1925 Franklin wins First Senior Ring

Jennifer Madden, Director of Collections and Exhibitions

On June 29, the 1925 Franklin won its First Senior Ring from the Classic Car Club of America at the Metro Region Grand Classic in Oxford, New Jersey.

The Classic Car Club of America is the premier judging group for cars that are called “full classics.” A full classic car is one of a list of defined makes and models that were built between 1915 and 1948, exhibit superior materials and design over standard cars of that period, and were hand-assembled as opposed to being made on production lines.

At a Classic Car Club of America national show, cars are entered into one of three categories: display only (not judged), touring (these cars are actively driven and show some driving wear), and general judging. Within general judging there are several different categories; the Franklin was entered into the “Early Classics-Open” Senior Division. It won a First Place Junior in this category in 2022, so it was eligible to compete at this next level of judging. The Franklin scored a total of 99 points out of 100-point scale. The next time it is shown at a national show, it can be entered into the highest level of judging, the Premier Class.

Very few cars in the United States ever reach the Senior level. Even more remarkable is the fact that this car was last restored in the 1960s, and its condition is still good enough to win this high-level award sixty years later.