1931 Franklin Series 15 Sportsman Coupe

The H.H. Franklin Mfg. Co. of Syracuse, New York, was the most successful producer of air-cooled automobiles in the United States. The firm, which produced cars from 1902-1934, was founded by Herbert H. Franklin and John Wilkinson, an engineer, who designed and built cars combining high quality with lightweight. The cars had a distinct reputation for dependability and long life.

The patents to the Franklin engine were taken over by the Air-Cooled Motor Corp., whose Syracuse factory specialized in light horizontally-opposed aircraft engines. A 6-cylinder Franklin helicopter engine, converted to water cooling, powered the Tucker automobile in 1947. Air-Cooled Motors continued producing two, four-, and six-cylinder variants of the Franklin engine until 1966.

This particular example was unveiled at the November 1930 Chicago salon held at the Drake Hotel and shown again in December at the New York Auto Salon in the Commodore Hotel. It wears coachwork by Derham Body Company, Rosemont, Pennsylvania.