1929 Franklin Series 135 Sedan

The 1929 Franklin, produced by the Franklin Automobile Company, was a luxury vehicle known for its innovative air-cooled engine and lightweight design. This model year featured several variants, including the Series 135 and Series 137, with body styles such as sedans, sport touring, and speedsters. The cars were equipped with six-cylinder engines, offering improved horsepower and efficiency, highlighted by a coast-to-coast record set by Cannon Ball Baker in 69 hours. The 1929 models showcased elegant styling by designer Frank DeCausse, with a conventional radiator look introduced to boost sales. However, the Great Depression impacted sales, and the company’s financial strain led to bankruptcy in 1934.

The founder, Herbert H. Franklin, began his career in the metal die-casting business, establishing the H.H. Franklin Manufacturing Company in Syracuse, New York, on July 4, 1893. Collaborating with engineer John Wilkinson, he entered the automobile industry in 1902, producing the first Franklin car, notable for its air-cooled, cross-mounted four-cylinder engine. Franklin’s philosophy of “Scientific Light Weight” emphasized using aluminum and wood to create durable yet lightweight vehicles. Despite initial success and innovations like the first six-cylinder car in 1905, the company struggled with high production costs and debt, especially after expanding in 1929, ultimately leading to its collapse during the Depression. Franklin retired after the bankruptcy but maintained his lifestyle unaffected.

274.2ci air-cooled inline-six engine.