Automotive History: Innovative 1932 Graham Eight Blue Streak Advanced Automotive Design

The Graham brothers, Joseph, Robert, and Ray, advanced automobile design with their 1932 Graham Eight, also known as the Blue Streak. It was introduced on December 8, 193. It featured a novel body design by Amos Northup. The look was continued through 1935, and was a style setter because much of the industry copied it.

“The most imitated car on the road,” declared the Graham advertisements. While many of the innovations seem evolutionary, a logical and natural progression from one era to the next, the credit goes to Graham and Northup for seeing the future and executing it. The car had a wrap-around bumper and a sloped grill, among many style innovations. Do you think how a car looks is more important than how a car performs?

1932 Graham Eight Styling Innovations

Designers Amos Northrup deserve a lot of credit for the design of the Graham cars. While he characterized the design innovation of the car as “evolutionary,” they were not. The car featured a front fender that was lower than had ever been seen before. That front fender wrapped around the front wheels to cover the chassis. This was the case for the rear fender as well.

That was not all. The front grille was sloped forward and blended in with the splash pan. This created a smooth and harmonious component design that was the first part of the car to appear and be seen. The design was truly revolutionary, as this was the first car to have that design. This was the case for the windshield as well.

The radiator cap was moved under the hood. Cars today have this design feature. So, this Graham innovation has gone forward into modernity. Finally, the headlights were tucked in close to the body and fenders and painted body color, the better to blend them into the overall package. This, too, is a feature that has been carried into modernity.

Not Just the Body

The engine in the Graham Eight was also innovative. Output was increased from 95 to 135 horsepower in the eight-cylinder engine. To carry the more powerful engine, the frame of the car was elongated, and the height of the car was reduced by two and a half inches. The sleeker body enabled the car to fully take advantage of its more powerful engine and to travel at a greater speed.

Graham also reduced the price by $200 in 1932 to make the car more attractive to consumers. The sleek look and the powerful engine also drew consumers. Indeed, this car was popular and sold well. By 1933, the car was enrolled in the National Historic Register.

Frequently Asked Questions

• This article is about the Graham Eight, also known as the Blue Streak.
• The most important aspect of this car was its innovative design.
• The car was powerful, and the body design helped with that.
• To further appeal to consumers of the time, the price of the car was reduced by $200.
• The relatively inexpensive car and the sleek design, combined with the powerful engine, made this car a hit with consumers.

Parting Shots

In 1932, the Graham Eight was known as the Blue Steak, and it had an innovative design and a powerful engine. A reduction in price made the car appeal to consumers. The design of the car was particularly innovative, and, if there is one thing to know about this car, readers should know that many of the design features persist to this day. The design was revolutionary at the time; its sleek look meshed well with its powerful engine to increase forward speed.