In December 1997, I came across an ad in the local newspaper for a 1972 Chevrolet Monte Carlo with very low mileage. I made a phone call and found out the car was in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, which was about 15 miles from my home in Coplay, Pennsylvania. After a little discussion with my wife, Elaine, who was initially against buying another antique/classic car since we already had two other older cars, I ventured out to look at this car.

I was told that this car was purchased new at Hauser Chevrolet in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in May, 1972. The lady who owned this car had it in the garage covered with bed sheets. I looked the car over very carefully and liked what I saw. I told her I would let her know later that day.

I later picked up my wife and had her look at the car. When we got there, the car was again covered with the bed sheets in the garage. In doing an about face, Elaine said to me that if I wanted a Monte Carlo, I better take this one since I would probably not find another one in such good condition. It was equipped with a 350 cid motor, automatic transmission, power brakes and power steering, vinyl roof and no air conditioner but with only 29,251 miles on the odometer. The color is rare—black vinyl roof over cream yellow with a black cloth bench seat interior. Beside normal items such as tune-up, brake re-line, tires and oil changes, I have done very little in the way of repairs.

After we looked the car over a second time, we took the car for a test ride. I was surprised at how tight the car was. I was also disappointed at how poorly the car ran. It was in need of a tune-up. After this was done, it ran like a new one.

At present, more than 22 years later, this Monte Carlo has less than 50,000 miles on the odometer. We have had the car to many national shows with the farthest distance being Stowe, Vermont. We are members of the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America (VCCA) and the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA).

In August 2018, we attended a VCCA show in Morgantown, Pennsylvania. At that show, I received several awards including a best-of-show in my class which is an HPOCF. The car was then nominated for a national award. The Monte Carlo did not receive this award, but I was honored just having it nominated.

The one obstacle we have when attending any national show, whether AACA or VCCA, is the fact that I am constantly questioned about the radial tires since the car has the HPOF-Original award. This car had radial tires when purchased new. We also attended many local shows during the years, such as Das Awksch Fescht. We have used this car for several tours with our Ontelaunee Region AACA, and also, this car was driven to an AACA Founders Tour at Vineland, New Jersey.  We are looking forward to attending future events that are antique car related.

By Don Baer

David K. Bausch might have decided to collect another marque, but he had good reasons to admire Franklins. The Franklin was “the doctor’s car” and Dave’s father was a physician in Allentown who owned a 1925 Franklin. But Dave was born later and independently understood that Franklin was a quality car whose owners maintained them well; they have always been a good value. In 1962, Dave acquired a 1926 Franklin Sport Runabout in upstate New York. Later in the 1990s, he purchased a 1918 Franklin 2-door sedan in Maryland and a 1927 Franklin 4-door sedan in Philadelphia. Those last two cars are beautiful but this article is about the gorgeous Sport Runabout.

When Dave and his friend, LeRoy C. Schaeffer, brought the Sport Runabout back from New York, it was perfect car to start the collection. The Model 11-A was the second year for the 6-cylinder, 32 horsepower engine. Franklins had air-cooled engines throughout their manufacture from 1902 to 1934 but the 32-horsepower series from 1925-1927 first featured a grille that looked like conventional, water-cooled automobiles with radiators. The Wendlings repainted this car in 1964 and the paint dried just in time to appear in our first Das Awkscht Fescht that August.

It won best of show! A picture of that award and Dave’s entry application accompany this article. You might recall that George L. Wendling and LeRoy C. Schaeffer started Das Awkscht Fescht as a fundraiser to pay off debt for the swimming pool in Macungie Memorial Park. It is no surprise that Dave Bausch became the “Automobile Chair” for the Fescht in 1965. He remains a strong presence in the Fescht as Chair of the antique toy show.

Of all his Franklins, this was the car Dave showed most often. He participated in activities of the Franklin Club, including tours around Syracuse, New York, where the marque was manufactured. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Dave showed the car in Atlantic City, accompanying Van Sciver, and at Hershey. Dave showed the car with the Franklins of Dr. George Boyer. It is always safest to tour and show with people who drive the same marque. Dave showed the car at the Community Days Festival in Coopersburg where Dutch Kern had “Kern’s Franklin Service.” Dave’s friend, Don Bassler, worked for Kern and helped Dave with the Sport Runabout. Accompanying this article is a picture of the car at Coopersburg and a “Franklin Service” sign.

by Bob Hobaugh