The Franklin Museum™

Thomas H. Hubbard

Thomas H. Hubbard of Tucson, Arizona, died January 2, 1993, at the young age of 67. Mr. Hubbard was a well-known Tucson auto restorer and car history buff who was recognized as a leading authority on the Franklin automobile.

Tom's major car club activities involved The H. H. Franklin Club (which he founded), the Antique Automobile Club of America and the Classic Car Club of America. In addition to his automotive activities, he provided philanthropic support to several organizations which he strongly believed in, including the Nature Conservancy and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

Tom Hubbard was born January 3, 1925, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He attended New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell and graduated in 1943, he enrolled at the University of Arizona and received a bachelor's degree in English in 1947; he had a keen interest in architecture. Once out of school, Mr. Hubbard worked for Magma Copper Company until 1952. He then developed a mobile home park in Oracle, Arizona, which largely served miners and their families. He owned property in Oracle until the time of his death. Mr. Hubbard was one of several donors who made possible the purchase of the old Oracle Post Office building which now houses the new Oracle Public Library.

In 1954, Mr. Hubbard restored a car for the first time, a 1909 Reo and was bitten by the restoration bug for life. He restored several cars for the late William Harrah, founder of Harrah's casinos in Nevada, who owned several dozen Franklins. Mr. Hubbard developed a sizable collection of his own. His stable included a 1909 REO, 16 Franklins, a 1939 Lincoln Zephyr and a 1957 Porsche coupe.

Along with this restoration of classic-era Franklin, Tom made other significant contributions to the hobby. Using the vast original factory blueprint collection he secured and preserved, he was able to not only assure the authenticity of his restorations, but to create a Franklin which never saw production. The 1932 Series 16 V-12 was to have represented the crowning achievement of the Franklin automobile, incorporating the very best of Franklin engineering design and styling beauty. Shortly before production was scheduled the company fell into receivership and the V-12 as proposed was canceled. The V-12 phaeton which Tom created from the drawings is as true to original intention as possible and is one of a kind.

Tom has always had two words which he love to use, "DONE PROPERLY", and they have applied to his schooling, business, restorations, The H. H. Franklin Club and lastly to the Foundation.