1930 Franklin Series 147

The Franklin Automobile Company of Syracuse, New York was founded by Herbert H. Franklin and produced automobiles from 1920 to 1934. They are most remembered for their air-cooled engines which the company considered more reliable and simpler than water cooling. Most Franks had wooden frames; beginning in 1928, the heavier more luxurious-bodied cars began using a conventional pressed-steel platform. Another memorable feature of the Franklins was its extensive use of lightweight aluminum, and during its early years, was believed to be the larger use of aluminum in the world.

The 1930 Franklin Models included a 6-cylinder Model 145 resting on a 125-inch wheelbase platform. The Model 147, also powered by an 87-horsepower six-cylinder engine, had a larger 132-inch wheelbase and was offered in 13 different standard factory body styles. The 125- and 132-inch platforms were carried over from the prior year, although the 1929 Model 130's 120-inch platform was a one-year online offering. Prices for 1930 increased slightly, already among the higher-priced vehicles in the industry, with prices that ranged from $2,600 to over $7,500. In comparison, the sixteen-cylinder Cadillac had prices that ranged from $5,300 to $9,700, and the Ford Model A listed for $433 to $655. The Packard 733, with its 134.5-inch wheelbase and eight-cylinder, 110 horsepower engine, sold for $2,400 to $2,800. The LaSalle Model 340 and Cord L-29 had similar price figures.

The Great Depression was responsible for the demise of many automobile manufacturers, including Franklin which suffered a financial collapse in April 1934. A mere 6,043 Franklin vehicles were produced in 1930, down from 14,432 the previous year.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2020