1936 Chrysler Airflow Coupe

The Chrysler Airflow was: bold, radical, streamlined, and aerodynamic. The vehicle's mechanical sophistication mirrored the styling, being futuristic and ahead of its time. Safety was unparalleled with its rigid, unitized construction, and the steel tube frame with welded steel panels was an aircraft-inspired technique that pre-dated unitary construction. Interior space was maximized with the 'cab-forward' design, placing the engine above the front axle, and keeping the car's mass within the wheelbase resulted in more headroom than any of its contemporaries, along with a superior ride. Other notable design features included flush-mounted headlamps and a boot accessible from the inside. Chrysler's marketing team described it as 'The beauty of nature itself.'

During its inaugural year, the Chrysler Airflow was sold in four different versions starting with the CU series, the longer wheelbase Imperial CV and CX and the limited production Imperial CW. With a generous 137.5-inch wheelbase, the CW was the largest car yet built by the Chrysler Corporation.

The 1936 Chrysler Airflow C-9, offered as a two-door coupe with seating for six and a four-passenger sedan, was powered by a 323.5 cubic-inch L-head eight-cylinder engine with a Stromberg EXV3 single-barrel carburetor delivering 115 horsepower. There was a three-speed manual transmission and vacuum-assisted hydraulic drum brakes at all four corners. A total of 1,590 C-9 Chrysler Airflow Eight sedans and 110 coupes were produced in 1936.

This particular 1936 Chrysler Airflow Series C-9 Coupe was built with features that included an overdrive and power-assisted Lockheed hydraulic brakes. It has an unbroken provenance that stretches back to 1958 and was given a detailed, concours-level restoration in the early 2000s (more recently elevated in 2016–2017). It was shown at the Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance in 2018, and again in 2021 when the Airflow earned the Palmetto Award. In 2019, the Chrysler was exhibited in Tampa, Florida, at the Gasparilla Concours d'Elegance, winning Best in Class. Other outings garnered First in Class honors at the 2022 Chattanooga Motorcar Festival, and a Best of Show award at the Airflow Club of America's Indy 2022 meeting.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2023