Mar 21, 2022  •  For Sale  •  39 Comments

V8 Powered Custom 1941 Graham Hollywood

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This is not a Cord. It looks like a Cord, it’s made with Cord tooling, but it’s not a Cord. After the death of the 810/812 and subsequent liquidation of Cord’s assets, through a series of business deals, the tooling to make the 810/812 ended up in the hands of Hupp and Graham-Paige, each making their own version of the iconic and innovative Cord 810/812 “Coffinnose,” though with some important caveats in the engineering. Rarer than the Cord it’s based on, this Hollywood can be found here on eBay with some important tweaks made.

Both Graham-Paige and Hupp’s versions of the Cord took its two most known features — front-wheel drive and the nose design — and replaced them. Each manufacturer supplied their own inline six-cylinder engines for their newly rear-wheel-drive cars, but the redesigned noses were almost identical to each other, and both lacking the coffin shape and hidden headlights. This Graham takes that powertrain one step further and replaces the Graham straight six with a Chevrolet V8 crate motor and TH400 automatic transmission. The seller doesn’t say which crate motor is in it, but judging by the size of the thing and the chunky manifolds, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say it’s a big block of some type.

Inside is proper luxe, with the original bench seats replaced by Mercedes power bucket seats and wood paneling, and the addition of a Pioneer stereo system. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, though, and seldom does a modern interior work with a vintage car, in this writer’s opinion. Regardless, it’s undoubtedly comfortable and daily driveable.

The seller has taken this on a road trip around the lower 48 states, and it’s won awards at shows and rallies. Complete with build photos and documentation, this is a great addition to anyone who likes the underappreciated side of the classic car world. This custom build has its own merits, but how many people do you know who have a stock Graham Hollywood? Have you ever even seen one? Everyone knows the Cord. Until this article, I had never heard that the 810/812 had an afterlife. This might be a fun project to turn back to factory specifications.

Comments

  1. J_PaulMember
    Mar 21, 2022 at 9:42am

    I’m kind of disappointed the vanity plate on this doesn’t read “Casper”

    Like 17
    • Howard A Howard AMember
      Mar 21, 2022 at 9:54am

      The “blob” maybe? An insult to a truly amazing car,,

      Like 39
    • CCFisher
      Mar 22, 2022 at 10:06am

      Or perhaps “Schmoo”

      Like 5
    • Greg GustafsonMember
      Mar 23, 2022 at 10:29am

      Exactly!

      Like 0
  2. bobhess bobhessMember
    Mar 21, 2022 at 10:54am

    Between the enclosed wheels and totally wrong paint color, the word “insult” sure does apply here.

    Like 32
  3. Fahrvergnugen FahrvergnugenMember
    Mar 21, 2022 at 12:19pm

    Wow. Looks like EL Cord got together with Ms Sta-Puf and had a baby that wouldn’t get kissed by a desperate politician…

    Like 21
  4. David
    Mar 21, 2022 at 8:25pm

    That’s a 350, judging by the headers.

    Small block has the middle two closer together as shown; big block has all four evenly apart.

    Like 9
  5. Ike Onick
    Mar 21, 2022 at 8:38pm

    Creepy.

    Like 8
  6. nlpnt
    Mar 21, 2022 at 8:47pm

    Is that a car or did someone’s sourdough starter escape?

    Like 22
  7. Raymond
    Mar 21, 2022 at 9:25pm

    It’s kinda cute…looks like a schmoo…

    Like 6
  8. Fast FredMember
    Mar 21, 2022 at 10:10pm

    It’s Funky and different I like it.

    Like 8
  9. jnard90 jnard90Member
    Mar 21, 2022 at 10:25pm

    Nope.

    Like 12
  10. Chris
    Mar 22, 2022 at 5:59am

    I think it is cool ,different ,unique. Beauty in the eye of the beholder. If you are not driving it then do not worry about the looks. I personally think cool ,it looks like it is floating.

    Like 9
    • Ike Onick
      Mar 22, 2022 at 8:38am

      If we stop worrying about the looks, Barn Finds will lose 75% of the readership

      Like 9
    • Jimmy Novak
      Mar 22, 2022 at 4:45pm

      (So don’t worry about looks, unless you like them. Got it …)

      Like 2
  11. Jim Cook
    Mar 22, 2022 at 6:29am

    The car was in a junk yard in Ashland,KY and made from two 41 Grahams and one 37 Cord — This is what you would end up with if you have over $160,000 to spend in 2001.

    Like 1
  12. Harvey HarveyMember
    Mar 22, 2022 at 7:16am

    Probably looks best from the drivers seat:-)

    Like 9
  13. BleedNRed
    Mar 22, 2022 at 9:27am

    I sure wouldn’t want to change a flat tire on that car…

    Like 12
  14. Phipps
    Mar 22, 2022 at 9:30am

    Well brake dust is now a non issue haha. But seriously thats alittle much on the front end

    Like 1
  15. Mercury Man
    Mar 22, 2022 at 9:43am

    My eyes hurt.

    Like 2
  16. Andrew S MaceMember
    Mar 22, 2022 at 9:57am

    The Pillsbury Doughboy called; he wants his car back.

    Like 13
  17. CCFisher
    Mar 22, 2022 at 10:07am

    They really should take the cover off before they drive it.

    Like 10
  18. Lance
    Mar 22, 2022 at 10:18am

    Sharp turns must be fun .

    Like 1
  19. Steve RM
    Mar 22, 2022 at 10:32am

    He took what was never really a good looking car (especially a 4dr) and made it 10 times uglier.

    Like 5
  20. Bob19116
    Mar 22, 2022 at 10:42am

    A $15.00 sabre saw on that fiberglas body should quickly fix the closed wheel well problem!

    Like 4
    • 370zpp 370zpp
      Mar 23, 2022 at 10:18am

      Don’t stop there. Why not cut a hole in the hood and have more engine sticking out ?

      Like 1
  21. Howie
    Mar 22, 2022 at 11:22am

    It looks goofy to me.

    Like 6
  22. Sam61
    Mar 22, 2022 at 11:26am

    I’ve seen this car in person twice at the Ducktail Run in Gas City, IN. It was never open….nice to see the interior and under the hood. Unfortunately it seems like a lot of effort/$ for an average/odd result. Maybe this was the prototype for Justin Bieber’s floating Rolls Royce?

    Like 3
  23. Frank D
    Mar 22, 2022 at 12:23pm

    That picture reminds me of Ghostbusters.

    Like 0
  24. scottymac
    Mar 22, 2022 at 12:24pm

    Added a Willys’ tilt front (with Neon lights) to the Graham shell? Like the way he peaked all the fenders. Or were they molded that way?

    Like 1
  25. Lee
    Mar 22, 2022 at 1:53pm

    Looks like a Crosley rear ended a “41 Willys!

    Like 1
  26. Larry Roberts
    Mar 22, 2022 at 2:21pm

    What’s the turning circle like? Nothing worse than 38 point turns!

    Like 0
  27. glen kay
    Mar 22, 2022 at 3:53pm

    i think the head lights are made for star watching

    Like 0
  28. Beel
    Mar 22, 2022 at 5:19pm

    Guess you don’t need to make turns.

    Like 0
  29. Kirk
    Mar 22, 2022 at 7:50pm

    I like the tires

    Like 0
  30. Will
    Mar 22, 2022 at 8:04pm

    Fugly.

    Like 2
  31. Mike
    Mar 22, 2022 at 11:33pm

    Looks like its on its way to being a Erwin Wurm fat car.

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/rocor/18776091228

    Like 1
  32. Bill McCoskey Bill McCoskeyMember
    Mar 24, 2022 at 9:33am

    When I saw a side photo of this car. I realized I have a 12″ long pressed steel version of this basic car with those full fenders. It was made by the Louis Marx Toy Co.

    FWIW, the toy looks as bad as the real car does.

    Like 1
  33. Oregonman
    Mar 24, 2022 at 6:54pm

    Marshmallow with hemorrhoids…..👎

    Like 1

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