Lot details Registration No: UN-REG Chassis No: 30-183440L11 Mot Expiry: None
Although, the fledgling New York Automobile Co had dropped his radical air-cooled overhead-valve engined design at the prototype stage, brilliant young Cornell graduate John Wilkinson soon convinced the H.H. Franklin Manufacturing Co. to embrace it. A die-casting trailblazer, the Syracuse (New York) based company produced its first car in 1902. Without the need for a water pump, gaskets, hoses, fan belts or anti-freeze, Franklins were able to operate in extremes of heat and cold that left water-cooled rivals stranded. Truly innovative, the marque was among the first to adopt six-cylinder engines (1905), automatic spark advance (1907), sedan coachwork (1913), aluminium pistons (1915) and electric carburettor priming (1921). Indeed by the early 1920s, every Franklin was powered by a straight-six complete with seven-bearing case-hardened crankshaft, duralumin con-rods and more efficient downdraught cooling fan. Succumbing to pressure from the dealer network, Herbert Franklin allowed the 1925 model-year (and later) cars that bore his name to wear dummy radiator grilles styled by Frank deCausse. As well as employing Erwin George 'Cannon Ball' Baker to race the crack 20th Century Limited train from New York to Chicago in 1928, Franklin courted further publicity by ensuring that its products were driven by leading aviation personalities including: Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Orville Wright and Glenn Curtis. Making the switch from wood to steel framed chassis in 1929 resulted in the company's best-ever sales year (though, sadly it was unable to weather the Depression and folded in 1934).
Finished in green over black with brown cloth upholstery, this particular example was reportedly taken off the road by its previous keeper during 1956. Although, untouched for many years, the sedan is understood to have benefited from an engine overhaul at the hands of a marque specialist as well as a "new fuel tank, exhaust and fabric top" before a stroke prompted its sale to the current owner. Thought to displace 3.9 litres, its imposing straight-six powerplant is allied to three-speed manual transmission (the top of which has been removed by the vendor who reports that the internals "look good"). In need of further restoration, this ultra-rare Vintage sedan is offered for sale with C&E 386 duties paid form.
PLEASE NOTE: WE HAVE NOT HAD THIS VEHICLE RUNNING AT THE SALE. HOWEVER, THE VENDOR BELIEVES THAT THE ENGINE REQUIRES RE-TIMING.
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