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15/01/2026 10:42 am
1941 Graham Hollywood Custom Supercharged Sedan
From the http://www...
The 1941 Graham Hollywood Custom Supercharged Sedan is a rare and historically significant American classic car, noted for its sleek, Art Deco design derived from the Cord 810/812 body dies and its use of one of the first widely available factory-installed superchargers.
Key Features and Specifications
- Design: The car features an avant-garde, streamlined body with a distinctive "fastback" or "torpedo" shape, a unique wraparound windshield, and a redesigned front grille and fixed headlights that replaced the Cord's hidden units. The front doors are "suicide" style (hinged at the rear).
- Engine: It is powered by a 218 cubic-inch (217.8 or 219 ci) L-head inline six-cylinder engine built by Continental to Graham specifications.
- Performance: The factory-installed centrifugal supercharger increased the engine's output from 95 horsepower to approximately 124 horsepower, a significant figure for a six-cylinder engine at the time. This gave the Hollywood one of the best power-to-weight ratios of its era and solid performance.
- Transmission: It came with a 3-speed manual transmission, with an optional overdrive unit available.
- Chassis: Unlike the front-wheel-drive Cord, the Hollywood used a conventional rear-wheel-drive layout on a steel ladder chassis with a 115-inch wheelbase.
History and Significance
- Body Dies: Facing financial difficulties, Hupmobile acquired the body dies for the Gordon Buehrig-designed Cord 810/812, which had ceased production. Graham-Paige then made a deal with Hupmobile to build the cars for both companies, marketing their version as the "Hollywood".
- Rarity: Due to production delays and the looming onset of World War II, production was extremely limited. An estimated total of only 1,378 to 1,860 Hollywoods were built across the 1940 and 1941 model years, with only about 350-400 of those being 1941 models.
- Legacy: The Hollywood was the last car model produced by Graham-Paige before the company ceased automobile manufacturing in 1941 to focus on war contracts. Its advanced styling influenced post-war car design, and its performance capabilities made it a favorite among early stock car racers, including NASCAR founder Bill France Sr..
Today, the car is a highly sought-after collector's item due to its rarity, unique design, and historical significance.
John Bono
North Jersey
15/01/2026 10:55 am
Oh COOL, John; I was missing the Something Different. This is a fitting car for your series! Definitely somewhat reminiscent, style-wise, of a Cord, it has pleasing elements of design, especially for a car of WWII entry in America. The specs are impressive for the day!
15/01/2026 11:29 am
Thanks John. I really like these posts by you as they always have details I didn't know.
15/01/2026 2:55 pm
I agree, I enjoy these as well. What a gorgeous automobile. 🤑
15/01/2026 3:58 pm
A fitting return to this topic. A t first look I thought Cord Beverley, but then. Interesting history. Thanks John.
15/01/2026 5:15 pm
love that, a real unique design. I was wondering what happened to Graham:
"The original Graham-Paige automotive company stopped making cars in 1940 and was absorbed by Kaiser-Frazer in 1947, with its corporate entity eventually becoming Graham Holdings Company. Today, "Graham" in the automotive world refers to Graham Holdings Company's investments in modern car dealerships through its partnership with the Ourisman family (Graham Ourisman Automotive), selling brands like Toyota, Kia, and Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram in the Washington D.C. area."
I wish Automodello would get around to their 1/24 1938 Graham Model 97 Cabriolet Saoutchik Carrosserie. I frequently ask Jim Cowan with the always 'its coming' response.
Great subject choice as always John, thanks.
15/01/2026 7:56 pm
Fine information on this good-looking Graham-Paige automobile. The supercharger for the six-cylinder engine was an interesting feature, as was the post-war connection to Kaiser-Frazer automobiles.