1908 Franklin Model G

Herbert Henry Franklin was an Upstate New York industrialist who, by the turn of the 20th century, had served as a printer's apprentice, a newspaper editor, a bicycle salesman, a real estate agent, and a pioneer in commercial die casting. In 1900, he met a Cornell University engineering graduate named John Wilkinson who had a passion for bicycle racing and had recently dabbled in the automotive arena - having built a pair of prototype automobiles. A ride in one of Wilkinson's cars convinced Franklin to invest $1,100, enough to finance the construction of a third prototype that would become the first car built by the newly-formed Franklin Automobile Company of Syracuse, New York. The sale of the Franklin automobile in 1902 earned it the distinction of being the first four-cylinder car produced in the United States.

The company would build a reputation for sound engineering, simplicity, and low maintenance during its 32-year existence, and Wiliams believed that beauty followed functionality, not ornamentation. He was a fanatic about weight, which led him to dispense with cooling water and to use the lightest suspension components possible, including full-elliptic springs and tubular axles. The bodies were formed from lightweight aluminum and the interiors used laminated ash frames.

From 1904 a 'barrel-front' hood was adopted, with a simple screen at the front to let the cooling air in. Renault-style 'scuttle' hoods were later adopted and eventually replaced by a 'horse-collar' grille. The air-cooled engines eliminated the need for a radiator, and a barrel-style hood covered the engine.

The Model G was offered from 1906 through 1913 and offered in a variety of body styles, initially utilizing an 88-inch wheelbase that was lengthened incrementally through its production run. By 1911, the wheelbase measured 100 inches on Model Gs and was powered by an air-cooled overhead-valve four-cylinder displacing 201 cubic inches and delivering 25 horsepower.

Franklin's 1908 four-cylinder model lineup included the Model G resting on a 90-inch wheelbase and the Model D with a 105-inch wheelbase, with prices on the Model G ranging from $1,850 to $2,500 while the Model D ranged from $2,850 to $4,000. The Model H was a six-cylinder model with 42 horsepower and utilizing a 127-inch wheelbase and priced from $4,000 to $5,200.

1908 Franklin production dipped slightly from the 2,400 units built in 1907, falling to 1,895 units in 1908. A year later, sales increased to 2,142 units. The company's highest production year was 1929 with 14,432 units built, followed by 1920 which had 10,552 units built.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2022