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NEWS
Retro Franklin laid to rest
Production of unprofitable Iconic model to finish after two years of 'wild' salesIt was one of the stars of the 2015 Queensland caravan show; a special edition 21st century version of a classic Franklin caravan.
The little 12ft van featuring curves like the ‘70s edition, was only supposed to sell in limited numbers for a few months, but unexpected demand saw it become a regular production model.
But now production of the Franklin Iconic model is set to end in September, with the Melbourne factory no longer willing to foot the bill for this eye- catching ‘loss leader’
“We brought out Iconic for a six month period two years ago and it just ran hot in demand,” explained Franklin Caravans’ National Dealer Manager Conrad D’Cunha. “But behind the scenes at the end of the day it was a profitless van for us.
“We were celebrating an anniversary… we just put it out for nostalgic purposes, and we thought it would be good for the dealers but it actually ran wild. We sold plenty but didn’t make any money so thought it was time to say enough is enough.”
D’Cunha said the “complicated construction” of the curved panels meant the Iconic cost the same to build as some of Franklin’s larger vans.
He said the “economics just didn’t work for it,” despite as many as 60 being sold up until now, and orders still flowing in. There’s even a couple still for sale at dealers for around $35,000.
As for the original, 40-plus year old ‘Iconic’ that also on display at the 2015 Queensland show, that’s now stored at the Melbourne factory.
D’Cunha said Franklin’s three current owners had tossed around the idea of opening a museum for Franklin vans, which date back to the late-1940s, but it’s unlikely to happen with the cost of setting one up prohibitive.
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Written byChris Fincham
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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