Cummins Diesel History

Clessie L. Cummins started Cummins Engine Co. in 1919 by building and selling small diesel engines to Sears, Roebuck & Co. These engines proved defective, but this did not stop Cummins from pushing on. Many of the early Cummins engines proved defective and were plagued with problems. It was not until 1930 that Cummins Engine Co. produced its first successful diesel engine, and 1937 marked the first profit of Cummins Engine Co. Despite a small taste of success, Cummins still faced many hardships to get where they are now. In 1989, they entered an agreement that resulted in a Cummins powered Dodge Ram, the first & still the only inline-6 diesel found in a light duty application.