The Franklin Museum

Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting the Franklin Museum of Tucson.  Private collector, now passed, left a foundation of about 25 cars in three buildings.  Franklin produced cars 1902 - 1934, continued to build their air cooled engines, mostly aircraft, but including the engine for the Tucker, into the 70's.  Note some of the 50 fins on each cylinder in the engine photo, big part of the cooling system which also included a compressed air system over the engine.  Engines were 6, 8 & 12 cylinder, a four cylinder attempt failed.
 
These were extremely well built cars and were priced a slight notch below Cadillac.  Museum had several custom bodied cars, mostly chauffeur driven town cars, but also a couple of speedsters.  Several early models included a 1904, which I had seen running at the Tubac Collector Car Show a few weeks ago.  Early models had front hinged hoods.  It's a small museum but well worth a visit if you are ever passing through Tucson.
 
And then I have purchased the car in the last photo to go autocrossing with my son and grandson (in grandson's Lotus).  Had it hauled to Tucson today to Olde English Creations for some work before shipping it home.  1960 Austin Healey "Bug Eye" (or Frog Eye to the Brits) Sprite, full race, 1275 cc bored to 1350, fresh engine and many other components.  Last trip on the track was 1984.

— Lee Dunn