The 1938-1940 Graham Supercharger was the remarkable, radical "Spirit of Motion," better known as the "sharknose" Graham.
Introduced for recession-plagued 1938, it underwhelmed the market. The Graham Supercharger was first offered only as a four-door sedan in two trim levels, but expanded to include a two-door coupe and sedan for 1939-40 in Standard and Custom versions.
The Graham-built centrifugal supercharger was the only blower available in a popular-priced car and boosted horsepower on the Continental six from about 90 to 116 for 1938-39 and 120 for 1940. It was quietly dropped in 1940 in favor of the Hollywood, which was based on the Cord 810 dies.
A year later, Graham-Paige abandoned the car business altogether for $20 million worth of defense contracts. Joseph W. Frazer gained control of G-P in 1944 and briefly returned to the field with the 1946 Frazer, but soon sold its automotive interests to Kaiser-Frazer Corporation.
Pluses of the 1938-1940 Graham Supercharger:
- Exotic, if bizarre, styling
- Good performance
- Rarity
Minuses of the 1938-1940 Graham Supercharger:
- Body parts very scarce
- Good examples hard to find
Production of the 1938 Graham Supercharger:
2,410
Production of the 1939 Graham Supercharger:
2,479
Production of the 1940 Graham Supercharger:
under 1,000
Specifications of the 1938-1940 Graham Supercharger:
Wheelbase, inches: 120.0
Length, inches: NA
Weight, pounds: 3,250-3,370
Price, new: $1,070-$1,295
Engines for the 1938-1940 Graham Supercharger:
| Type | Size | Horsepower | Years |
| sv I-6* | 217.8 cid | 116-120* | 1938-1940 |
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