1934 DeSoto Airflow news, pictures, and information

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Sedan
Chassis Num: 5073380
Engine Num: SE 6702

This 1934 DeSoto Airflow Brougham Sedan was offered for sale at the 2007 RM Auctions held in Amelia Island, Florida. The car was offered without reserve and estimated to sell between $45,000 - $60,000. It is powered by a 241.5 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine with a Ball & Ball carburetor. There is a three-speed synchromesh gearbox and Lockheed four-wheel hydraulic brakes. The futuristic body lies gracefully on a 115.5 inch wheelbase.

1934 was the first year for the streamlined Airflow. The Chrysler Corporation expected great things from this aerodynamic design. To make the car available to a wide audience and suitable for many scenarios, the car was offered in five body styles which included a four-door sedan, four-door town sedan, two-door brougham, and three and five-passenger coupes.

The Airflow had built-in headlamps and wide front seats that could accommodate up to three adults. The rounded radiator grille flowed gracefully into the vehicles hood.

There were 13,940 examples of the Airflow sold in 1934. 522 of these were two-door Brougham Sedans. Sales were much lower than expected and resulted in the company dropping the two-door Brougham body style for 1935.

In modern times, it is believed that only four examples of this body style exist. This example has been treated to a complete ground-up restoration. It is finished in two-tone medium brown and light tan. The interior is tan cloth with brown vinyl bolsters.

At auction, the estimated value proved to be accurate as the vehicle was sold for $52,250.

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Sedan

The 'Airflow' design, applied to both Chrysler and its sister marque DeSoto, is one of the most important cars of all time. At the same time it was both an incredible engineering success, as well as a crushing commercial failure. While largely shunned by the car buying public, the radical streamlined design of the Airflow was truly ahead of its time. The Airflow was the first mass-production automobile design with the entire passenger compartment moved forward within the wheelbase and the engine placed over the front axle instead of behind it.

This car is a 1934 DeSoto SE Airflow 4-door sedan. These were the first cars with unibody construction. Also the first car with rear seat forward of the rear axle instead of over the rear axle. Engine sat between the front wheels.

This car has a dash mounted shift lever and did not need the use of the clutch.

Established 32 speed records.

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Coupe

By 1934 the DeSoto had become more 'Chrysler-like.' When Chrysler Corporation introduced its revolutionary Airflow design in 1934 it meant all DeSotos had the new look.

The Airflows featured not only a radical new design but balanced weight distribution (the hood extended over the front axles), unit body construction and extra long leaf springs. All this resulted in an extremely comfortable ride.

The car was also fast. A 100-horsepower in-line six moved the car along nicely. Four wheel hydraulic brakes provided ample stopping power. Transmission was a three-speed manual. Although priced at $995, only 1,594 coupes were sold. For 1935 DeSoto also offered a 'conventional' DeSoto.

This award-winning DeSoto was restored from a 'basket case.'

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Coupe

From 1934 through 1936, the Airflow was built by the Chrysler Corporation for sale through its DeSoto Division. The design was radical and aerodynamic. It had a 115-inch wheelbase which was smaller than its stablemate, the Chrysler Airflow of similar design.

The Airflow was a dramatic departure from traditional styling practices. From the front bumper back, the design represented the first major attempt to smooth away the wind catching objects and channels found on other cars of the era. The smooth exterior design meant there was a quieter passenger compartment, along with other benefits. It featured wider front seats and deeper back seats with more passenger leg room.

The car had a unibody construction, allowing the passengers to ride within the frame of the car, not on top as they did with other American makes. It had a stiffer body and better weight distribution through the engine placement over the front wheels, in contrast to the common practice of placing the center of the engine's gravity just behind the front wheels.

The Airflow received positive reviews from the press for their handling and acceleration.

The Carl Breer designed Chrysler Airflow was ahead of its time in terms of aerodynamics. The design was revolutionary for the 1930s; the sales however would be its downfall. The design of the vehicle came about after many hours spent in wind tunnels. Orville Wright, an aviation expert, was called upon to help design a vehicle that achieved aerodynamic similar to an airplane. Light weight, rigid materials were used to help compliment the vehicles design. A prototype called the Trifon Special was constructed in 1932. In 1934, the production model was completed and ready for sale.

Chryslers Airflows used strictly eight-cylinders while the De Soto version used 6 cylinders. The vehicle could be purchased in five different wheelbase lengths. The largest length being 145 inches and labeled the Custom Imperials.

The front of the car had a large grill that extended from the hood to the bumper. When sales did not do well, the grill was changed to a more conventional 'skyscraper' gill in 1935. This also did not produce desirable sales results so the grill was once again modified. Sadly, sales still were unacceptable.

Hydraulic brakes were fitted to the car. A three-speed manual gearbox was used. The 122 horsepower Inline-8 could power the car from zero to sixty in 19.5 seconds and attain a top speed of about 88 miles per hour.

During the first year of production, 11,292 Chrysler Airflow's were sold. The cheaper De Soto alternative sold 13,940 vehicles. The 1936 year saw only 6,285 Chrysler Airflow sales and 5,000 De Soto sales. In 1937, the vehicle was taken off the market.

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