How the Western Federal Lands Highway Division Acquired a 1931 Vintage Car

This article is on the DOT employees home page. Thought you all might enjoy.

In 1931, the federal government purchased a vehicle from the Graham-Paige Motor Corporation for the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads (BPR). In addition to its unique body style of combining a two-seat passenger area with a covered equipment bed, the vehicle also sported a lighted U.S. Bureau of Public Roads sign, a siren, and a red emergency light. Known as a Graham-Paige commercial car, it was used to transport surveyors and their equipment for work on BPR projects in the western United States.

Today, the Federal Highway Administration's Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD) owns the 1931 Graham-Paige, possibly the only remaining vintage automobile of its kind.

In Vancouver, Wash., where the WFLHD offices are located, the 1931 Graham-Paige commercial car is occasionally driven around the neighboring streets.

After its BPR duty, the vehicle was retired from government service and used by a Reno florist as a delivery truck. Sometime after that, Harrah's Club of Reno purchased it to showcase in its famous collection, but it was never restored or displayed.

Long-time highway construction contractor William (Bill) McBee recognized the vehicle's value, purchased it from Harrah's in 1978, restored the damaged portions, and made the engine, transmission, and brakes operational.

In 2003, McBee approached former WFLHD Engineer Ron Carmichael and graciously offered to donate the vehicle to the agency if it completed the restoration and preserved it for the enjoyment of future generations.

"The car was 97 percent restored when we got it," said Dan Donovan, WFLHD director of Program Administration. Wade Johnson and Caleb Frobig worked on the engine, replaced the tires, and put on a vinyl roof (the original was canvas). Donovan also said interested employees are doing the remaining restoration work on their own time, devoting small amounts of time adding up to approximately 40 to 80 hours over a full year.

The WFLHD has featured the vintage car in parades and ribbon cutting ceremonies to make it visible to the public, but it is stored primarily in a trailer, and occasionally brought out for light use and display. According to Donovan, WFLHD employees occasionally drive the 1931 Graham-Paige around its Vancouver, Wash., home. He says, "we take it out once in a while just to make sure the systems stay lubricated. It's always a sight to see!"

But in general, the restoration continues, with WFLHD maintaining a website featuring information about the vehicle's history, restoration updates, and requests for needed parts.

In agreeing to acquire the vehicle, Ron Carmichael not only returned the Graham-Paige to the federal sector, he also made it a fully functioning piece of WFHLD's history.