Graber
Corporate brand
UnclaimedSwiss coachbuilder renowned for bespoke automobile bodies, especially its elegant Alvis designs.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Carrosserie Hermann Graber, generally known as Graber, was a Swiss coachbuilding business based in Wichtrach in the canton of Bern. It became one of Switzerland's best-known makers of individually commissioned automobile bodies during the middle decades of the twentieth century. Rather than producing a standardized mass-market range, the company designed and constructed low-volume bodies for customers who supplied the chassis of prestigious European and American cars. The business originated in 1924, when 21-year-old Hermann Graber took over his father's wheel-making enterprise and redirected it toward automobile body construction. Graber's first reported car body was a two-seat cabriolet on a Fiat 509 chassis, shown in 1927. International recognition followed in 1929, when a Graber-bodied Panhard & Levassor 20 CV won the Concours d'Elegance at St. Moritz. The award helped establish the company among Europe's specialist coachbuilders. During the 1930s, Graber produced one-off and limited-run bodies for a varied selection of chassis, including Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Bugatti, Duesenberg and Packard. After the Second World War, the company increasingly concentrated on sophisticated bodies for British cars with separate chassis. Its customers and partner marques included Alvis, Bentley, Aston Martin, Lagonda, Rolls-Royce and Rover, although Alvis became its most important long-term relationship. Graber built its first Alvis body in 1946 and obtained Swiss distribution rights for Alvis cars in 1953. In 1955, following a customer commission, it created the first of several Graber-designed bodies on Alvis chassis. The most influential was the Graber-bodied Alvis TC 21/100, commonly associated with the name "Grey Lady." Its low, modernized pontoon form combined traditional luxury-car proportions with a more contemporary silhouette. Alvis subsequently adopted the basic design for series production, with manufacturing carried out in Britain first by Willowbrook and later by Park Ward. The design language continued through the Alvis TD, TE and TF21 generations. Although licensed British production made the Graber concept more widely available, the Wichtrach workshop continued to construct highly individualized cars. It produced no more than roughly ten special Alvis-bodied cars per year, including coupés, cabriolets and four-door specials. Graber bodies were generally lower and more dramatically raked than standard Alvis bodies, and the firm was willing to modify chassis and running gear when customers requested changes rather than limiting its work to exterior styling. Hermann Graber died in 1970, bringing the period of new special-body production at Wichtrach to an end. By that point, approximately 800 Graber-bodied vehicles had reportedly been produced. The business continued under the direction of Graber's widow, shifting its emphasis toward body repair and maintenance. From 1980 to 1996 it also held a franchise as an official Ferrari importer in Switzerland. In 2001, the remaining business was acquired by Swiss classic-car restorer Markus Scharnhorst and relocated to Toffen. Graber's historical importance rests on its craftsmanship, bespoke approach and particularly influential partnership with Alvis.
History
The Graber business began in 1924, when Hermann Graber took over his father's wheel-making workshop in Switzerland. At the age of 21, he redirected the company toward automobile body construction, reflecting the growing commercial opportunity presented by custom-built cars. The company completed its first known automobile body in 1927, a two-seat cabriolet mounted on a Fiat 509 chassis. Graber's early reputation developed through concours appearances and work for prestigious marques. In 1929, a Graber-bodied Panhard & Levassor 20 CV won the Concours d'Elegance at St. Moritz. The result gave the Wichtrach business visibility beyond Switzerland. During the 1930s, it built special bodies on chassis from Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Bugatti, Duesenberg and Packard, serving customers who wanted individualized designs rather than factory-standard coachwork. The post-war market encouraged Graber to focus more strongly on British luxury and sporting cars. British manufacturers retained a significant position in the European automobile market and many of their higher-priced cars still used separate chassis, allowing independent coachbuilders to offer alternative body designs. Graber worked with marques including Alvis, Bentley, Aston Martin, Lagonda, Rolls-Royce and Rover. Its relationship with Alvis became particularly close and lasted for almost two decades. Graber built its first body for an Alvis chassis in 1946. In 1953, the company also acquired Swiss distribution rights for Alvis automobiles. In 1955, it constructed the first of several Graber-bodied Alvis prototypes in response to a customer request. The same period produced the influential Graber-bodied Alvis TC 21/100, often called the Grey Lady. The car introduced a lower and more modern pontoon-style body while retaining the formal character expected of a high-end British grand tourer. The design was sufficiently successful that Alvis arranged for series production in Britain. Willowbrook initially produced bodies under licence, followed later by Park Ward. Park Ward adapted the Swiss drawings to provide additional interior space, but the basic Graber design became the foundation for successive Alvis TD, TE and TF21 models. This arrangement gave Graber's styling a production reach that an entirely hand-built Swiss operation could not have achieved on its own. The Wichtrach workshop continued to construct individual cars for customers. Production remained very small, reportedly no more than about ten special Alvis-bodied cars per year. These included coupés, cabriolets and four-door cars. Compared with standard Alvis bodies, the Graber versions were typically lower and had more steeply angled windscreen and rear pillars. The company also treated commissions as engineering projects: when customers requested changes, it could alter chassis details or running gear as well as create a new body. Hermann Graber died in 1970. The death marked the end of new special-body production at Wichtrach, after an estimated total of approximately 800 Graber-bodied vehicles. The company did not disappear immediately. Under Hermann Graber's widow, it continued as a body repair and maintenance operation. From 1980 through 1996, it additionally operated as an official Ferrari importer in Switzerland. In 2001, the residual business was acquired by Swiss classic-car restorer Markus Scharnhorst and relocated to Toffen. The available reference material does not establish the present legal or operating status of the business. Historically, however, Graber remains associated with the high-craft Swiss coachbuilding tradition and with the transformation of Alvis's separate-chassis cars into distinctive, elegant grand tourers.
- 2001
Business acquired and moved to Toffen
[1]Classic-car restorer Markus Scharnhorst acquired the remaining business and relocated it to Toffen.
- 1996
Ferrari importer franchise ends
[1]The documented period of Graber's official Ferrari-importer franchise concluded.
- 1980
Ferrari importer franchise begins
[1]The business began operating as an official Ferrari importer in Switzerland.
- 1970
End of new special-body production
[1]Hermann Graber died and production of special-bodied cars at Wichtrach ended. Approximately 800 Graber-bodied vehicles had reportedly been produced by this point.
- 1955
Graber-bodied Alvis prototypes and Grey Lady design
[1]The company produced Alvis-based prototypes, including the influential TC 21/100 Grey Lady design that later informed series-built Alvis models.
- 1953
Swiss Alvis distribution rights acquired
[1]Graber obtained the Swiss distribution rights for Alvis automobiles.
- 1946
First Graber body for an Alvis chassis
[1]Graber completed its first known Alvis-bodied car, beginning its most important long-term manufacturer relationship.
- 1929
Concours success at St. Moritz
[1]A Graber-bodied Panhard & Levassor 20 CV won the Concours d'Elegance at St. Moritz, raising the firm's profile across Europe.
- 1927
First known Graber automobile body
[1]The company presented a two-seat cabriolet built on a Fiat 509 chassis.
- 1924
Hermann Graber takes over the family wheel-making business
[1]At age 21, Hermann Graber inherited or took over his father's wheel-making enterprise and began converting it toward automobile body construction.
Products and positioning
A high-end, low-volume Swiss coachbuilder focused on individually commissioned bodies for prestigious chassis. Graber's market position was based on design originality, hand craftsmanship and close collaboration with luxury and sporting-car manufacturers, especially Alvis.
Coachbuilt automobile body · 1927
Bespoke automobile bodies
Graber's core offering was individually commissioned bodywork fitted to customer-selected chassis. The workshop produced low-volume designs rather than a standardized catalog, adapting proportions, cabin layouts and exterior details to the requirements of owners and partner marques. Known pre-war chassis included Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Bugatti, Duesenberg, Packard, Panhard & Levassor and Fiat.
Luxury and sporting automobile body · 1946
Graber-bodied Alvis cars
Alvis became Graber's defining post-war relationship. The Swiss workshop created special coupés, cabriolets and four-door bodies for Alvis chassis, often with lower proportions and more steeply raked pillars than factory bodies. Some designs were produced in Britain under licence, while the Wichtrach operation continued to build particularly exclusive examples to order.
Grand tourer body design · 1955
Alvis TC 21/100 "Grey Lady"
The Graber-bodied Alvis TC 21/100 introduced a modern pontoon-style silhouette to the Alvis range while retaining a luxurious grand-touring character. The 1955 design became the basis for later series production by British coachbuilders Willowbrook and Park Ward and influenced the subsequent Alvis TD, TE and TF21 models.
Automotive service · 1970
Automobile body repair and maintenance
After new special-body construction ended in 1970, the business continued under Hermann Graber's widow with a focus on repairing and maintaining automobile bodies. This service-oriented activity preserved the company's connection to high-value and historic vehicles after its coachbuilding phase.
Automotive distribution · 1980
Ferrari distribution in Switzerland
Graber held an official Ferrari-importer franchise in Switzerland from 1980 to 1996. The franchise represented a later commercial phase distinct from the firm's earlier identity as a bespoke coachbuilder.
Brand decisions
2001
Residual business acquired by Markus ScharnhorstM&ABackground
The remaining Graber operation survived after the original coachbuilding phase and subsequent Ferrari distribution period.
Action taken
Classic-car restorer Markus Scharnhorst acquired the residual business and relocated it from Wichtrach to Toffen.
Aftermath
The available reference material does not specify the later legal structure or operating status after the relocation.
1980
Entered official Ferrari distributionStrategyBackground
After the end of bespoke body production, the business pursued a manufacturer-franchise model alongside its automotive service activities.
Action taken
Graber began operating as an official Ferrari importer in Switzerland.
Aftermath
The franchise continued until 1996, marking a later commercial chapter in the company's history.
1970
Shifted from new coachbuilding to body repairStrategyBackground
Hermann Graber's death ended the company's period of producing new special-bodied cars at Wichtrach.
Action taken
Under the control of his widow, the business concentrated on automobile body repair and maintenance rather than continuing its former bespoke production model.
Aftermath
The Graber name remained active in automotive services, while its historic coachbuilding output became associated with approximately 800 completed vehicles.
1955
Developed the Graber-bodied Alvis TC 21/100Product launchBackground
An Alvis customer commission led Graber to develop a new body on an Alvis chassis. The design emerged as the most influential expression of the Graber-Alvis relationship.
Action taken
Graber created a lower, more modern pontoon-style body, represented by the TC 21/100 Grey Lady, and the design was subsequently adapted for licensed British production.
Aftermath
The design became the basis for later Alvis TD, TE and TF21 models, extending Graber's stylistic influence beyond the cars built directly in Switzerland.
Sources2 sources
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