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1912 Franklin Model G news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | Touring Car Chassis Num: 12837G |
| Sold for $20,900 at 2007 RM Auctions. | |||
It is fitted with a four-cylinder OHV air-cooled engine that displaces 201 cubic-inches and produces 25 horsepower. There is a three-speed manual transmission and two-wheel mechanical brakes. The wheelbase measures 100-inches and is held in place by a solid front axle and a live rear axle, both with full-elliptic leaf springs.
The car is in poor condition, having been neglected for many years the entire vehicle has rusted and the back of the left rear fender and on the splash aprons have rusted-out completely. The wood chassis is sound, the right rear spring is broken, the leather seats have cracked and there is mildew, the button cushions are missing, the brass work is tarnished, and the right headlamp has a cracked lens.
By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2010
The H.H. Franklin Manufacturing Company built the most successful American direct air-cooled cars from 1902 to 1934. John Wilkinson was the engineer who built the first Franklin car and whose design principles combining high quality with light weight gave Franklin their distinct reputation for dependability and long life. All Franklins utilized air-cooled engines and double elliptical springs on all four wheels. Their legacy has been one of successful innovations and, of course, the unusual vehicles that survived.
The Franklin Manufacturing Company initiated a strong advertising campaign that promoted their high quality and lightweight vehicles. Their engineering was progressive and introduced many new features. Wilkinson used a wooden frame constructed of three-ply laminated ash. The benefits were two-fold; decreasing the weight of the vehicle and providing a better material to absorb shocks. Aluminum bodies also aided in his quest for reduced weight.
His belief was function over form, meaning that he favored a cars abilities rather than its beauty. This resulted in his cars having their own unique appearance. Since the cars required no radiator due to air-cooled methods, their front end was bound to look different that most other vehicles on the roadways. A 'barrel front' hood was adopted in 1904. By 1911 the cars were given a more modern appeal with flush-sided bodies and Renault-style 'coal scuttle' hood.
Model G
The Franklin Model G was produced from 1906 through 1913. The 5-passenger Tourer had a wheelbase that measured 88 inches and a price tag of $1800. The wheelbase increased to 90-inches the following year, though the four-cylinder 12-horsepower engine remained the same. A 2-passenger runabout joined the Model G lineup, and it was priced at $1800 while the Tourer increased in price by $50.
For 1908, the Model G engine received a boost in power, now rated at 16 horsepower. The bodystyle selection continued to grow with the addition of a Brougham and a Landaulet. Pricing ranged from $1750 to $2500. The runabout was dropped for 1909 and replaced with a Cape Top Tourer with seating for four. The wheelbase grew slightly, to 91.5-inches. The engine now produced 18 horsepower.
For 1910, the Model G was available as a tourer or a 2- or 4-passennger runabout. Pricing ranged from $1750-$1800 and continued to be the company's least expensive model. Many of the company's other vehicles were priced from $2800 - $5000, making the Model G a relative bargain.
The wheelbase of the Model G grew in 1911, now reaching 100-inches for the Tourer. The Torpedo Phaeton, the only other bodystyle available that year on the Model G, measured 108-inches. This would change the following year, as the Model G was again available in two different sizes, a 100-inch runabout or a larger 103-inch tourer. The Tourer had a 25 horsepower engine while the runabout had the 18-horsepower version.
The final year of production of the Franklin Model G was in 1913. Engine size, price, and dimensions were the same as 1912.
By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2010
For more information and related vehicles, click hereThe Franklin Manufacturing Company initiated a strong advertising campaign that promoted their high quality and lightweight vehicles. Their engineering was progressive and introduced many new features. Wilkinson used a wooden frame constructed of three-ply laminated ash. The benefits were two-fold; decreasing the weight of the vehicle and providing a better material to absorb shocks. Aluminum bodies also aided in his quest for reduced weight.
His belief was function over form, meaning that he favored a cars abilities rather than its beauty. This resulted in his cars having their own unique appearance. Since the cars required no radiator due to air-cooled methods, their front end was bound to look different that most other vehicles on the roadways. A 'barrel front' hood was adopted in 1904. By 1911 the cars were given a more modern appeal with flush-sided bodies and Renault-style 'coal scuttle' hood.
Model G
The Franklin Model G was produced from 1906 through 1913. The 5-passenger Tourer had a wheelbase that measured 88 inches and a price tag of $1800. The wheelbase increased to 90-inches the following year, though the four-cylinder 12-horsepower engine remained the same. A 2-passenger runabout joined the Model G lineup, and it was priced at $1800 while the Tourer increased in price by $50.
For 1908, the Model G engine received a boost in power, now rated at 16 horsepower. The bodystyle selection continued to grow with the addition of a Brougham and a Landaulet. Pricing ranged from $1750 to $2500. The runabout was dropped for 1909 and replaced with a Cape Top Tourer with seating for four. The wheelbase grew slightly, to 91.5-inches. The engine now produced 18 horsepower.
For 1910, the Model G was available as a tourer or a 2- or 4-passennger runabout. Pricing ranged from $1750-$1800 and continued to be the company's least expensive model. Many of the company's other vehicles were priced from $2800 - $5000, making the Model G a relative bargain.
The wheelbase of the Model G grew in 1911, now reaching 100-inches for the Tourer. The Torpedo Phaeton, the only other bodystyle available that year on the Model G, measured 108-inches. This would change the following year, as the Model G was again available in two different sizes, a 100-inch runabout or a larger 103-inch tourer. The Tourer had a 25 horsepower engine while the runabout had the 18-horsepower version.
The final year of production of the Franklin Model G was in 1913. Engine size, price, and dimensions were the same as 1912.
By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2010
| Auctions America By RM's Spring Carlisle Auction Kicks off 2012 Northeastern U.S. Collector Car Season | |
 | Auctions America by RM will return to the Carlisle Expo Center in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on April 26-27, 2012, to kick off the collector car season for the Northeastern U.S. with its Spring Carlisle auction. Featuring nearly 300 American hot rods, muscle cars, classics and memorabilia during its two-day sale, the Spring Carlisle auction is held in conjunction with the Spring Carlisle Collector Car Swap Meet & Corral (April 25-29), hosted each year by Carlisle Events. The auction is one of se...[Read more...] |
 1912
Franklin
models |
| Franklin Model D |
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| Abbot-Detroit Model 44 ($2,000-$2,000) |
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| Overland Model 61 ($1,500-$2,000) |
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Average Auction Sale: $20,900 |
| Franklin: 1911-1920 |
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