1935 Chrysler Airflow Imperial Series C-2 Coupe

The streamlined, aerodynamic Chrysler Airflow, introduced for the 1934 model year, took wind-cheating design beyond what others had been experimenting with and introduced a raft of other innovative design features as well. Chrysler's attempt to jump ahead of the competition was such a dismal failure in the market that the company's designs became conservative for two more decades. When the radical Airflow model was first released in 1934, the Chrysler Corporation of Detroit, MI, was only 10 years old. One of the young company's strengths was engineering excellence, an outgrowth of Walter P. Chrysler's early experience as a railroad mechanic.

While most automakers of the day still used wood-reinforced metal bodies on a separate steel frame, the Airflow was a unit-body design with a full steel body. The conventional inline eight was forward over the front axle allowing for more interior room and a near 50/50 weight distribution.

Chryslers and DeSotos tended to be rather conventional, but this changed with the introduction of the Airflow in 1934. Engineer Carl Breer was inspired by the formation of military airplanes and consulted with Orville Wright regarding aerodynamics and wind tunnel testing. Breer had his colleague Fred Zeder design a strong unibody structure based on the results of this aerodynamic testing. The unconventional design failed to gain much public acceptance although it was miles ahead in safety and strength.

The Airflow was ahead of its time in the use of aerodynamics, a unibody design, and many other innovations but it also suffered from major defects that affected reliability. Sales were dismal, though the Airflow models, including a DeSoto, lasted until 1937.

This C-1 Imperial Airflow is one of 307 Imperial C-2 coupes produced with only six remaining in existence. A complete restoration was done in 2012. The current owner found the car in the possession of the original owner's daughter in California with the original, never-used license plate still in its envelope.