1927 Franklin 11B – Project Profile

Hands up who remembers that early ’90s kid’s TV show Brum? Or what about the Ant Hill Mob from the classic cartoon Wacky Races? You know, the group of gangsters who drive the “Bulletproof Bomb” – a pre-war vintage classic that bears more than a passing resemblance to a 1927 Packard 6-Cylinder Touring Sedan. Well this wonderful Franklin 11B we have available via our classifieds section (and open to offers) evokes those cherished childhood memories in us and while the Franklin’s production year is the same as the Packard and both cars are very similar, aesthetically speaking, you won’t need to stick your feet through the floor in order to get this thing moving, instead relying on the smooth, air-cooled 4.5-litre six-cylinder engine under the bonnet.

Styled by Rolls-Royce and Locomobile designer Frank de Causse, the Franklin Series 11 broke cover in 1925 and was a more conventional looking car than its predecessor, with the design being brought more in line with the competition at the time. Featuring an aluminium body on a laminated ash-wood frame it was a handsome beast and the 32 brake horsepower from the in-line six-cylinder would see you effortlessly cruising at a pleasant 40mph. Renowned in period for being light and reliable with modern engineering and responsive handling, Franklins were a popular choice for the discerning ’20s petrolhead.

What is it?

Complete with running boards and wooden spoked wheels this Franklin 11B is the quintessential pre-war classic. Benefiting from a restoration of the oily bits in recent years it’s mechanically on point and features a three-speed manual gearbox. Imported from the US in March last year the car is UK road Registered, ULEZ compliant and tax and MOT exempt.

Why is it a project?

Despite having been mechanically fettled with the Franklin does carry some degree of patina, both to the body as well as the interior, which is where you’ll be spending the majority of your time, money and effort as far as this project is concerned. Little is known of the car’s history but all of the woodwork does appear to be sound. This is very much an original example that can either be fully restored to 1920’s factory condition or embraced for what it is and sympathetically refreshed whilst retaining the car’s charm and character.

What should you look for?

1) Body and chassis

As mentioned, the Franklin 11B sits atop an Ash wood frame and despite the seller claiming all is good in the hood we’d still want to hook the old peepers on it to make sure everything is kosher, the wheels too. Rust isn’t really an issue due to the body being made of aluminium (along with much of the engine) so this is less of a concern. If the frame is solid though, then you’re on to a winner.

2) Engine

The engine has received some restoration work and as such the car drives smoothly with strong power delivery and taking a look at the photos attached to the advert the motor does look to be in decent shape, at least visually. This is a simple, air-cooled setup that utilises copper fins to direct air to the sides of the block from left to right (known as “side-blast” cooling) and as such they are incredibly easy to work on and maintain. We would still advise checking for any excessive oil leaks though, either outside of the engine or internally in the form of blue smoke from the exhaust.

3) Suspension

Suspension is taken care of via full elliptical springs and coupled with that compliant wooden frame makes for a smooth and comfortable ride for which these Franklins are famed. If the car is anything but then it could be either indicative of worn or damaged leaf springs or an issue with the chassis so bear this in mind.

4) Interior

Here is where a lot of the work will be required as much of the interior, especially the driver’s seat, has had it and will need to be replaced. You could try to repair and replace but you’re better off going for a brand new, bespoke interior and be done with it as matching certain parts and fabrics could prove to be difficult.

5) Parts

Being a foreign car that’s now almost a hundred years old could prove to be a bit of a hindrance, too when it comes to finding various bits and pieces. Hopefully you won’t need all that much in the immediate future aside from some interior (but as mentioned earlier, a full strip and replace may be a better option) but it’s worth checking availability and what is actually needed before making an offer and handing over any of your hard earned. The H. H. Franklin Club, Inc. is active, however and should be able to help if you have any questions.

What should you do with it? 

With 97 years of stories displayed proudly upon its flanks we think it would be a shame to go down the full resto/wedding car route with this Franklin 11B. Instead we would preserve that patina and retain the charm of almost a century’s worth of motoring history. As long as the frame was sound we’d concentrate on refitting the entire interior and ensuring the mechanicals are as good as the seller claims they are. We’re not talking garish Alcantara and a huge sub woofer here, but a tasteful and comfortable cabin that’s in keeping with the period and the rest of the car. With the interior buttoned up and maybe some clear coat on the body to lock in that wonderful character it would simply be a case of driving and enjoying this wonderful vintage classic.