1941 Graham Hollywood Custom Sedan

The Graham Company entered into a contract with Hupmobile in 1940 to build a car called the Skylark. Hupmobile soon went out of business which left Graham with a production line set up. The company renamed the car the Graham Hollywood and continued production.

From the cowl back, the car is based on the 1936-37 Cord. Hupmoible had purchased the body dies from the Auburn Automobile Company which had gone out of business. Many changes from the Cord were implemented, including a redesigned front end and the conversion from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive.

There were 1,859 examples of the Hollywood built with the majority being fitted with a supercharger. Some of the Hollywood cars were raced, and with a power-to-weight ratio that was unmatched, many drivers found success including Bill France, the father of NASCAR.

The supercharged six-cylinder engine produced 124 horsepower and rested on a 115-inch platform. the car weighs just 2,365 pounds and sold for $1,250 when new.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2010