Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 104 ¤
1925 Franklin Series 11-A Sport Runabout Chassis no. 154837-2 Engine no. E103049
Sold for US$44,800 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 104¤
1925 Franklin Series 11-A Sport Runabout
1925 Franklin Series 11-A Sport Runabout
Chassis no. 154837-2
Engine no. E103049
Chassis no. 154837-2
Engine no. E103049
199.1ci Overhead Valve Air-Cooled Inline Six Cylinder Engine
Stromberg Updraft Carburetor
32bhp at 2,200 rpm
Three-Speed Manual Transmission
Live Axles with Full-Elliptical Leaf Springs, Ash Wood Frame
Foot-Operated Mechanical Transmission Brake, Lever-Operated Rear Wheel Mechanical Drum Brakes
* The first year for Franklin's conventional grille
* Desirable sporting Sport Runabout coachwork
* Restored for Harrah's in 1966-67
* Maintained and preserved for sixty years, a modest project to return to the road
THE FRANKLIN SERIES 11-A
Despite being different in both concept and design Franklin automobiles were undeniably successful. Their air-cooled engines were powerful and reliable. The laminated wood frame and full-elliptical leaf spring suspension was supple with a combination of smooth riding qualities and excellent adhesion over the mostly rough roads of the period. Their coachwork was light weight, luxurious and comfortable.
They also looked different, with sloping hoods and refined grilles adapted to their fan-fed air-cooling systems. In the 1920's, despite some commercial success, Franklin dealers began to protest that Franklins' different appearance from "conventional" liquid cooled cars was a hindrance to customer acceptance. In 1923 the Franklin board searched for alternatives and in 1925 introduced the Series 11-A. Designed by independent designer J. Frank de Causse who had worked for Locomobile, it had a conventional appearing chrome grille shell housing the usual Franklin forced air fan intake in a small circular grille at the bottom.
The "horse collar" grille served no functional purpose (any more than the 1958 Edsel horse collar grille did) but it placated dealers. The Series 11A had little effect, either, on production. 1923 production of the traditional hood Series 10 was 10,130 units, an output that wouldn't be exceeded until calendar year 1929. But the Series 11-A was an important tipping point for the H.H. Franklin Company and in conceding to the perceived wisdom of its dealers the company lost is guiding light, engineer John Wilkinson, who firmly believed in form following function as a basic principle.
THE CAR OFFERED
This 1925 Franklin Series 11-A Sport Runabout was restored for Harrah's in 1966-67 not in the Harrah's shop in Sparks but by Tom Hubbard in Tucson, Arizona. It is a highly desirable style runabout with a boattail rear deck, resplendent in rich red with panels subtly outlined in black and gold coachlines. Its tall hood, needed to cover the cooling air plenum over the cylinder heads is sharply cut off at the back of the cowl with low door tops on the passenger compartment. Upholstered in black leather, it has a tightly fit natural cloth top, cloth covered rear-mounted spare and body color wood spoke wheels with 5.25-21 blackwall tires. The headlights are Twin Beams and the windshield, with a single wiper, is top hinged for visibility and cooling. The driver's compartment is dominated by a beautiful wood steering wheel. An early Harrah's car, it has equipment tag number 639.
The restoration shows its six decades of age with a few defects like three small tears in the passenger's seat cushion, a cracked windshield grommet and a dust covered engine compartment and chassis. The paint and chrome, however, are far better than their age should suggest. It will respond to moderate attention and a full functional recommissioning without deserving re-restoration, an expense that should be avoided to credit the quality and care this Franklin has enjoyed in the Harrah Collection.
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