Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 35 ¤
1933 Franklin Series 17-B Club Brougham Serial No. 73-10334-L21 Engine no. X5319
Sold for US$313,600 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 35¤
1933 Franklin Series 17-B Club Brougham
1933 Franklin Series 17-B Club Brougham
Serial No. 73-10334-L21
Engine no. X5319
Serial No. 73-10334-L21
Engine no. X5319
398.2ci Air-Cooled Overhead Valve 60° V-12
Single Stromberg Carburetor
150bhp
Three-Speed Manual Transmission
Live Axles with Semi-Elliptical Leaf Springs
Four-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes
* The technical triumph of Franklin, 150hp, 398.2ci air-cooled V-12
* Restored to high standards in the Harrah's shop in 1971
* One of only three of this body known to Harrah's
* 90mph performance
* Luxurious LeBaron designed two-door Brougham body
THE FRANKLIN V-12
In 1929 Franklin sold 14,432 cars, nearly double 1928's total of 7,700 and embarked on an ambitious expansion program which relied upon a $5 million loan from a consortium of banks later in the year. As any student of American economic history would know, this was unfortunate timing as the Great Depression kicked off. Production in 1930 fell by almost 60% to 6,043, then cratered in 1931 to 2,581. The banks took control, sending in Edwin McEwen who promptly decimated Franklin's Engineering department to save money.
Lying on the table at Franklin was a momentous project, a big V-12. Engineering had begun in 1927 and by 1931 it was fully developed and ready for production. Still air-cooled, which historically in line with Franklin's motor production, it had a healthy capacity of 340 cubic inches. This soon led to expansion to 390 and a then a Brobdingnagian 544 cubic inch. Mr. McEwen ordered it into production while abandoning traditional Franklin features like the wooden chassis frame, full elliptical leaf spring suspension and factory designed coachwork. It became known as the "Bankers Car".
Franklin advertised the V-12 as "supercharged" but that was only a function of the air cooling which diverted a small zephyr of air to the carburetor intake. The air-cooling system itself, however, was a masterpiece which not only gave abundant cooling to all twelve cylinders of the narrow angle V-12 but did so using just 6 horsepower of the engine's output. Visually, the Franklin V-12 engine was beautiful, being fully enclosed to retain and direct the cooling air. Stylistically it was as clean and artistic as the Cadillac V-12 and V-16 engines which were laboriously and expensively styled by Harley Earl's Art and Color Department at GM.
Bodies were designed by LeBaron but built at Franklin in Syracuse. Because money was tight, they were never tooled, instead being hand hammered with lead-filled joints and details. Some sources say that 600 of the 17-B's Club Brougham's weight of 5,515 pounds was made up of lead filler.
In the end some 200 Franklin Series 17-Bs were built and cost Franklin a fortune. The company was liquidated in 1935 but the few, special, toolroom built Series 17s were a splendid, even magnificent, landmark at the end of the company's proud history and are coveted by collectors.
THE CAR OFFERED
This magnificent 1933 Franklin Series 17-B with Club Brougham coachwork designed by LeBaron was acquired by the Harrah's Automobile Collection in 1964 from Paul S. Carson in Marietta, Georgia. It was restored in the Harrah's shops to concours standards in 1974.
The two-door Club Brougham coachwork designed by LeBaron is particularly effective and attractive, especially on the long 144-inch wheelbase which is complemented by the enclosed rear-mounted spare. It has dark green wire wheels matching the fenders with hubcaps and carries double sided 17x7½ whitewall tires. Depress Beam headlights light the way and a two-speed rear axle eases highway cruising while allowing the Franklin to reach a top speed of 90mph.
Painted green with dark green fenders, the interior features beige broadcloth with beautifully finished wood detailing and window surrounds. The instrument panel features gauges in the characteristically Franklin style of bright and crisp white on black background. Smokers' kits, a pulldown rear window shade, and a top opening windshield complete the interior.
The restoration is complete and well-preserved with a largely pristine interior, although showing some light soiling on the driver's seat. Likewise, there is cracked and lifting paint on the right rear fender. The engine compartment is very tidy with dust typical in storage and long-term display rather than road use. Since there is no water-cooling system, some of the preservation issues associated with long-term dormant display are not a concern with this Franklin. It is an exceptional automobile dripping with art deco style and is believed by Harrah's to be one of only three known in this body style.
Footnotes
Titled under its engine number.
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