5d (edited)

Classic Franklin

With the exception of the REO bodied Olympics at the very end of the companies' run all Franklin cars are considered Full Classics. How about a topic to discuss Classic Franklin?

The Franklin Automobile Company based Syracuse, New York spent 32 years (1902–1934) building cars completely differently from everyone else. While the rest of the luxury market was building big heavy water-cooled engines, Franklin went with lightweight, air-cooled engines and highly flexible wooden chassis. Somebody help me, all steel chassis started in 27?

In the early 1930s, a mix of heavy debt and the brutal economics of the Great Depression eventually forced them into bankruptcy by 1934.

My favorite cars are the Dietrich Speedsters of 1929-1932. Dietrich never penned a bad design and these are beautiful cars.

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Oct 27, 2026

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Replies (65)

· 5d

Wanna buy a car that you can participate in Classic car events with? How about a 1931 Franklin Series 153 Sedan? Walker body with Dietrich styling. $9800.

https://app.rumbleseat.com/marketplace/3228841/1931-franklin-series-153-sedan

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· 5d

The swan song while the company was controlled by the banks near the end was the V12. Different than earlier Franklins it has semi-elliptical springs instead of full, was big and heavy and had a false radiator front. However, I think the styling was top notch. I think the bodies came from Lebaron in the white? A two speed columbia rear end gave you the gearing to go fast enough.

Believe there are 4 or 5 of these two door club brougham bodies. The other two styles were a sedan and limo.

· 5d

Every once in a while the Nethercutt cuts loose something from the warehouse. This project V12 sold for 10k back in 2025. No engine. Great garage art!!!

https://www.hagerty.com/marketplace/auction/1933-Franklin-V12/eiH7FWq25BfiBnzYeGGI4

· 5d

A view of the V12 engine taken at the Northeast Classic car museum last May. 398 cubic inches and 150 HP. Very healthy numbers for an American car in 1932. Off the top of my head eclipsed only by the 16 cylinder cars and the Duesenberg and Stuz DOHC eights. I guess the Auburn 12 and the twin six Packard were 160 but still in the top end of available cars that year.

· 5d

Two more V12 cars from the Northeast Classic Car museum.

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· 5d

From a visit in May to the Northeast Classic Car museum in NY. I thought I got a picture of the placard but I can't find it. A 31? Somebody help me here. I LOVED this car.

· 5d

I know you are a three window coupe fan…

I believe that is a 1932 airman coupe

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· 5d

A topic I love! I believe in 1929. All of them had gone away from Wood and had a Steel chassis. But perhaps it was the year they transitioned with the shorter wheelbase (130 model) still wood but the longer wheelbase 135/137 models with steel chassis? I’m fairly confident that in 1930 no models had a wood chassis.

I also have read that there were engine changes in 1930/31 that delivered a much more capable touring speed for those who might need to get out on the highway and sustain 55 mph for a bit.

I am always preaching that there is no more affordable car included in the CCCA criteria than Franklin.

The Tom Hubbard museum in Tucson is a favorite of mine and I visit it often. Mr Hubbard restored over 10 Franklins that ended up in the Harrah collection. Mr Harrah was a huge collector of Franklins.

From the Tom Hubbard Museum

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· 5d

Our friend @WaltG says 31 got a couple of extra inches of legroom and it makes it easier for taller guys to fit. Not sure about fat guys. I remembered you were fan after I started the topic.

· 4d

1929 was the first year all of them were steel. Series 12B long wheelbase cars in 1928 also had steel frames.

· 5d

John posted a Pirate above and those probably deserve their own sub topic here. The "Pirate" was a special design by Ray Dietrich which incorporated a body that covered the running boards. Need to find a picture of the first Pirate. Also need to find production and styles. I know there was a sedan, this is a phaeton in the museum

· 5d

More of “the Pirate “

Very different for 1931.

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· 5d

That is a cool car!!!

· 3d

I believe the intention was for the covered running board design to be applied to the full Series 14 lineup for 1930, but the Depression axed those plans.

· 3d

Do you know how many were produced?

· 5d

Great topic A.J.!

· 5d

My father owned a 1932 Short Coupled Sedan! I used to love riding in it!!!

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· 5d

Love the car. Is that you in the photo?

· 5d

😂

· 5d

This was right after the 12 cylinder cars in the Northeast Classic Car museum. Not sure of the exact model and year. Wood wheels on a Franklin this late is rare to me.

· 5d

Super cool 1931 Franklin Series 15, Model 153 DeLuxe with l Derham bodied towncar body. Bought from RM by a CCCA member.

· 5d

I know my obsession with old cars has got out of hand, when I can tell exactly where RM took this photo from the concrete😂

· 4d

I had the good fortune to ride in this Franklin with a noted Franklin collector just a few months ago. What a wonderful ride.

· 5d

I’d like to see that car someday. Many towncars of that era are on the longest chassis offered, frequently 140 inch WB and longer. The series 15 Franklin was 132 i believe.

We’re retiring in Tucson and I’d love to have a Franklin so when I walk in to the Tom Hubbard Museum to see if they could use another volunteer, I’d have some street cred.

· 5d

Our friend @WaltG 's old Derham bodied 1931. Hopefully he sees this and chimes in.

· 4d

· 21h

The loss of this Franklin Dietrich Sport Sedan is a real tragedy for automotive design history. There was also a victoria coupe in the same design theme.

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· 21h

Steve, is that from Auto Body magazine?

· 4d

Some more Franklins from Tom Hubbard’s estate/museum in Tucson

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· 4d

Here's the Franklin Speedster that was in the Stan Lucas Collection

· 4d

That car ended up with a nice new caretaker.

· 4d

Would be nice if Matt chimed in here.

· 4d

I love Victoria Coupes.

https://app.rumbleseat.com/marketplace/5747492/1923-franklin-series-10-victoria-coupe

· 4d

This model 153 sport Phaeton by Merrimac is such a handsome sexy car. It is a car that will change the minds of those who don’t find Brown attractive.

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· 4d

John, what is the history on this car?

· 3d

I captured this with my phone when I was there, but I will see what else I can learn when I’m living there in a few weeks and hopefully a volunteer at the museum!

· 3d

Well, that would make it the best looking Franklin I have ever seen. And the Dietrich cars are pretty good looking.

· 3d

You will get no argument from me. It is breathtaking. You walk into the entrance to the facility and go down a step and there are four or five cars in the first room. This one’s prominently displayed and doesn’t have a car right up against it and you can really see the side profile and it is gorgeous.

They say it was a one off on the Franklin platform although I did see a Merrimac sport phaeton on a Dupont and you can see the same visual cues but they are not identical, and I like the Franklin better

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· 3d

The only surviving Model G Dupont. Maybe the best of all the Duponts.

· 3d

Before I go off on a Dupont tangent we have a great topic on them.

https://classiccarclub.org/forums/2016/topics/14934/dupont

· 4d

I had my car in the same class as this Franklin roadster at a concours last year. I loved it. Going off memory, I think it was a 1929, but correct me if I’m wrong. Not sure of the model.

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· 4d

Good looking car Travis. I would fix the wheels but would leave everything else alone. I need to find the opportunity to drive one of these or get a solid driving report from somebody.

· 3d

I don’t know what the wheelbase was on the roadsters, if it even differed, but I remember it seeming bigger and longer in person than the photos suggest.

· 3d

YouTube ↗

· 4d

1929 Franklins at the Trek

· 4d

A great lineup! The consistent gathering of Franklin owners at the TREK is impressive and another element I so respect for the Franklin Make.

· 4d

Car on the right is the same as the one Travis posted above?

· 4d

Yes, all the way down to the license plate! I feel like Franklin has a disproportionate number of closed cars represented in the ones I see publicly. That may not be accurate, but just my perception.

· 3d

Sort of like Pierce Arrow where 90% of them are closed.

· 3d

Yes, same car. He obviously keeps that car pretty busy because I saw a photo of it on the field at Hershey this year, too.

· 3d

Edwin, which one is your car?

· 3d

None of them in that picture are mine unfortunately. Maybe someday...

Here's a photo of my car after the 2025 Franklin Trek

· 3d

I’ve enjoyed all the sharing you’ve done with your car on the AACA forum

· 3d

Thanks! Are you out of school yet?

· 3d

Yep! Graduated May 2025 and have been full time at The NB Center since then.

· 3d

I didn't have much of an appreciation of prewar cars before I got into this 1930 5 Passenger Sedan, the engineering and history behind the company (and the club) forced me to buy it. Nowhere near as aesthetically pleasing as many other cars at the moment, but the engine gets lots of head scratching at shows!

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· 3d

What I love about Franklin is that you can buy a really cool car for a fraction of some of the other manufacturers. And you don't have to worry about the number one issue with the engine which is corrosion.

· 3d

To my CCCA friends, I just joined the H.H. Franklin club. Its 40 bucks. I would urge any of you interested in these cars to join. I'm going to urge the Franklin guys to return the favor and join the CCCA.

https://www.franklincar.org/

· 3d

AJ, I also joined about a year ago.  What a good 40 dollars spent .  Their club is active and friends I know with them are always telling me about the help they get from the other members.

Additionally, I want to support the Tom Hubbard Museum since we’ll be living close by, and it will certainly be more fun doing that if I own a Franklin.

There is no better way to get a good car than to do it as a member within the club.  Meeting up with other members,  attending social events, developing friendships, will let you hear about people considering letting a car go that has a known history and one that you can check out in person.

On that note, I’d suggest anyone considering buying a car of a specific make, to see if there is a specific club for them and join.  Get involved, and over time you’ll likely get an opportunity to buy a car that you never would have known about outside of the club.

· 2d

· 1d

YouTube ↗