1934 Chrysler Airflow

But back in the day they made big news in the USA. They are widely recognized as the first truly modern car. In the early 1930s Walter P. Chrysler decided to make a definitive statement by marketing a truly unique car to the US buyers to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the founding of the company which bore his name.

Mr Chrysler gathered his three favourite engineers, Carl Breer, Fred Zeder and Owen Skelton and gave them the task of designing an aerodynamic car. Form and purpose was to drive function and styling. Chrysler said it was how cars would be built, ride and look in the future.

This was achieved by moving the engine forward over the front wheels by ten centimetres. Cabin space was dramatically improved as well and the Airflow was the first American car to seat three abreast in comfort.

While cars of the day still had wooden frame bodies attached to a heavy chassis, the Airflow featured a steel truss famed body welded to a lightweight chassis. This delivered surprising rigidity and passenger safety for the era.

The suspension was also a departure for conventional wisdom. The engineers lengthen the front and rear springs, delivering that classic American car "boulevard" ride-soft, cushy and isolated from the road. All the other manufacturers followed, quickly.

Not content with all of that innovation, it was the first car subjected to serious wind tunnel testing. Orville Wright supervised it all and the results determined the Airstream's very different shape. Too different a shape, as it turned out.

Despite rave reviews at the New York Auto show in January 1934 the rounded, sloping nose and tear drop rear end did not find favour with the buying public. Sales never met expectations and within 18 months a companion model, the Airstream, was released with a less radical front end. But the damage was done and by 1937 the Airflow was withdrawn.

An Airflow prototype still exists today. It is on display at the Chrysler Heritage Museum in Detroit. It's painted a dull brown but its future focus is evident when compared to other cars of the day. An Airflow was driven in the 1953 Redex Trial. There are less than ten currently in Australia. Toyota's first car, launched in 1936, was a slightly smaller copy of the Airflow.

www.retroautos.com.au