You’re walking through a classic car show, the kind where the air smells like unburnt gasoline and old leather, and you spot a 1920s Dodge Brothers touring car. You look at the radiator badge and do a double-take. There it is—a six-pointed star that looks exactly like the Magen David.
It’s a sight that stops a lot of people in their tracks. Honestly, it’s one of the weirdest bits of automotive trivia out there. Why on earth did two brothers from Michigan, who weren't Jewish, decide to put a Dodge Star of David on every car they built for over two decades?
People love a good conspiracy theory. You’ve probably heard the one about them trying to annoy Henry Ford, or maybe the story about secret Jewish bankers. But like most things in history, the truth is a bit more complicated—and a lot more interesting than the myths.
The Mystery Behind the Interlocking Triangles
John and Horace Dodge were tough-as-nails machinists. They were the guys who actually built the engines that put Henry Ford on the map before they got tired of his antics and started their own company in 1914. When they launched the Dodge Brothers Motor Vehicle Company, they needed a logo.
They settled on a circle containing two interlocking triangles—one white, one black—forming a six-pointed star. In the center, they placed an intertwined "DB."
Here’s the kicker: nobody actually knows for 100% certain why they chose it.
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John and Horace both died in 1920, victims of the horrific flu pandemic, and they never sat down for an interview to explain the branding. They took the secret to their graves. Because of that silence, the "Dodge Star of David" became a magnet for legends.
Was it a "thumb in the eye" to Henry Ford?
This is the most popular story. Henry Ford was a notorious anti-Semite. The legend goes that the Dodge brothers, who had a massive falling out with Ford over dividends and business direction, chose the symbol specifically to irritate him. It’s a great story. It feels like poetic justice.
But it’s almost certainly fake.
When the logo was designed around 1912-1914, the Dodge brothers were actually still on decent terms with Ford. They even attended Edsel Ford’s wedding. While they eventually became bitter rivals, the timeline for a "spite logo" doesn't really line up.
The "Jewish Bankers" Myth
Another common tale is that the brothers used the star to please Jewish financiers who funded their startup.
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Total nonsense.
The Dodge brothers were incredibly wealthy by the time they started their own car line. They had millions in the bank from their years of supplying Ford. They didn't need outside investors, and they certainly didn't have "Jewish bankers" calling the shots.
So, What Was It Actually?
If it wasn't a religious statement or a middle finger to a rival, what was it? If you talk to historians at the Dodge Brothers Club, they’ll give you a few theories that actually hold water.
- The Greek Delta: In the Greek alphabet, "Delta" is a triangle. Two interlocking deltas could simply represent the two brothers, John and Horace. It’s a visual shorthand for their partnership.
- The Solomon’s Seal: Back then, the six-pointed star was often referred to as Solomon’s Seal. It was a common symbol for "as above, so below" or the union of two forces. For two brothers who were famously inseparable, it was a perfect metaphor.
- Law Enforcement: Horace Dodge apparently loved hanging out with cops. Some think the badge was inspired by the six-pointed stars worn by sheriffs in the Old West.
- A Symbol of Quality: In the early 20th century, the six-pointed star wasn't as exclusively tied to Judaism in the American public consciousness as it is today. It was often used just as a symbol of "good luck" or "excellence."
Basically, they likely just thought it looked cool and represented their "bond" as brothers.
The End of the Dodge Star of David
The star stayed on Dodge cars long after the brothers died. It survived the 1928 buyout by Chrysler. It survived the Great Depression. But by the late 1930s, the world was changing.
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The rise of the Nazi party in Germany and the increasing persecution of Jewish people turned the six-pointed star into a politically charged symbol. For a global company like Chrysler, having a "Dodge Star of David" on the front of their cars was becoming a marketing headache.
In 1939, the logo was officially retired.
Dodge moved on to the family crest, then the "Forward Look" boomerangs, the "Fratzog," and eventually the Ram’s head we all know. But those early cars still carry that mysterious star, a remnant of a time when a logo could just be two triangles and a pair of brothers trying to build the best machine in Detroit.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts
If you're looking to verify a vintage Dodge emblem or dive deeper into the technical history of these early machines, your best bet isn't a general Google search—it's the Dodge Brothers Club. They maintain the most accurate archives of production changes between 1914 and 1938.
You can also visit The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. They have one of the original 1920-era radiator emblems on file (Object ID 86.129.93), which shows the intricate "DB" interlocking that often gets lost in low-resolution photos online.