Well-Built Garage Find: 1937 Graham Cavalier
The Cavalier was a two-model-year automobile produced by Graham-Paige Corp. during its relatively short time in the car business. The company was formed in 1927 but expired in 1940, about the time WW2 was heating up. This 1937 Cavalier sedan looks to have been garage-bound for many years and the seller has finally decided to part with it (we assume). Located in Walton, Kentucky, this interesting artifact of the 1930s is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $6,000. Our thanks to Barn Finder “Ted” for this contribution to the world of tips!
Introduced in 1937, the Cavalier Series 95 was offered as a 2 or 4-door sedan or a convertible, a somewhat stylish product of its day. To help differentiate the car from the host of competition it faced, the Cavalier used a fully independent suspension and hydraulic brakes. More common was the 218 cubic inch inline-6 engine and a “3-on-the-tree” manual transmission. But the build quality of Graham-Paige products was perhaps their biggest selling point. The Cavalier must have stood out enough from the rest of the crowd for Motor Trend to bestow “Car of the Year” honors on the Cavalier in ’37. Only about 2,000 copies were built before the financial troubles of Graham-Paige led to the cancelation of the auto.
The seller provides few details about this vehicle, leaving the photos to tell whatever story they can. The body appears to be solid, and we’re told all the remaining parts and pieces are in boxes. It appears to have spent many years in the garage where it currently resides and perhaps the seller either needs the space or has passed on and an heir is left to dispose of the car (just a guess).
This Graham has had at least three owners in its lifetime and the title has survived along with the vehicle. The limited range of photos doesn’t help us determine the condition of the trunk, passenger compartment, or engine bay. The listing indicates an automatic transmission, but that’s not likely. Considering how few of these Cavaliers were built after the Great Depression, finding one in restorable condition might not be easy. Could this Graham be the one for you?
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Comments
There WAS no “Motor trend” magazine in 1937!! They didn’t form that until 1949. So how could they ‘bestow’ and award on a car when they didn’t exist?!!
Doesn’t look like a three-on da-tree from the pics, but three on the floor. From everything I read Graham made a good car. Was this one the model that used the Reo body? I’ve read about how they bought the body dies from Reo after they went out of business as way to update their style. Afterwards they came out with infamous shark nose that the press raved about, but turned off buyers. In a last ditch effort they used the old Cord dies to make a new model, the Hollywood. But problems with tooling left them unable to fill orders. Then WWll happened and the Graham brothers threw in the towel on the car bus.
My Great Grandfather bought a brand new either 1930 or 31 Graham Paige. Im thinking 1930. There are a couple photos of it somewhere. He was an Ice Man during the depression. And they always used to say that you ALWAYS pay the ice man. You needed ice. My father still has 2 pairs of his ice tongs. He worked hard, carrying ice up many flights of stairs in NYC and also Hudson County NJ. It was not an easy job, but he provided for his family during the depression. If people didnt have money hed get steaks, chicken etc. But back to his car the couple pictures I saw of it, it was beautiful and you could just tell it was his pride and joy he worked hard, and he earned it.
LOL, I remember an old Laurel and Hardy episode from my Grandfather with them delivering ice and the woman was like up a mountain of steps and when they get there, the giant iron tongs are holding a cube. instead of the huge block.Yes that was likely not an easy job.We take alot for granted today. I am sure lots of folks don’t realize how heavy those blocks were, let alone the 5 to 7 pound tongs.
OK, I put the wrong ones down. I put Laurel and Hardy and then thought that’s not right. It the Stooges, 1941, long before me and it is called “An ache in the stake” LMFAO. As I said we take alot for granted, consider this magic box I am sitting here playing with….
Mmm, all the fixin’s look like they’re tucked neatly under the car.
Thanks for choosing this BF to feature! I was curious about the make and it looked decent!
When I was a kid my dad bought a graham cavalier to restore at some point that was in really rough shape. I believe his was a 37? He never completed the restoration once he found out how hard parts were to come by and ended up selling his to someone that was going to use his car as a parts car. One thing I do remember, I believe the engine in his was a factory supercharged unit? does that sound right?
I bought a 37 Graham Caviler in 1967 when I was 14 years old. To teach me about engines, my father had me rebuild the engine, brakes .. virtually all the moving parts. The Cavalier had a flathead 6 Continental engine.. definitely non turbo. I drove it in high school until a car pulled in front of me and it was considered totaled. The insurance check paid for a brand new 1970 Plymouth Duster with a 225 slant 6 that I put 300,000 miles on.