Vehicle Description
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING SOLD ON THE HEMMINGS
AUCTION WEBSITE amp; THERE IS A LINK TO THE AUCTION ON OUR
"AUCTIONS" PAGE. West Coast Classics are proud to present an
absolutely exceptional example of this extraordinarily rare 1935
Chrysler Imperial C2 Airflow (1 of only 2,598 built between 1934-37
production years) with its original 3 speed manual floor shifter
transmission with overdrive on a 128" LWB. Produced by Chrysler
from 1934 to 1937, the Airflow was the first full-size American
production car to use streamlining as a basis for building a
sleeker automobile, one less susceptible to air resistance. This
example features: Unitized body and frame, 128 inch wheelbase, 8
cylinder L-head engine: 130 HP, Overdrive, Floating ride with
floating power.The airflows were one of the first cars to be
designed in a wind tunnel and they were truly ahead of their time.
Some 2,398 of this series were produced in 1935. This particular
car was restored by marque renown expert Don Seeley. Each of Don's
cars took at least a year to restore. Each won best in show at
national car shows organized by the Airflow Club of America during
the mid-1980s and 1990s. There are fans of the Chrysler Airflow,
and then there was James Donald Seeley. Mr. Seeley retired from
teaching in 1976 to spend more time with his four Chrysler
classics: rebuilding their engines, repainting and fully restoring
them before taking them to car shows. He holds the record in the
Airflow Club of America for winning four best-in-show trophies, in
four different years with four different cars, said club President
Chuck Cochran, whose organization then had 600 members worldwide.
Today the Airflow is recognized as the most revolutionary and
influential car of the 1930s. When it was introduced in 1934, it
offered advanced features such as a wind-tunnel tested aerodynamic
body design and unitized construction. Unfortunately, the public
did not accept that its radical styling and sales were lower than
expected. The remedy for the 1935 model year was a toning down of
the front end and grille for a more conventional appearance. This
restored 1935 Chrysler C2 Imperial Airflow six-passenger sedan is
one from Don Seeley's collection. There were only 2,398 Imperial
Airflow sedans built in 1935 out of a total of 29,912 Airflows
built in 1934-37.The 1935 Imperial Airflow is built on a 128-inch
wheelbase unitized body and chassis with a cage-like steel girder
design, and this Airflow rides on 16-inch steel spoke wheels
mounted with 7.50-16 wide white sidewall tires. Stopping is
accomplished by 4-wheel Lockheed hydraulic drum brakes, while power
is provided by a 323.5 CI L-head inline-8 that produces 130 HP at
3,400 RPM using a Stromberg 2V Model EE-22 carburetor. The
transmission is a floor-shift operated 3-speed manual with
automatic overdrive.The body is finished in Dark Blue aka
'Fisherman Blue' by Chrysler and features standard rear skirts with
bright stylized wings. The chrome-plated one-piece front and rear
bumpers are more solid and narrow than in 1934, and they balance
the grille with its Chrysler badge and five bright horizontal bars.
Flush-mounted round headlights are mounted on either side of the
grille, while a painted steel and bright-trimmed spare tire cover
adds colorful detail to the rear deck. The interior is trimmed in
button-tufted beige cloth with brown carpeting, with the rear
compartment floor featuring a folding footrest. The instrument
panel is finished in wood grain with large round instruments in the
center and a large glovebox on both sides. The steering wheel and
door garnish molding match the wood grain of the instrument panel.
The restoration of this CCCA Full Classic Imperial Airflow was
accomplished by Don Seeley and assures its new owner that it will
be accepted and admired at any WPC, CCCA or AACA event or tour.This
delightful cruiser is a stunning example of Chryslers breakthrough
art deco design and engineering. Though its Airflow was a
commercial failure, Chryslers brave attempt at innovation made it
one of the most important vehicle of the 1930s. Not only did the
Chrysler Airflow lead the way in terms of aerodynamics streamlining
as it was then called it was also among the first cars to
incorporate a lightweight construction that presaged todays unibody
vehicles.The revolutionary concept was born when Chrysler engineer
Carl Breer noticed the similarity between the shape of airplanes
and birds, and he mused how archaic auto design was in comparison.
With fellow Chrysler engineers Fred Zeder and Owen Skelton, he went
to aviator Orville Wright, who understood more than a little about
aerodynamics, to test models in a wind tunnel. The result was the
Airflows ground-breaking streamlined design, which was sleeker and
sat lower to the ground compared to other American cars. The
innovations didnt stop there. By moving the engine over the front
axle, the Airflow gained additional interior space, while seating
passengers between the front and rear wheels improved ride quality.
The Airflow was a technological marvel with automatic overdrive and
raked safety glass windshield. Introduced at the 1934 New York Auto
Show, the eight-cylinder Airflow caused a sensation. Orders for the
revolutionary car poured in, and the Airflows complex construction
was rushed. It eventually required expensive new tooling, which
caused major assembly delays. After the initial spurt, sales were
slow, and Chrysler ceased production of the landmark model in 1937.
Despite the Airflows market failure, other manufacturers soon
adopted the lighter weight steel body construction and better
aerodynamics it pioneered. The spirit of the Airflow is a silent
but important part of every car we drive todayIn summary, this
striking classic Chrysler Imperial Airflow has very few miles since
its full restoration was completed by one of the marque's foremost
experts and enthusiasts and has been remarkably well preserved
after being held for some years in collections. As offered, it is
fully tuned, mechanically sound, and runs and drives wonderfully.
Beauty, rarity, and splendor all come together in this magnificent
Chrysler from the very heart of the classic art deco era of the
1930's and this highly desirable example is ready for touring or
showing enjoyment as desired.