There’s something about dads and cars that’s more American than apple pie and arguing over who makes the best BBQ. Before some of us could walk, we were handed a wrench and told to “hold this.” For Mike Graham, co-owner of Graham’s Hot Rod Shop Inc.
in Fresno, those early lessons were less about learning to fix things and more about learning the sacred art of the grease monkey, handed down like a family secret from father to son. But this isn’t just a tale about turning wrenches and checking oil levels; it’s about a father’s love, a son’s devotion, and a 1955 Chevy that stands as a gleaming reminder of their shared passion. Growing Up in a Garage A young Mike Graham, barely old enough to reach the pedals but already elbow-deep in engine parts, growing up in a world where the smell of gasoline was the scent of home.
His dad, Bob Graham, was a Chevrolet man through and through, selling those iconic rides from 1955 until the turn of the millennium. Bob’s enthusiasm for anything with an engine was so contagious it could make a Prius owner yearn for a muscle car. For Bob, a car wasn’t just a way to get from A to B; it was a rolling expression of freedom and power, a love letter to the open road.
Bob Graham was the kind of guy who could rebuild a ’32 Ford with his eyes closed and probably tuned the family lawnmower just for kicks. Mike wasn’t just his son; he was his apprentice in the grand workshop of life. Let me set the scene: a 6-year-old Mike, perched.
