Deciphering Franklin Serial Numbers
Example Deciphered
S/N 30-183550L11- 30 = the series 130
- 183550 = the number of this car
- L = left hand drive
- 11 = the body style (in this case a sedan)
- Engine number 30-X136759
Drive Codes
L = Steering wheel on the left side
R = Steering wheel on right side
Body Codes
Numbers after a decimal point or dash at the end of the Serial number indicates the body code. This system was used from the mid 1922 beginning with Serial No. 125001. Note: All are 5 passenger unless noted below.
Note: Series 17A cars (sixteen of them) remained at the factory over the year end of 1932 and their serial number plates were removed and replaced with numbers 73-10277 to 73-10292. The engine numbers were also given "X" prefix.
1922 - 9B
Touring - 1, Runabout 2 pass - 2, Coupe 4 pass. - 3, Sedan 2 - 4, Touring limousine - 5, Demi-coupe 2 pass. - 6, Demi-sedan - 7, Chassis - 8, Brougham - 9
1922 - 10A
Touring - 1, Runabout 2 pass.- 2, Coupe 4 pass. - 3, Sedan 2 door - 4, Touring limousine - 5, Demi-coupe 2 pass. - 6, Demi-sedan - 7, Chassis - 8, Brougham - 9, Sedan 4 door "V" front - 10, Sedan 4 door "Straight" front - 11
1922 - 10B
Touring - 1, Coupe 2 pass. - 3, Sedan 2 door 5 pass. - 4, Touring limousine - 5, Demi-sedan - 7, Chassis - 8, Brougham - 9, Sedan - 11
1923-4 - 10B
Touring - 1, Coupe 4 pass. - 3, Sedan 2 door 5 pass. - 4, Touring limousine - 5, Demi-sedan - 7, Chassis - 8, Brougham - 9, Sedan - 11
1924-5 - 10C
Touring - 1, Coupe 4 pass. - 3, Sedan 2 door 5 pass. - 4, Demi-sedan - 7, Chassis - 8, Brougham - 9, Sedan - 11
1925-7 - 11A and 11B
Touting - 1, Sport runabout 2-4 pass. - 2, Coupe 3 pass. - 3, Limousine 7 pass. - 5, Sedan - Oxford sedan - Aux. seat sedan 5 to 7 pass. all have -11, Sport sedan 12, Cabriolet 3-5 pass. - 13, Coupe 3-5 pass. - 14, Sport coupe 2-4 pass. - 15, Victoria 4 pass. - 16, Tandem sport 4 pass. - 17
1928 - 12A (119" wheel base)
Coupe 3-5 pass. - 3, Chassis - 8, Sedan - 11, Sport sedan - 12, Victoria 4 pass. and Victoria coupe 4 pass. - 16, Convertible coupe - 18, Oxford sedan - 19, Standard coupe 3-5 pass. - 20
1928 - 12B (128" wheel base)
Sport touring - 1, Sport runabout 3-5 pass. - 2, Chassis - 8, Touring 7 pass. - 22, Sedan - 23, Oxford sedan 7 pass. - 24, Sedan - 25,Convertible sedan - 26
1929 - 130
Sedan - 11, Coupe 3-5 pass. - 14, Convertible coupe3-5 pass. - 18, Oxford sedan - 19
1929 - 135
Sedan - 11, Town sedan - 12, Coupe 3-5 pass. - 14, Convertible coupe3-5 pass. - 18, Oxford sedan - 19, Victoria brougham 4 pass. - 21
1929 - 137
Sport touring - 1, Sport runabout 2-4 pass. - 2, Limousine 7 pass. - 5, Touring 7 pass. - 22, Sedan 7 pass. - 23, Oxford sedan 7 pass. - 24, Speedster 4 pass. - 27, Sedan limousine - 28, Town car 7 pass. - 29
1930 - 145
Sedan - 11, Town sedan - 12, Coupe 3-5 pass. - 14, Convertible coupe 3-5 pass. - 18, Oxford sedan - 19, Victoria brougham 4 pass. - 21, Club sedan - 30, Pursuit - 31, Sedan 7 pass. - 32
1930 - 147
Pirate touring - 1, Roadster 2-4 pass. - 2, Limousine 7 pass. - 5, Pirate phaeton 7 pass. - 22, Sedan 7 pass. - 23, Salon special - 25, Speedster 4 pass. - 27, Sedan limousine 7 pass. - 28
1931 - 151
Town sedan - 12, Coupe 3-5 pass. - 14, Convertible coupe 3-5 pass. - 18, Victoria brougham 4 pass. - 21, Pursuit - 31, Sedan - 33, Oxford sedan - 34
1931 - 152
Roadster 2-4 pass. - 2, Chassis - 8, Sedan 7 pass. - 23, Sport salon - 25, Special limousine 7 pass. - 28, Special sedan - 35
1931 - 153
DeLuxe limousine 7 pass. - 5, DeLuxe pirate - 7, Chassis - 8, Deluxe town sedan - 12, DeLuxe convertible coupe 3-5 pass. - 18, DeLuxe oxford sedan - 19, DeLuxe victoria brougham 4 pass. - 21, Deluxe sedan 7 pass. - 23, DeLuxe speedster 4 pass. - 27, DeLuxe club sedan - 30, Deluxe sedan - 32, DeLuxe Convertible speedster - 40, DeLuxe town berline 5-7 pass. - 40 & 41 (NOTE: Custom body builder code used on Series 15 and some others, this code indicates the builder and not the body style. 40 Dietrich, 41 Derham, 42 Locks, 43 Holbrooke, 44 Walker, 45 Brunn)
1932 - 163
Roadster 2-4 pass. -2, Limousine 7 pass. - 5, Chassis - 8, Sedan - 11, Coupe 3-5 pass. - 14, Sport coupe 2-4 pass. - 15, Convertible coupe 3-5 pass. - 18, Oxford sedan - 19, Victoria brougham 4 pass. - 21, Sedan 7 pass. - 23, Oxford sedan 7 pass. - 24, Speedster 4 pass. - 27, Club sedan - 30, Special sedan - 35
1932 - 173
Limousine 7 pass. - 5, Sedan - 11, Club brougham 4 pass. - 21, Sedan 7 pass. - 23
1932 - 183
Sedan - 11, Coupe 3-5 pass. - 14, Convertible coupe 3-5 pass. - 18
1933 - 164
Roadster 4 pass. - 2, Sedan - 11, Sedan 7 pass. - 23
1933 - 173
Limousine 7 pass. - 5, Sedan - 11, Club brougham 4 pass. - 21, Sedan 7 pass. - 23
1933 - 174
Limousine 7 pass. - 5, Sedan - 11, Club brougham 4 pass. - 21, Sedan 7 pass. - 23
1933 - 183
Sedan - 11, Coupe 3-5 pass. - 14, Convertible coupe 3-5 pass. - 18
1933 - 184
Sedan - 11, Coupe 3-5 pass. - 14, Convertible coupe 3-5 pass. - 18
1934 - 174
Limousine 7 pass. - 5, Sedan - 11, Club brougham 4 pass. - 21, Sedan 7 pass. - 23
1934 - 185
Sedan - 11, Coupe 3-5 pass. - 14, Convertible coupe 3-5 pass. - 18
1934 - 193
Limousine 7 pass. - 5, Sedan - 11, Oxford sedan - 19, Sedan 7 pass. - 23, Oxford sedan 7 pass. - 24, Club sedan - 30
1934 - 194
Limousine 7 pass. - 5, Sedan - 11, Oxford sedan - 19, Sedan 7 pass. - 23, Oxford sedan 7 pass. - 24, Club sedan – 30