PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING SOLD ON THE HEMMINGS AUCTION WEBSITE & 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 today
In 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.
