Graham-Paige was an American automobile manufacturer founded by brothers Joseph B., Robert C., and Ray A. Graham in 1927. Automobile production ceased in 1940, and its automotive assets were acquired by Kaiser-Frazer in 1947. As a corporate entity, the Graham-Paige name continued until 1962.

graham

After successful involvement in a glass manufacturing company (eventually sold to Libbey Owens Ford), brothers Joseph B., Robert C., and Ray A. Graham began in 1919 to produce kits to convert Ford Model Ts into trucks and modify Model TTs. That led to the brothers building their trucks using engines of various manufacturers and the Graham Brothers brand.

Eventually, they settled on Dodge engines, and soon the trucks were sold by Dodge dealers. The Grahams expanded from beginnings in Evansville, Indiana, opening plants in 1922 on Meldrum Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, of 1200 m², and in 1925 on Cherokee Lane in Stockton, California. The Canadian market was supplied by the Canadian Dodge plant. Dodge purchased the Graham Brothers truck firm in 1925, and the three Graham brothers took on executive positions at Dodge.

The Graham Brothers brand lasted until 1929, Chrysler Corporation having taken over Dodge in 1928.

graham paige

In 1927, with the banking syndicate controlling Dodge trying to sell the company, the Graham brothers decided to enter the automobile business on their own. In 1927, they purchased the Paige-Detroit Motor Car Company, makers of Paige and Jewett automobiles.

The company's initial offerings included a line of Graham-Paige cars with 6 and 8-cylinder engines. For a while, a line of light trucks was offered under the Paige name, soon discontinued when Dodge reminded the Grahams about the non-competition agreement they had signed as part of the sale of the Graham Brothers Company. Graham earned a reputation for quality and sales quickly rose.

Graham-Paige made most of their own bodies and engines. They did not have a foundry and contracted with Continental for these services relative to their engines. Some models did use Continental stock engines. Graham-Paige's own engineering department designed most of the engines used in Graham-Paige cars.

600 series

The Model 610 was the first model Graham-Paige introduced in 1928, intended to give people a taste of the brand. Most 600 Series models featured an L-head inline six-cylinder engine that produced approximately 67 hp. They were offered in several configurations, including four-door sedans, two-door coupes, and two-door roadsters.

While the early 600 Series was not initially known for radical styling, it earned a reputation for reliability and solid engineering, which helped the company achieve record sales of over 73.000 units in its first year.

800 series

The Graham-Paige 800 Series refers to the prestigious line of eight-cylinder automobiles produced by the Graham-Paige Motors Corporation between 1928 and 1930. These vehicles represented the luxury pinnacle of the brand's early offerings after the Graham brothers acquired the Paige-Detroit Motor Company in 1927.

The model 835 was the flagship and largest model of the inaugural year. It used a 5.3L Continental straight-eight L-head engine, producing 120 hp.

Unlike many contemporaries using three-speed units, the Graham-Paige eight-cylinder cars utilized a Warner Gear four-speed unit where first gear was an "emergency" low and third/fourth served as high gears for different road conditions.

The 822 was a more accessible eight-cylinder option, introduced to broaden the range. 

The 800 Series was launched during Graham-Paige's peak production era; in 1929, the company sold a record 77.000 cars. 

series 42

The Graham-Paige Series 42 (often referred to simply as the Graham Series 42) was part of the 1930 model lineup. It represented a transitional period for the company as they moved away from the "Paige" brand name to just "Graham" for their vehicle products.

 It was powered by a 6-cylinder side-valve engine and featured a 3-speed manual transmission.

The Series 42 was a mid-range offering during the Great Depression, a time when the company was beginning to face the financial struggles that would eventually lead to its exit from the automotive market.

 While the Series 42 maintained traditional 1930s styling, it paved the way for later innovations like the "Blue Streak" (1932) and the famous "Sharknose" (1938–1940) designs.

crusader

The Graham-Paige Crusader (specifically the Model 80 and 80A) was a low-priced, mid-size automobile produced from 1936 to 1937 by the American manufacturer Graham-Paige. It is historically significant for its second life as the foundation of the modern Nissan motor company.

Originally it was equipped with a Continental-designed 2.8L L-head six-cylinder engine. The standard unblown (naturally aspirated) version produced approximately 70–80 hp. Some variants, such as the 1937 Cavalier based on the Crusader body, featured a supercharged option.

It was introduced at a starting price of roughly $595 and was intended to compete in the lowest-priced market segment during the Great Depression. Primarily offered as a four-door sedan and a two-door coupe. A rare convertible version was also produced in 1937.

The Crusader was rebranded as the Nissan Model 70 (produced 1937–1943). It was nearly identical to the American version except for engine variations and right-hand drive. This model served as a cornerstone for Nissan’s early growth.

blue streak

One of the most brilliant flashes of light to come out of the Depression-era American auto scene was the 1932-1935 Graham "Blue Streak" Eight, a car of such trend-setting appearance that it served as a blueprint for the future, sending rival automakers into overtime, scrambling to catch up.

The 1932 Graham Blue Streak Eights -- available only in sedan, three-window coupe, and convertible coupe body styles -- possessed a truly arresting appearance. Mounted over a generous 123-inch wheelbase, the stunning new bodies were smooth and rounded, with unsightly chassis parts concealed, especially at the rear.

Powering the Graham Blue Streak was a 90-horsepower straight eight. Although similar to the engine used in Graham's 1931 Special 820, it boasted some important improvements, including new cam contours, dual valve springs, aluminum cylinder head, and resonant-type muffler.

More big news came from Graham came in 1934, when the automaker became the first to offer supercharging on a popular-priced car on the Model 69 Custom Eight. Output was increased from 95 to 135 horsepower on the straight eight, producing a 16 km/h increase in top speed and a significant boost in midrange punch.

sharknose

The design was originally called the “Spirit of Motion,” but the nickname “Sharknose” was what old-car enthusiasts preferred, so that’s the name that’s mostly associated with this beautifully shaped and well-proportioned automobile.

The Graham "Sharknose" refers to the futuristic 1938-1940 Graham-Paige cars known for their distinctive, forward-leaning grille, designed by Amos Northup It was available in models like the 96, 97, 98, and 108, with supercharged inline-six engines, offered as sedans, coupes, and rare convertibles. The car represented radical Art Deco design but achieved limited sales before Graham's exit from passenger cars. 

The six cylinder produced 90 hp (standard) to 116 hp (supercharged). The transmission, like that of most automobiles during the prewar era, was a manual three-speed with the shifter on the column.

Only slightly more than 8000 Sharknoses were built during its three-year production run that began in 1938 and ended in 1940.

hollywood

In an attempt to save its ailing business, Graham used body dies acquired by the Hupmobile Co. and created a new model called the Hollywood for 1940. It was not the first time Graham had taken such a measure. To create its Cavalier models beginning with the 1936 model year, Graham paid a royalty to Reo for using its body design built by Hayes Body Corp. Interestingly, the body dies that Graham used via Hupmobile had previously been purchased from the defunct Auburn Automobile Co., which originally used these dies to produce the stunning front-drive Cord in 1936 and 1937.

The Hollywood used a six-cylinder engine of Graham’s own design. The six cylinder was more often than not optioned with a factory supercharger, good for producing 116 hp.

Approximately 1378 Hollywoods were built for 1940 and 1941, which did not stop Graham-Paige’s financial slide. After its public introduction, orders poured in. However, having the bodies built by body builder Hayes did not result in a smoother assembly process and deliveries were delayed by months.

Graham-Paige suspended manufacturing in September 1940, only to reopen its plant for military production during World War II. The Hollywood would be the last Graham automobile model.

postwar

The company resumed automobile production in 1946 producing a modern-looking new car, the 1947 Frazer, named for new Graham-Paige president Joseph W. Frazer, in partnership with Henry J. Kaiser. It also began production of farm equipment under the Rototiller name.

 In August 1945, Graham-Paige announced plans to resume production under the Graham name, but the plan never materialized. On February 5, 1947, Graham-Paige stockholders approved the transfer of all their automotive assets to Kaiser-Frazer, an automobile company formed by Frazer and Kaiser, in return for 750.000 shares of Kaiser-Frazer stock and other considerations. Graham's manufacturing facilities on Warren Avenue were sold to Chrysler, who used the plants first for DeSoto body and engine production, and finally for assembly of the Imperial for the 1959, 1960, and 1961 model years.