Graham Blue Streak

Description:

1933 Graham “Blue Streak” Standard Eight Model 64 - NOT A ROLLS ROYCE (listing issue)

Among the most influential American automobiles of the pre-war era, the Graham “Blue Streak” occupies a pivotal place in the evolution of automotive design. Introduced for the 1932 model year, it marked a decisive shift away from upright, carriage-influenced styling towards a fully integrated, streamlined form - one that would be rapidly emulated across the United States car industry.

Its significance has since been formally recognised, with the model recorded as the #19 most important vehicle on the United States National Historic Vehicle Register. In both aesthetic and engineering terms, the Blue Streak established a new direction for the modern motor car, combining a lower, wider stance with improved chassis balance and road holding that set it apart from its contemporaries.

The example offered here is the highly desirable Standard Eight Model 64, retaining its correct and original straight-eight 90hp “Blue Streak” engine. Of the 10,967 examples produced, just 21 Model 64 cars are known to survive today, the majority held within long-term private collections or institutional ownership. As such, opportunities for acquisition are exceptionally limited.

The model’s capabilities were demonstrated in period by Erwin “Cannon Ball” Baker, who in 1933 completed a transcontinental run in 53.5 hours - an endurance record that stood for nearly four decades and contributed to the enduring mythology later popularised by the film ‘The Cannonball Run’.

This particular car benefits from a notably rich and continuous history. Delivered new to Belgium to a Jewish diamond merchant, it remained within the same family for over seventy years. During the Second World War, the car was requisitioned by the German Army before being recovered and returned to its original owner in the post-war period. In the 1970s it spent time in the Belgian Congo in connection with the family’s mining interests, before later being restored while in France (photos on file). The car subsequently returned to Belgium, where it resided for approximately two decades prior to its importation to the United Kingdom in early 2025.

Importantly, the car has never been subject to a “hot rod” conversion, and today retains its original character. It is presented in running condition and is mechanically straightforward. Equipment includes factory wire wheels and a 6-volt electrical system. Accompanying the sale are the original owner’s manual, documented service history including €16,600 of Belgian invoices since its time in France, and a quantity of spare parts. Ongoing parts support is available via the international Graham Owners Club network.

With its combination of recognised historical importance, extreme rarity, and well-documented provenance, this Blue Streak represents a rare opportunity to acquire a car of genuine significance within both American and global automotive history.

68586 kms