant characteristic of the Chrysler Corporation that set it apart from the other contemporary automakers was its strength in automotive engineering as opposed to automotive styling.
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1924
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The Beginning of it all: The 1924 Chrysler Six (pdf) -- Acclaimed by many as the first modern car, the 1924 Chrysler Six created a turning point in the Company’s history by establishing the leading role of engineering at Chrysler Corporation.
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1924
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Chrysler Management: An Anatomy of Success 1924 - 1940 (pdf) -- All of these observers emphasized two major themes — the competence and dedication of Walter Chrysler’s chief lieutenants and the critical contribution of Chrysler Engineering to the automaker’s success.
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1924
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Early Chrysler Racing 1924 - 1931 (pdf) -- Motor racing enthusiasts both in America and abroad were impressed with the Chrysler 70 and its capabilities.
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1924
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Flat-Head Engine Design, 1924 (pdf) -- When Fred Zeder, Owen Skelton and Carl Breer developed the original engine for the 1924 Chrysler, they selected a flat-head or valve-in-block design.
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1924
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Chrysler adopted standardized body designs (pdf) early on; even when products used different bodies, some components were standardized.
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1924
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Dodge |
Chapter Three — Walter’s Cars, Walter’s Company (pdf)
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1925
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Maxwell and Chalmers
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Last Maxwell.
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1925
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Willys |
Stearns Knight purchased.
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1925
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Nash |
Lower priced Ajax marque produced.
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1925
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Chrysler / Plymouth / DeSoto |
Maxwell-Chalmers is now Chrysler Corporation, last Maxwells built. Chrysler Canada organized Balloon tires standard.
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1926
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Nash |
Ajax made into the Nash Light Six. |
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1926
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Chrysler / Plymouth / DeSoto |
Maxwell is now Chrysler 58, a four cylinder model. The Imperial is introduced, bigger than the Chrysler, with larger engine and distinctive styling.
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1927
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Willys |
Whippet and Falcon Knight (companion cars) produced.
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1927
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Dodge |
Dodge’s first 6.
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1927
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Chrysler / Plymouth / DeSoto
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Chrysler Limited (UK) organized; Chrysler 50 appears, basis for Plymouth.
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1927
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“Go Away, Little Boy” (pdf) Walter Chrysler and Henry Ford discuss the new Plymouth, circa 1927 -- Gene Weiss, retired Chrysler Engineer, Oral History Interview.
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1928
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Willys |
Paige becomes Graham-Paige—see Graham brothers under Dodge. |
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1928
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Dodge |
Dodge bought by Chrysler. Chrysler introduces a new truck under the Fargo name; Internal expanding hydraulic brakes; Integral floorpan bodies—forerunner of unitized bodies.
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1928
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Chrysler / Plymouth / DeSoto
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Privately sponsored Chrysler places third overall at Le Mans; Dodge Brothers acquired; Plymouth replaces Chrysler 50 and DeSoto introduced as ’29 models.
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1928
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Chrysler Buys Dodge, 1928.
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1928
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Taking on Ford and GM in the Low Price Field: The 1928 Plymouth (pdf) -- Although it broke little new ground, being an amalgam of first-generation Chrysler parts, improved Maxwell parts and a new radiator grill and shell, the 1928 Plymouth propelled the Chrysler Corporation into the competitive battleground of low-priced cars and precipitated, in part, the creation of divisions within the Company.
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1928
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The Red Head Six-Cylinder Engine, 1928 (pdf) -- The most notable engineering improvement in Chrysler's 1928 models was the Red-Head six-cylinder engine head.
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1928
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Dodge |
Chapter Four - The Dodge Heritage (pdf)
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1929
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Willys |
Stearns Knight and Falcon Knight discontinued.
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1929
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Nash |
Nashes are given twin ignition OHV engine—this unique feature lasts to 1940.
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1929
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Chrysler / Plymouth / DeSoto |
Downdraft carburetion, internal expanding hydraulic brakes, Lovejoy shocks as standard equipment.
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1929
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The Downdraft Carburetor, 1929 (pdf) -- The downdraft carburetor, first introduced on the 1929 Chrysler and Dodge models, was one of Chrysler's early "engineering firsts."
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1929
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Dodge |
Chapter Five — Surviving the Great Depression (pdf)
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