The Other Cavalier! 1937 Graham Cavalier 95
By 1937, auto-maker Graham struggled financially despite producing cars with advanced features including supercharging. This non-supercharged 1937 Graham Cavalier 95 called simply a “Four Door Sedan with Trunk,” seeks a new owner here on eBay. Located in Arvada, Colorado, the solid-looking Graham “runs well,” and is nearly all original. It will take an opening bid of $10,000 to get the auction started, or you can click Buy It Now for $14,000, a number nearer to the value of a fully restored specimen.
Graham made a point of its engines’ reliability. Like Chevrolet’s Cavalier of the 1980s, the Graham Cavalier was also known for excellent fuel economy. Read more about these interesting cars at grahamownersclub.com. The inline six-cylinder engine in the “95” made 85 HP in 1937. Crank-driven “Supercharger” models made 112.
The handsome symmetrical dashboard includes clever rotary dial gauges in the center. The three-speed manual transmission with overdrive further boosts fuel economy. Despite the “all original” claim, the interior has either been replaced or meticulously preserved for eight decades.
Design features include the five scallops worn by all ’37 Grahams and the factory-correct dual horns, one beneath each headlight.
Gorgeous Art Deco lettering renders relevant information with high style. The seller is a man or woman of few words, leaving many details to the imagination or direct communication. The curiosity of a Graham and this car’s relative originality certainly adds value for some, and those with budget constraints may not want to pay a premium for the upscale Supercharger model. What’s your top dollar for this solid-looking Graham?
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Comments
These are so cool. I have wanted one ever since one of my teachers in high school introduced me to them. ( he had two) However, they are starting to get priced out my “play toy” range. So it may never happen.
Wow, that is a really neat car. I love the dash. I have never heard of one. I hope it goes to a great home.
Wayne, I totally understand your feelings
about this car. Like you, there are so many cars that I would love to own.
Unfortunately, almost any car is out of my
price range now that I’m retired. Thankfully, pens, paper, and pencils are
cheap. That way, all I have to do is draw
and sketch any car or truck of my dreams. When I’m done, I show them to
folks I know and sell a few of them along
the way. This’ll be one of these cars for
sure. Last ’37 Graham I drew was a Cavelier convertible 10 years ago. It was
dark red with a creme leather interior and
top. Thought about advertising my prints
here, but there’s no category for them.
Let me know what you have in prints and how much. You can text me at 512-586-3310 or email [email protected]
Dave Graham
Graham paid REO a fee for every car made because they were using REO’s body dies from REO’s discontinued car line. Shortly thereafter Graham used Hupmobile’s Cord-based dies to stamp out their Hollywood variant. After the war, Graham, under new management, produced the new Kaiser-Frazers and the name Graham was applied to other business ventures.
Charles , That was true for the mid thirties Graham models but not previous to 1935. Joe Frazer bought Graham’s stamping equipment and dies in 1945.and had Dutch Darrin design a car which became the first generation Frazer. design. Then he met Henry Kaiser……..
Would have been nice to have some shots of the complete car rather than making a puzzle out of them. I almost hate to say this but an updated power train and paint would make this a fun and usable cruiser.
A bit overpriced for a prewar sedan IMHO.
Nice $9,000 car. Hope someone saves it.
Odd, how people think a car “has to” go fast (modern drivetrain) to be OK or fun. While I never wanted to do retrofit transplants into old cars, I stayed away from pre-56 cars for that very reason, … I saw them as slow and sloppy handling …. which they are, comparatively speaking to later “old cars”. Prior to Eisenhower, there were no freeways and the kind of cars we are expectant of just weren’t made for roads that had yet to be built.
But after coming home from AFG, I bought the Model T flatbed truck I’ve wanted since a kid (only took me 40 years of procrastination) and my whole outlook on driving, performance, and the charm pre-war cars have has caused me to sell off my go-fast stuff and enjoy going slow and easy more than I ever did with my 50’s and 60’s stuff.
This car is wonderfully NOT a Ford or Chevy, and it has SO much going for it for style and originality and being all there. I hope someone will cherish the gem it is, as is, letting those lucky enough to see it going down the road, at the grocery store, just doing what it was built to do. Wonderful car. 👍
This would be a beautiful restored car, but the seller is a good bit optimistic on what it is worth IMO. Hope he will eventually reach an agreement with someone who wants it and who will bring it back to a decent condition. One almost never sees these cars in any of the shows.
Graham Bros. made cars and trucks for 20 years or more, yet they are unheard of by most people. Surprising, given their market presence in the car world in the pre-war years. A local guy dragged a 20’s dump truck out of a field. I stopped to look at it and discovered it is a Hug. After 50 years of old car interest, I had never heard of such a vehicle. But Mister Google had lots to tell this ignorant fool about the Hug truck. I have a nostalgic connection to my common-as-dirt Model T truck, but feel a bit of a sell-out for being part of the Ford and Chevy crowd, when there are such cool, NOT run-of-the-mill vehicles out there.
Good looking car but I {knowing me} would put way too much money in it.
Totally love the etching on the air cleaner of the outhouse and the fence. Great detail………………….
@Dave Graham: Dave, I’m having problems with your email address. When
I tried to send you an email, the address
came back invalid. Contact me at:
[email protected]. that way,
I’m sure to make contact with you.
Thanks,
Ken Carney.
Graham famously, was the first auto maker to style their cars with skirted front fenders for 1932.
Practically every manufacturer followed suit the next model year.
I just don’t know what I think here. Great possibilities, but requires time, patience and money all of which I have very little. Good luck to both seller and buyer.
God bless America
Just a reminder that Chevrolet was the 3rd American auto manufacturer to use the Cavalier name on a car.
Anyone know who the other company was? Here’s a hint: the cars were named Cavalier in 1953 and 1954.
Ask the man that owns one … 🤔
Burger,
You’ve got the right company!
I make new plastic interior parts for these. I wish I’d had a dash panel as good as this one to use as a starting point. Took me a long time and a lot of $ to make a master model.
Do a google image search for 1937 Graham dash and the nice looking eggplant colored parts are most likely ones I made. There’s one set in an “oxblood” color I did, but so far everyone else has wanted this eggplant purple. Supposedly a grey was an option but I’ve never seen one and had no requests for it.
My panels fit perfectly because I made sure that original gauges fit and that the panel fit to an original dash.