Wheels: Classic Cars

Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2005

Shows/events • Weekly Cruise Nights

BY BRIAN BEAULIEU
Journal Staff Writer

Arthur Cazeault of Millville, Mass. spends his days restoring antique Franklins and making parts that other Franklin buffs can't get anymore. This 11A Sedan is his ninth one.

At 84, the retired millwright has the time and training to give his best efforts to his hobby, and it shows. He'll drive the big sedan anywhere.

The luxury Franklins were made from 1902-1934 in Syracuse by the New York Automobile Co. They were known for their air-cooled engines, unusual for their time. This six-cylinder makes 24 horsepower. An unusual device under the hood is often mistaken for a supercharger, but it's a tilting fan to keep dust off the carburetor.

The Franklin has a wooden frame and steering wheel, an adjustable sun visor, 21-inch tires and a gas gauge mounted on the rear. If it reads empty, you can throw a switch for more gas. The car is mostly stock, save for bumper-mounted directional signals that Cazeault wouldn't be without.

If you're wondering why an air-cooled car has a radiator, it's because dealers demanded the car look more conventional, so the dummy radiator was added for the 1925 model year.

Cazeault's restoration took two years, and he's naturally proud of it. He points out that the brightwork "is nickel, not chrome."

His first restoration was a 1930 Packard 32 years ago. Then he did a '26 Franklin, and it's been mostly Franklins ever since. And yes, he is hard at work every day on his latest project.

ENGINE/TRANSMISSION: Air-cooled inline 6; three-speed manual.

COLOR: Blue.

MILEAGE: 5,100 on rebuild.

PLATE: 77LL22

CAN BE SEEN: Wednesdays at the Woonsocket cruise night.

CONDITION: Pristine restoration.

If you have a classic car you wish to be considered for this feature, please e-mail bbeaulie@projo.com with details.

Shows/events • Weekly Cruise Nights

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

A Mustang show at Tasca Ford in Cranston and the Lions Club show at LaSalette Shrine in Attleboro are the highlights of a busy car show weekend. John Force, 13-time NHRA Funny Car champion, will sign autographs Saturday, rain or shine, at Tasca, and John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band will provide music. The South Attleboro Lions Club has a new location for its 12th annual charity event.

The proceeds of the "Cruising for the Kids" cruise at Seekonk Wal-Mart parking lot on Saturday will go to the Boston Children's Hospital. And on Sunday, the Green Room in Providence resumes its cruise night for cars from 1964 and older.

The weekly cruise night scene is in the changing stage, with some events ending, so check the list before heading out. Next Monday is the final night for motorcyles at Chan's in Woonsocket, and the Wednesday night cruise in Woonsocket has shifted from Main Street to Market Square, running through the end of the month.

SEPTEMBER

Wednesday, Sept. 7-- American Legion post, Route 79, south of Route 140, Berkley, Mass., 5-dusk.

Friday, Sept. 9 -- St. Mary's Church, Dartmouth Street, Dartmouth, Mass., 5-9.

Saturday, Sept. 10 -- Mustang show, Tasca Ford, 1300 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, 10-4.

Saturday, Sept. 10 -- Wal-Mart lot, 1180 Fall River Ave., Route 6, Seekonk, 5-8.

Saturday, Sept. 10 -- Porsche day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

Sunday, Sept. 11 -- Lions Club show, LaSalette Shrine, Attleboro, 8-3.

Sunday, Sept. 11 -- Green Room, 145 Clifford St., Providence, 1964 and older cars only, 8-on.

Sunday, Sept. 11 -- Cars and motorcycles, Fort Tabor, West Romney French Boulevard, New Bedford, 9-4.

Sunday, Sept. 11 -- Mercedes-Benz day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

Sunday, Sept. 11 -- Invitation only, Prowse Farm, off Routes 128 and 138, Canton, Mass., 10-3.

Sunday, Sept. 11 -- Car show and flea market, Brooklyn Fairgrounds, Route 169, Brooklyn, Conn., 9:30-noon.

Sept. 12 -- Corvettes, Mason Lodge, 75 Division St., East Greenwich, 6-9.

Sept. 15 -- Regional High School, Route 106, South Easton, Mass., 6-9.

Sept. 16 -- Shawmut Diner, Hathaway Road, Exit 3 off Route 140, New Bedford, 5-9.

Sept. 17 -- Market Place Plaza, 1160 Stafford Rd., Tiverton, 4-dusk.

Sept. 17 -- Middletown Rotary show, Fort Adams State Park, Newport, 10-3.

Sept. 17 -- Heritage Invitational, Heritage Museum, 67 Grove St., Sandwich, Mass., 10-2.

Sept. 18 -- Cars and motorcycles, Dexter Street, Central Falls, 9-6.

Sept. 18 -- Brockton Fair grounds, Route 123, Brockton, Mass., 9-3.

Sept. 18 -- All-GM show, Mass. Bay Community College, 250 Eliot St., Ashland, Mass., 9-4.

Sept. 20 -- West Greenwich Plaza, 780 Victory Highway, West Greenwich, 6-dusk.

Sept. 22-- Inside Scoop, 1105 Scituate Ave., Cranston, 5:30-dusk.

Sept. 24 -- Glen Park, Route 138, Portsmouth, 9-3.

Sept. 24 -- Briarcliff Manor, 49 Old Pocasset Rd., Johnston, 11-3.

Sept. 24 -- Pontiac GTO day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

Sept. 25 -- Antique equipment, trucks and cars, Boro Sand & Stone, 192 Plain St., North Attleboro, 8-4.

Sept. 25 -- DeSantis Chevrolet, all makes show, Route 28, Brockton, Mass.,m 9-4.

Sept. 25 -- Corvette show, Heritage Museum, 67 Grove St., Sandwich, Mass., 10-2.

Sept. 25 -- Volkswagen Van day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

OCTOBER

Oct. 1 -- British car day, Edaville Railroad, Carver, Mass., 10-4.

Oct. 1 -- Japanese car day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

Oct. 2 -- Mustangs and Fords, Lincolns, Mercurys, New England Institute of Technology, Access Road, off Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, 9-4. Rain date Oct. 9.

Oct. 6 -- Truck show and tractor pull, Foster Fairgrounds, Route 94 off Route 6, 8-3.

Oct. 16 -- Swedish car day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

Oct. 23 -- Studebaker day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

Sam's Club, Route 6, Seekonk, 5-dusk.

Big River Inn, 809 Nooseneck Hill Rd., Route 3, West Greenwich, 5-8.

Burger King-Krispy Kreme lot, Sockanosset Road and Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, 6-9.

Seekonk Speedway, Route 6, Seekonk, 6-dusk.

Middle of Nowhere diner, 223 Nooseneck Hill Rd., Route 3, Exeter, cars and motorcycles, 5-8:30.

Appetites Restaurant, 473 Tiogue Ave., Coventry, 5-8.

Towne Pizza, Plum Corner, off Route 105, Rochester, Mass., 5-9.

Motorcycles, Chan's Restaurant, 267 Main St., Woonsocket, 5:30-8:30.

A&W, Route 44, Smithfield, 6-9.

Oakland Beach, Warwick, 5-9.

Jukebox Diner, Route 6, Somerset, 5-9.

Slater Park, Pawtucket, 5-9.

Patriot's Bar and Grille, Routes 140 and 126, Bellingham, Mass., 6-9.

Motorcycles, Suzy Q's Place, 208 Plainfield Pike, Scituate, 5-9.

Brooks Pharmacy plaza, Washington Street, Canton, Mass., 5:30-dusk.

Rendezvous Leather, 690 Quaker Highway, Route 116, Uxbridge, Mass., 6:30-9.

Warwick Mall, food court entrance, Route 2, Warwick, 6-9.

Denny's, Exit 7 off Route 95, Coventry, 6-9.

Main Street, Woonsocket, 5:30-8:30.

Club Raymond, 1084 Charles St., North Providence, 5-9.

CAP auto store, Fortune Boulevard, Milford, Mass., 6-dusk.

Mohegan Sun, roof of Riverview garage, Uncasville, Conn., 6-9. Begins tonight.

Scrambler's diner, off Route 122, Woonsocket, 5-9.

Star Drive-In, exit 10 off Route 140, Taunton, 5-9.

TGI Fridays, Routes 117 and 2, Warwick, 5-dusk. .

McDonald's, Stop & Shop plaza, Route 122, Cumberland, 6-9.

Firestone tire store, Post Road, Route 1, Warwick, 6-9.

Gazebo at the Village Green, Route 116, North Scituate, 5-dusk. British cars and others.

Milk Bottle restaurant, Route 138, Raynham, 5:30-7:30.

Bangma's dairy bar, West Hartford Street, Uxbridge, Mass., 6-9.

Carousel at Crescent Park Drive, Riverside, 5-8. Gold cruise, Gold's gym, Route 109, Millis, Mass. 6-9.

Gold cruise, Gold's gym, Route 109, Millis, Mass. 6-9.

To list an event, e-mail information to Bbeaulie [at] projo.com, phone (401) 277-7179, fax (401) 277-8175 or write to Brian Beaulieu, Journal Features Department, 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902.