1915 Franklin Series 8 Roadster

A green 1915 Franklin Series 8 Roadster arriving at the 2024 Holiday Motor Excursion presented by the Horseless Carriage Club (HCCA) of Southern California.

Franklin may have gone down in history as one of countless defunct American automakers from its time, but its products still appear often enough at antique car events that it doesn't get forgotten. A quick glance is all it takes to conclude that this is a vehicle of interest thanks to the unique shape and angle of its front grille. This is one of several unusual grille designs used by Franklin throughout its years in business and it reminds me of the front end design of contemporary Renault cars, though I don't know if there was any sort of partnership between the two companies. I don't know if the design was meant to serve an aerodynamic or other engineering-related purpose, but it sure stands out among a sea of cars from the same era with big upright grilles typical of the time.

Do you like the unique front grille design on this Franklin? Leave a comment on YouTube and let me know!