Seeking model and date of my old Franklin caravan

[olderfranklin]

Hi all,

I am hoping someone experienced with older Franklin caravans may be able to assist me.

I have attached photos of an old Franklin caravan that my family has owned since the 1970s. I would like to know its model and manufacture date if possible, with view to being able to advertise it for sale as accurately as possible.

I'd appreciate any knowledge/advice that any member may be able to provide. Thanks.

[hughdeany]

Hi and welcome,
Your van is a Franklin Premier,about 1966 model,
Looks nice and original
Cheers
Hughdeany

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Olderfranklin,

Just adding to Hughdeany’s post, if you can tell us the serial number on the drawbar, we can confirm the year the van was built.

Don Ricardo

[olderfranklin]

Thanks Hugh and Don, appreciated your prompt help. Rob Taylor had put me onto your site.

Are you able to indicate a price (or range) that I could reasonably ask for this van, registered, in unrestored condition and in Victoria?

regards
Andrew

[olderfranklin]

ps. I am currently working on that serial/chassis number, will update soon.

[olderfranklin]

Hugh and Don - We haven't been able to find the 5 digit serial/chassis number on the drawbar as yet. Would there be another location for this on the van, perhaps underneath the chassis or other external site or on an interior panel?

[bobt]

Andrew

It should be a welded number on top of the draw bar usually close to the coupling. That's assuming the drawbar is original.

I should have warned you earlier. Price is not discussed on either of the forums. Its a bit like asking how long is a piece of string..
Look on ebay, gumtree and facebook. You will get an indication that will help you start. Just because its old doesn't mean its worth bucket loads. There will be someone out there that will want it. The challenge is to find them, that could take awhile and negotiate a price..

good luck with it.

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Olderfranklin,

Just adding to Bobt's reply, the number you are looking for will be created out of weld and look a bit rough, so might be easy to overlook if the drawbar is a bit rusty or had many coats of paint on it. It won't necessarily be five numbers. The format is 'XXX-Y' where the 'Y' on the right hand side of the '-' is a number representing the year. For example '6' will tell you that the van was built in 1966. The 'XXX' is a sequential number that tells you what what number the caravan was in that year - '123' would tell you that it is the 123rd van built in that year. For this reason the number on the left hand side of the '-' could range from one digit up to four digits, ie 1 to 9999 or however many vans Franklin built in that year.

As Bobt says, if the drawbar has been replaced then you won't find a number, and you will just have to go with what Hughdeany told you - the van is a Franklin Premier built around 1966.

Hope that helps a bit.

Don Ricardo

[olderfranklin]

Thanks Bob and Don, that will help us. Yes, I wasn't sure re the price bit, will go from other indicators when we get to that stage of advertising. I do realise that age is no real guide to the van's value with other factors being important.
regards
Andrew