“If you can’t afford a Dodge, dodge a Ford” is one of the oldest of automotive puns and has been especially popular in Australia and New Zealand. Ford began in 1903 and Dodge began making automobiles in 1915. The following appeared in “The Motor World” column in New Zealand Truth on July 22, 1916:
 
“You might be advised that if you can’t afford a Ford, dodge a Dodge; but then, on the other hand, if you can’t afford a Dodge, dodge a Ford.”
 
 
Wikipedia: Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (also known as simply Ford) is an American multinational automaker headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903.
 
Wikipedia: Dodge
Dodge, formally the Dodge Division of Chrysler Group LLC is a brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles manufactured by Chrysler Group LLC, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Dodge vehicles presently include the lower-priced badge variants of Chrysler-badged vehicles as well as performance cars, though for much of its existence Dodge was Chrysler’s mid-priced brand above Plymouth.
 
Founded as the Dodge Brothers Company by brothers Horace Elgin Dodge and John Francis Dodge in 1900, Dodge was originally a supplier of parts and assemblies for Detroit-based automakers and began building complete automobiles in 1915, predating the founding of Chrysler Corporation.
 
PapersPast (New Zealand)
22 July 1916, NZ Truth, “The Motor World,” pg. 12:
You might be advised that if you can’t afford a Ford, dodge a Dodge; but then, on the other hand, if you can’t afford a Dodge, dodge a Ford.
 
Google Books
Butter in a Lordly Dish
By Irene Adcock
Palmerston North, NZ: Dunmore Press
1979
Pg. 86:
“If you can’t afford a Dodge, dodge a Ford”, quipped Richey.
 
Google Books
Illywhacker
By Peter Carey
New York, NY: Harper & Row
1985
Pg. ?:
There was a saying in those days: “If you can’t afford a Dodge, dodge a Ford.” It was a salesman’s lot to listen to all this rubbish.
 
Australian LS1 and Holden Forums
crusty25
18-12-2007, 12:39 PM
It go’s back to the old saying.
If you cant afford a dodge always try and dodge a ford.
   
Christopher’s AAA
Jun.2009 at 7
A New Sedanca – Pt 1
(...)
My Grandfather would have been terribly upset as he had a favourite saying – “If you can’t afford a Dodge then dodge a Ford.
 
Model T Ford Forum
By Dane Hawley near Melboune Australia on Sunday, February 19, 2012 - 04:03 am:
Not sure if this is appropriate here, but while we are playing with ‘ford’ words, an old joke was-
“If you can’t afford a Dodge, you can always dodge a Ford”.
   
JalopyJournal.com Forum
Old car quotes from days gone bye
fiftyv8
03-07-2013, 08:19 AM
I recall an old saying used when I was a kid “if you can’t afford a Dodge then dodge a Ford.”
 
HCVC Vintage Truck Forum
Rob W
Re: 1938 dodge truck tool kit
Reply #5 - 29.06.2013 at 21:00:02  

The saying went like this “If you can’t afford a Dodge dodge a Ford and by a Chev”.
 
Twitter
Garry O’Brien‏
@geeohbee  
@iJasonBright @BOC_CAR8 very old adage - if you can’t afford a D.odge, dodge a Ford.
7:56 AM - 29 Aug 13