1929 Ford Model T

rat rod roadster

Pontiac Fiero

Chevrolet S-10

Rebuilt, Rebuildable & Reconstructed

Gasoline

Up for bids is this hand-built one-off roadster project by the late Graham Oats. Graham was a famous van customizer in the 1970s known for showstoppers like The Gladiator, Black Bandit, The Green Van and many others. Graham worked for the Barris brothers and Bill Hines, then went on to form Graham Enterprises. He also built custom fiberglass race boats. During his retirement, Graham took welding and autobody classes for fun at El Camino College in Torrance, CA, where he designed and started to build this vehicle, not knowing it would be his last. Unfortunately, Graham suffered a fatal heart attack in 2012 and did not finish this crazy kustom. The car started out with a 1929 Ford Model T frame and a LOT of flat sheet steel. Graham fabricated the scoopy, swoopy body with the intention of making a mold and making a fiberglass body for the final version of the car. He also planned to put plastic slats in the scoops (a la Testarossa) with lights behind them to light up the plastic edges. The top was intended to be a fabric-covered Carson top with a small window in back. It flips open to allow the driver to get inside the car. There is not much legroom in there (Graham was not tall), there are no pedals and the steering column is not currently connected. The boards that make up the existing 'seat' are marked for Graham's signature button tufted upholstery. The engine is a 6-cylinder out of a Pontiac Fiero and the transmission is out of a Chevy S-10, which bolts up to the engine perfectly. The sidepipes are out of a Ford Cobra. The axles are of unknown origin and the suspension is custom-built by Graham. The rear wheels do not match, but Graham liked the look of the larger one. The dual headlights were intended to pivot inside their housings when the front tires turned like the center headlight on a Tucker. There is a radiator present under the backwards flip-up 'hood'. Bitchin' bonus: Graham signed his name on the trunk lid with a grinder. Also included with the car are a digital dash panel, assorted small parts, Graham's notebook including plans for the car's completion and paint scheme, as well as other miscellaneous Graham Enterprises stationery and labels. You couldn't hardly buy the engine and trans for the starting price, and this auction is NO RESERVE. Won't you throw us a bid? This car has a great story, and the completed car would be pure automotive media gold. Guaranteed magazine feature, I bet. Graham was quite a character and the students adored him... and his stories. Like the time he caught his employees afterhours using automotive clearcoat to spray paint the local strippers with metalflake. Or when he went overseas and was king for a day when he showed the local bodymen quick-connect fittings for their air tools. They had been direct-connecting them every time they had to switch tools! Please note this car DOES NOT RUN and NO VIN OR TITLE exists. The car is being sold AS IS as a kit car/design project. There is no warranty. I can help load the car and can arrange for storage until September 1st. If you are overseas, I can work with your shipper/shipping company/tow service. The car can be viewed/inspected by appointment. Please ASK QUESTIONS because this is not a beginner-level project car. >>>All proceeds from this no-reserve sale will go toward starting a scholarship for students interested in vehicle customization and fabrication. Please help us keep Graham's memory alive and well at El Camino College!<<< If you would like to donate to this scholarship fund without purchasing a project car, please go to www.elcamino.edu/foundation/donate.asp, enter the amount, choose a Program of 'Other' and type in the field below that you would like the funds to go to 'Auto Collision Dept. - Graham Oats'. Thank you very much!! (DO NOT pay for this vehicle through this donation site! This link is for financial gifts only!)