Vehicle Description
A favorite of aviators like Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart,
the air-cooled Franklins were state-of-the-art tech in the early
days of motoring. This 1928 Franklin Airman sedan, for example,
combines that air-cooled six-cylinder engine with 4-wheel hydraulic
brakes and a wooden chassis with a lot of aluminum to create a car
that drives like nothing else. It's better in almost every way, but
you need to drive it to truly understand.
Accepted as a Full Classic by the Classic Car Club of America
(CCCA), this Franklin is an affordable way to get into all the big
events. The handsome sedan was professionally restored some years
ago, but the quality of the work shines through everywhere you
look. The burgundy and black color combination is exactly right for
the late 1920s, neither flashy nor anonymous, and the beautiful
shine on the finish proves that the work was expertly done. All
four doors close with a solid sound and feel, which is thanks to
the body's wooden framework and aluminum skin (much like an
airplane) and the tall windows make it feel bright and airy inside.
Dual sidemounts give it an air of dignity and there's a big trunk
out back for touring. You'll note that there's a radiator shell up
front, but that's only for show as the engine is air cooled, but
Franklin was losing ground in the sales race, so they made their
cars look more conventional to help compete. The bumpers are chrome
plated, but the grille and headlights are nickel, which is how they
would have been originally and the soft shine is just lovely.
The red mohair interior is beautifully done. It's a little flashy,
but with a Franklin, you could have it upholstered any way you
wanted, so it's not incorrect. The front seat is comfortable and
shows very little evidence of use, while the expansive rear seat
area is trimmed in high luxury, including a center armrest. The big
wooden steering wheel makes it easy to guide the car even without
power steering and it includes a full array of gauges and controls
clustered in the center of the dash. It starts easily using the
foot pedal and control efforts are light, although the 3-speed
manual gearbox will require a quick double-clutch between gears.
Like any old car of the era, you'll have to spend some time getting
used to it, but once you do, you'll probably find that the Franklin
just works better than most.
Most of that is due to the over-achieving 236 cubic inch inline-6,
which had power and performance equal to many eight-cylinder cars
of the day. Most of the engine is hidden under the massive air
shroud, which force-feeds air over the cylinders and is fed by a
massive fan on the front of the crankshaft. Other advanced features
include a downdraft carburetor (now fed by an electric fuel pump
instead of a vacuum tank) and hydraulic brakes, which now use a
modern dual-reservoir master cylinder for safety. It starts easily
and has a wonderful wooshing sound that's totally unique, and that
box on the passenger's side is for heat, which, obviously, can't be
generated by hot water in the radiator. The chassis is also
remarkable, as 1928 was the last year that Franklin built their
frames from wood, not steel, and the crankcase, transmission, and
differential housing are all made of aluminum to keep curb weight
down. Handsome wooden artillery wheels are a graceful touch and
carry vintage-looking Firestone wide whitewall tires that are the
right choice.
A joy for the vintage technophile and wonderful to drive, this
Franklin is a wonderful car waiting for a new generation to
discover is. Call today!