Quiz Archive

What is it ? # 60 (UPDATE II not 1933 but 1935 ?) (UPDATE I: Graham Blue Streak)

UPDATE: Interesting to see was that no less than three competitors came up with a French car. Two Renaults (Primastella & Nervastella) & Delahaye 135. Now should we learn from this that the French nicked design trends from the US? We don't think it was the other way round. Not in those days. Anyway this is a 1933 Graham Paige 'Blue Streak' (of course no one could guess from the earlier shown detail that it is a Coupe with dickey seat). Designer was Amos Northup (of Murray Corp.), detailing was by Raymond Dietrich. Jury member Kit Foster added to that "I believe this is probably a second series Special or Standard Eight. If it's supercharged it would be a Custom Eight." Earlier South African winner Ced Rearce added as point of interest: "The fully skirted fender line was an aesthetic design breakthrough, much copied by others. These still had wood-framed bodies, although many other manufacturers had switched to all-steel by then. The front bumper had an unusual spilt design. The car is immortalised in the Tootsietoy ( USA) toy cars produced concurrently with the real car. They are highly sought after by collectors, and included body styles not necessarily made by Graham, such as Town Cars and Wrecker trucks." Outright winner was Canadian Jeff Lee who as a non jurymember not only came up the right make, type and year but also with all the design facts complete and right.(photo Heribert Hofner) UPDATE II by Geoff Blair:"Since 1968 I have owned a Model 65 Graham Motorcar I have since 1977 been a member of the Graham Owners Club International (G.O.C.I.) and am 1 of a few owners of a Graham car built in 1933. With my car being built between June and December of 1933 (going by the chassis,engine and serial numbers) it is regarded as a 1st Series 1934 Model. I regard myself as 'a bit of an expert' on Grahams built between Jan. 1932 and Dec.1934, maybe not so much on the other models although I have prepared a 150 page history on the Graham Brothers and their cars, including the connection with and development of the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation. I noted on your site 'prewarcar.com' that id=668 is identified by Jeff Lee as a 1933 model. This is incorrect the car is in fact a 1st Series 1935 Model. It can be identfied by the bonnet (hood) side louvers being parallel (1933s were horizontal) and the steel artillary type wheels (all Grahams built during 1933 had Wire Wheels standard with 15 inch Steel Wheels as options. The car has incorrectly shaped headlights and chrome extentions onto the 'skirted fenders' were not used on the 1st Series 1935 but may have been added by the owner or the car may have been specially built using left over parts from the previous model as they were here in Australia. The car is called a 'Blue Streak', this was in fact is a 'nick-name' used only for the Graham Model 57 produced between January and the end of June 1932, the name was used because the 245.4 C.I.D. Straight 8 motor had the name Blue Streak on a plate attached to the naturally coloured aluminium cylinder head. This plate was no longer seen after June 1932 however the nick- name stuck until and including 1935 models. This model also had a 1piece straight front bumper bar. Your South African reader noted that the car still used wood in its construction when many other auto makers had gone to all steel bodies. I question this, I don't know of any using all steel bodies at this time, there may have been 1, of course I stand to be corrected. Interestingly, the lowest serial numbered 'Blue Streak' coupe known to exist in the World is in a Museum in the Netherlands. Check out www.graham-paige.com Check out the 1st pictures in the 'photo gallery' and the last site on the list, ( 'Links to things Graham related' ), these different internet sites are interesting especially the 1st site which features 4 Grahams which I believe are in Europe." Earlier Text: Great shape, nice lines... we thought to give a new swing to our Saturday competition in this way. Not to take very obscure cars but by showing just a part of slightly more well known cars. This is a famous car, but showing it in an incomoplete manner it is making things just a tiny bit more difficult. What you are looking at is trendsetting design for the early thirties. Many designers 'borrowed' this fluid, sleek design to make their clients/bosses happy. Now if you want to make a chance to win the infamous PreWarCar T-shirt send your answer before Monday 14 April to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We will look for 1. Make 2. Year. 3. Type 4. Designer (this last question is to discriminate when too many people send all the right answers). Please add # 60 to the subjectline of your e-mail.

Friday, 11 April 2003