Steve Braverman

Anything that is 90+ years old can, and will, break. I find my Franklins to be reliable, and I drive them a lot. Franklins in the teens and 20s were faster than most other cars on the roads of the day. Their light weight and excellent suspension allowed them to outpace heavier cars. My Olympic will outrun almost anything else from 1933.

The Franklin Club is a great resource for networking and finding parts when needed, as is the Facebook group. A few years ago, a member drove his Series 9 from Florida all across the country (I think over 4000 miles), and he broke an axle in California. An axle was located, overnighted to a Club member nearby, and he was back on the road in a couple of days. I have never had a situation where one of my Franklins were incapacitated due to unavailable parts.

@63RedBrierI've been driving Corvairs for 35 years. I wanted a Franklin, but as a teenager, a $500 Corvair was a driver. I'd love to read about your adventures. My Redbrier is still a work in progress.

The HH Franklin Club has all the engineering drawings for these cars, including the interiors. Are you a member?

@MccJosephAs others have said, definitely join the HH Franklin Club. There is a large concentration of Franklin people in your area. Also, if you are so inclined, the Franklin Automobile Enthusiasts group on Facebook is very active, mush more so than this forum. I own four Franklins, two series 10s, a 1923 demi-sedan and a 1925 touring, a 1932 Sedan, and a 1933 Olympic convertible coupe. The earlier cars are very nimble and are a joy to drive at speeds of 40-45 mph. The later cars are highway capable. Franklins don't come up for sale often, but they do change hands, often by word of mouth.

I have a pair. They are missing the lenses and reflectors. $100 plus shipping.

I recently sold my 1999 Suburban. It was a 2WD with the 6.5 diesel. I bought it from an 80+ year old lady who ordered it new and never towed with it. She had a diesel Impala and loved it (she may be the only one), and when she went back to her Chevy dealer for a new diesel in '99, that's all they offered. She ordered it with the third row seat deleted and a bench in front. It was really a one of a kind. I loved it, but important stuff started to rust and fall off.

I have one on Eastern Long Island, about 20 minutes from the New London Ferry. What aspects do you want to see?

The trailer was special ordered. The door is 80" tall. Everything I own will fit inside.

2017 Nissan Titan XD with a 5.0L Cummins Turbo Diesel pulling a 2017 Diamond Cargo 24' enclosed trailer. This truck tows effortlessly.

The name Airman was first used in 1928, and was then used until the end of production in 1934. After 1932, it differentiated the full-size six-cylinder cars from the Olympic and V12.

The registry shows only 16 1933 Airmans surviving, and 26 from 1934. Since there are only 42 cars to choose from, you might want to just start contacting owners through the roster and see what you can come up with.

My dad once drove his 1910 Sears into a Sears auto center, and said, "I assume you have parts for this."

I'm still in love with my 1932 Franklin.

I have never seen a period photo of an Olympic convertible.

The horn button should be on the door.

I have heard of a heat riser failing on another Olympic. A very competent Franklin mechanic had his Olympic backfire, then not run at all. After pulling his hair out, he realized that the backfire had blown out the heat riser tube. Franklin may have changed this design in 1933, because I haven't heard of it happening on earlier cars.

Judging by the wear on the brake pedal, this car probably has a few hundred thousand miles on it.

I've been a life member for 40 years, and hope to get at least another 40 years. My uncle bought me the life membership when I was six years old.

Usually they come apart from the base of the column, down by the steering box. The tube that runs down the column with the control rod (I think it's only throttle on a 130) will slide out, but it may hit the headliner, unless you have an open car. DO NOT BEND IT. NOT EVEN A LITTLE. If you bend the tube, every time you turn the wheel, the throttle will open. If the throttle control tube can not come out, you will have to lower the column to make room.

It's your car. Make it yours.

As ACN Editor, you should glance through all the past issues. It will give you a great education on the cars and the club.

I have one on Dad's Sears. It was very hard to find, and expensive. Pairs are almost impossible to find.

Check ACN #21

I have owned four Olympics, and never seen this "false fire-wall." The Startix is attached to the rear of the air box, just as it is on my 1932 Airman.