Graham-Paige

Defunct American motor vehicle manufacturer

Graham Paige was an American automobile manufacturer founded by brothers Joseph B. Graham (1882–1970), Robert C. Graham (1885–1967), and Ray A. Graham (1887–1932) in 1927. Automobile production ceased in 1940, and its automotive assets were acquired by Kaiser Frazer in 1947. As a corporate entity, the Graham Paige name continued until 1962.

After successful involvement in a glass manufacturing company (eventually sold to Libbey Owens Ford The Graham Brothers brand lasted until 1929, Chrysler Corporation having taken over Dodge in 1928.

In 1927, with the banking syndicate controlling Dodge trying to sell the company, the Graham brothers decided to enter the automobile business on their own. In 1927, they purchased the Paige Detroit Motor Car Company, makers of Paige and Jewett automobiles, for $3.5 million ($ in dollars ). At first offered only in the top 8 cylinder models, the supercharger was adapted to the six in 1936 when the eights were dropped. Through the years, Graham would produce more supercharged cars than any other automobile manufacturer until Buick surpassed them in the 1990s. By 1935, the "Blue Streak" styling was getting rather dated. A restyling of the front and rear ends for 1935 proved to be a disaster, making the cars appear higher and narrower. Graham added new front end styling and revised detailing to these bodies to create the 1936 and 1937 Grahams. Amos Northup of Murray Body was hired to design a new model for 1938, but he died before the design was complete. The new 1938 Graham was introduced with the slogan "Spirit of Motion". Wins were also recorded in the Prix d'Avant Garde at Lyon, the Prix d'Elegance at Bordeaux, and the Grand Prix d'Honneur at Deauville, France. Its cut back grille later gained the car the name "Sharknose", which appears to have origins in the 1950s. The styling was a complete flop in sales. The most reliable estimates, from period publications, suggest the total production of all three years of these cars is between 6,000 and 13,000 units. With this low production Graham limped through 1939 and 1940.

Desperate for a winning offering and unable to retool, Graham made a deal with the ailing Hupp Motor Co. in late 1939. According to the deal, the faltering company entered into an arrangement with Hupmobile to build cars based on the body dies of the stunning Gordon Buehrig designed Cord 810/812. In an effort to remain in business, Hupp had acquired the Cord dies, but lacked the financial resources to build the car. Graham agreed to build the Hupmobile Skylark on a contract basis, while receiving the rights to use the distinctive Cord dies to produce a similar car of its own, to be called the Hollywood. Both versions used 6 cylinder engines. The Skylark was powered by a Hupp; the Hollywood was available with a standard In 1962, the firm changed its name to the Madison Square Garden Corporation, which was later absorbed by Gulf and Western Industries. Currently, Madison Square Garden is part of Madison Square Garden Entertainment.