Once a beautiful and iconic piece of American Pre War automotive history, this ’38 Graham has seen better days but still offers a reasonable body and many spares. It is thought to be the only 4 door convertible built and that it was given to the Daughter of Eaton Engineering for her wedding in 1939. Certainly an oddball with an interesting history, this Graham could prove to be worthy of a restoration and perhaps fetch an interesting value due to its uniqueness once completed. Currently bid up to $4,900 this unique machine is definitely worth taking a look at. Check it out here on ebay out of Longview, Texas.
Sadly disassembled and rusted solid, the inline 6 has likely seen its last breath of forced air from the now missing factory equipped supercharger. These early centrifugal supercharged engines are a treat when running and in tip top health. Perhaps with a little luck, a solid machinist, and some overbore pistons, the engine block and crank could be salvaged if they are indeed original to the car.
Definitely not inspiring, the interior is burnt up from the sun. The rag top roof mechanism is interesting to examine, and thankfully appears to be complete. There are seats present, and the gauge console and steering wheel are in place as well. This beauty was originally white with a red interior and a black rag top. Can you imagine what a beautiful machine this was back in 1938 with its glorious pre war styling?
Although the engine and interior may not have been the most inspiring thing you have seen, the exterior is rather exciting. The unique body is relatively solid, with minimal rot to be seen. There is speculation that this car may have been built by Graham with the “rag top” style convertible top, but something about it to me almost screams coach builder. Looking at the body lines and the extra parts, this converted sedan is merely that, a modified sedan. Although that does not make the car any less special, I feel that it aids in finding various parts as necessary. There are quite a few spares included with the car including a spare front end, doors, wheels, and some various suspension items. The cars potential history is fascinating and would certainly add some value to the car upon its restoration, and proof of said history. What do you think the value would be on this rare Sharknose upon its restoration?
I do not follow…1938 is not “post war”, unless you are speaking of WWI…
Yeah my thoughts exactly regarding years if this was given as a wedding gift in 1938 a full year before the war in europe broke out how can it be post war (1945)
I agree, post war Graham’s were called Frazer’s, in honor of the Graham-Paige president, Joseph Frazer, and later, teamed up with Kaiser. Apparently, Graham-Paige did make a convertible, but a conventional style, not this hacked abomination. The styling was a total flop. http://www.rokemneedlearts.com/carsindepth/wordpressblog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/sharknose1.jpg
I’d say this is parts for some lucky person restoring a ” Spirit of Motion” Graham-Paige ( sharknose came later)
Those weren’t Grahams, Kaiser-Frazer was a new company.
Joe Frazer bought Graham’s auto business near the end of WW2. When Kaiser Frazer Corp started they were to build Frazers under a joint occupancy agreement. Frazers were planned as a Graham product but, Graham auto business was sold into K-F corp about the time production started due to money problems.
Really, we’re only saying this to help. “Post war” almost always refers to after World War II, which hadn’t even started when this car was built. It could have been a slip the first time, but “so soon after the end of WWII” indicates a few missed social studies classes. Graham, in fact, never went back to car production at all after the war. Also, I never knew Eaton Engineering had kids.
Came here to say this. Thank you.
Graham did go back to manufacturing, just as Kaiser and Fraser (look at an early Kaiser and Fraser body plate).
WHEW!! I’m glad it’s not just me that was thrown off by the “post-war” classification. I thought maybe I missed a war between WW1, & WW2!
This will be a stunning car when/if restored
I think what he meant was that this car was very advanced for it’s time with it’s “Post War Styling” Sounds right? If this is incorrect, well, maybe he should not be writing about old cars. I am very familiar with the sharknose and I never heard about this car. I do recall there were a coupe of 2 door prototypes built including a full convertible. I believe the top was simply cut off at some point.
restomod is the way to go with this. strengthen the front suspension and plug a 5.9 cumins turbo diesel in there with some quite mufflers and a 4 speed gear box ( automatic overdrive ). The body I’d do as original as possible, and I’d restore that drop top I think it’s kind of cool.
from the description i was expecting a pillarless 4 door convertible. that would have been cool to see in any condition. this is not as exciting despite the provenance and 1 of 1 potential.
would still like to see it completed but not on my dime.
Beautiful car when finished.
As other have pointed out, WWII ended in 1945, so this car would be prewar.
Be a lot easier to cut the top on a restored one and put the after market mech on– they aren’t very expensive and whats this don’t ask the reserve— so you can see if you are wasting your time and can,t afford it –why not just publish what you want –its still an auction unless the price would embarass you
Fantastic front end, frumpy back end.
The intake manifold is a piece of art that is reminiscent of post WW-I Rolls and Hisso aircraft engines’ induction systems.
There was the widow of a prominent doctor in our small town that drove a Shark Nose quite regularly. I saw the blower on this car as I rode my bicycle into the service station (now called a Kwikki Mart in today’s parlance) for a tire repair.The lady let me sit in it for a moment, then she was off. The muffled whine of the blower was a haunting song like a ’29 Bently Blower.
The car’s presence demanded respect which was befitting of the owner. The war cry of antique and exotic aircraft owners is “keep ’em flyin.” With these cars we should “keep ’em drivin.’ We enthusiasts are trying to do our part. A resto mod would, at the very least, accomplish a form of preservation.
I will say thanks in advance to anyone who will rescue this truly rare car.
If you want to see that cool front end on a different car then check out my custom ’32 Plymouth roadster, it has that Graham Sharknose front end grafted onto it. You guys can see it at,
“DudleySportster.com” It was made in the 1940’s. Mark
Wow.. it’s very nice!
This would be more accurately described as a landalet, not a convertible, as it retains the Graham sedan body structure.
Peter; You are partially correct. The term refers to a type of horse-drawn carriage body, where the entire top section opens by folding down. On automobiles, it’s a bit more complicated, as there are several different styles & possibilities, each with a different style name:
Virtually all automobiles from the turn of the [1900] century, described as a Landaulet [this spelling is the most common version used in the USA], have 4 doors. A fully opening & folding top is referred to as a convertible sedan. A full landaulet Generally refers to a 4-door vehicle with a division window between the driver and passenger sections, and has a folding top for only the passenger section. A partial landaulet is typically considered as folding over the rear seating area only.
Of course other options include a 3-position convertible sedan, where the top is open only above the driver, or fully retracted, and the 3rd configuration is fully closed, and what the Europeans call a Sedanca [or Sedanca de Ville], and refers to a 2-door, 5 or 6 passenger body, where the top can be either fully open or closed, or just the section over the driver’s area.
Thank you, Bill! This is great! Landaulet seemed like the most accurate description for this Graham, even though the roof over the front seat is not fixed. The car uses the sedan doors and apertures, with intact A-, B-, and C-pillars. The selling description of the car as a four-door convertible suggests a pillar-less open four-door car, as other brands had in their lines at that time. But any sharknose Graham is worth saving, especially a conversion such as this one.
Looks more to me like a roll top, solid door frames and convertible top.
My apologies Ladies and Gents. Have you ever had something stuck on your mind and had it manifest into your life? Well even though I was well aware this Graham is 1938, and that Eaton Engineering’s daughter got married in 1939, I somehow STILL has 1948 on the brain. I can’t explain it any other way other than I made a mistake, and my mistake was a disservice to this great car and to you the Barn Finds readers. I couldn’t feel anymore like a dope if I tried. Thank you for your understanding!
Hi Brian, good heavens, no apology needed. If anything, it got us talking, and we found out the amazing history of this car.( and a few that actually saw or drove one) I had no idea Graham and K-F were related, and probably never would have thought otherwise. I’m not critical at all about mistakes, and knowing one of the staff, it takes a lot to research, and I think I can collectively say, we thank you for your time.
You guys realize someone cut the top off a sedan, right?
Yes, A.J., please see my earlier comment.
Yes, agreed, it’s a sedan with a “Webasto”style sunroof. Ugly
This was a common conversion done on American cars in Britain. Saw a 1938 Pontiac done the same in a British movie.
French body builder Saoutchick built several convertible shark nose Grahams. They all had strange cantilever doors.
There are 3 likely possibilities for this car; Either someone bought the car new and had the roof opened up and [as was mentioned by Danny] a Webasto type roof was installed, A Graham dealer, not having a convertible to sell when the competition did, had the car converted, or Graham-Paige [the parent company of Graham] was looking for possible ways of offering an open car, and had one made for evaluation.
These types of simple conversions of closed cars were actually quite common in Europe, and even a few production versions of American cars were offered, including the Nash. Rambler Most Citroen 2CV cars wore this type of roof.
And Peter – Nash called their Rambler version “The Landau”.
This is exactly the car I had in my mind when I wrote a reply above.