Info für Besucher ohne Javascript

Premium

Graham Supercharger - Charging inhibition

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created on July 24, 2023

Text:

Paul Krüger

Photos:

Bruno von Rotz

34

RM Auctions

1

Archiv

14

Bruno von Rotz

34

RM Auctions

1

Archiv

14

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Despite its similarity to the popular Plymouth, the new line was not well received by the public

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Despite its similarity to the popular Plymouth, the new line was not well received by the public

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - The mention of the trunk is actually part of the model designation. The Graham was also available "Streamlined"

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - The mention of the trunk is actually part of the model designation. The Graham was also available "Streamlined"

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - The first mass-produced car with a supercharged engine

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Hardly noticeable design finesse: Headlights mounted on the radiator grille instead of the fenders. The horns seem to float

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Narrow and tall: The models for 1936 and 1937 appear less dynamic than their predecessors

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - No driver? Yes, he's just hiding. This Graham is right-hand drive

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - And yet it moves: performance figures and perception are in stark contrast to each other

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - And yet it moves: performance figures and perception are in stark contrast to each other

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Contemporary glitter: Graham was a pioneer in the field of metallic paintwork

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Not just a styling gimmick: the five scoops actually allow warm air to escape

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Another Graham pioneering achievement: headlight housing in body color

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Painted steel disk wheels with decorative lines and irregularly placed air vents

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Rounded radiator grille as a hint of streamline

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - lettering in the center bar of the radiator grille

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Left rear light with holder for the license plate. Nice detail: the rubber buffer on the housing

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Faceless: The winged circle on the hood normally contains the Graham emblem

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Unique selling point: the supercharger was so unusual that Graham spared itself an additional model name

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Door handle in filigree Art Deco style

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Family ties: The emblem shows the three founding brothers Joseph, Robert and Ray Graham

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Gas is on the right: apart from the right-hand drive, the Graham operates like an ordinary car

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Instead of power steering: two ratios for fast driving or slow maneuvering

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Simple but cozy cockpit. The cord upholstery is not original

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - A lavish amount of legroom in the rear. If you want to use the (adjustable) retaining cord for its intended purpose, you have to lean far forward

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Elegantly piled up additional instruments, in the center the frequency scale of the radio

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Modern: The speedometer has a scale for both miles and kilometers per hour as well as a trip odometer

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Time clock set into the lid of the glove box. Above it on the left is the pull knob for opening the compartment

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Fine ribbing in fabric and metal: door handle and window crank with longitudinal ribbing. Originally the door trim had diamond quilting

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Despite the long hood, the actual engine compartment is surprisingly short

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - The cylinder head is still below the level of the fender. Pioneering work on the side: radiator cap under the hood

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - Thanks to turbocharging, the side-valve six-cylinder engine produces 107 hp from a displacement of 3.3 liters

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Four-Door Sedan with Trunk (1937) - No supplier part: Graham developed and produced the supercharger itself

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger 4-Door Touring Sedan with Trunk (1936) - for six passengers

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger 4-Door Touring Sedan with Trunk (1936) - Version with enlarged trunk

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger Coupe (1936) - sporty three-seater with folding emergency seat

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger 2-Door Sedan (1936) - with six-cylinder engine and 112 HP

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Crusader 4-Door Sedan with Trunk (1936) - the cheapest model series of the year

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger (1936) - gearshift within reach of the steering wheel

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger (1936) - six-cylinder with aluminum head. At the front the drive shaft for the supercharger

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharger (1936) - springs mounted outside the frame for more riding comfort

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Six all-weather convertible (1933) - illustration from the sales brochure

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Six Sedan (1933) - Illustration from the sales brochure

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Six Coupé (1933) - ZGIPWerk

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharged Custom Eight (1934) - the 4.4-liter eight-cylinder with centrifugal supercharger

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Supercharged Custom Eight (1934) - as a four-door sedan

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Six Cabriolet Labourdette (1935) - at the Paris Salon 1935

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Paige Custom Eight Supercharger at the Dolder Classics in June 2013 - very rarely seen

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Graham Sharknose (1939) - as lot 3031A at the RM auction Auburn Fall 2019

You have only

1 out of 49

images seen in high resolution

Summary

Saab? Porsche? BMW? The first mass-produced car with a turbocharged engine did not just emerge in Europe in the second half of the 20th century. As early as the 1930s, a small manufacturer from the USA brought the mechanical centrifugal supercharger to series production and into the popular price range. Nevertheless, it failed due to the superiority of the large corporations. This article tells the story of the Graham Supercharger and shows it in current and historical images.

This article contains the following chapters

The most copied car in America
Power thanks to the supercharger
Only with a six-cylinder engine
Age-related weakness?
Ghosts and resurrection

Estimated reading time: 9min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Even at the beginning of the 1930s, there was hardly any room for maneuver against the "Big Three" from Detroit. Ford, General Motors and Chrysler together had a 90 percent share of the US automotive market, with the mass motorization pioneer from Dearborn occupying the top position by far. However, in order to occasionally emerge from their shadows, the numerous small and independent car manufacturers shone with a spirit of innovation and experimentation that the top dogs had long since abandoned. Because in order to be able to offer cars so cheaply, they also had to be produced cheaply. And that considerably limited technical sophistication.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

Continue reading this article for free?

Images of this article

Source: