The Airflow was an automobile ahead of its time. Built under both Chrysler and DeSoto brands in the mid-1930s, the Airflow’s design was driven by aerodynamics, so the body was sleeker in appearance than most of its contemporaries. This 1934 edition, badged as a DeSoto, was running as recently as last year and it looks solid overall. Currently calling Spokane, Washington its home, this slippery vehicle is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $12,000 OBO.
There weren’t many differences between the DeSoto and Chrysler Airflows except that the DeSoto had a shorter wheelbase and fewer amenities. They were assembled to have as few obstructions to the flow of air as possible, such as the placement of the headlights and the shape of the grille/radiator housing. The windshield was split into two pieces which were angled rather than flat into the wind. Fender skirts were employed in the rear to keep the air flowing as smoothly as possible. Unibody construction was used rather than body-on-frame. Marketing went as far as to suggest that the DeSoto was “built like a bridge” in terms of its infrastructure.
While the Airflow was an engineering success, it wasn’t a marketing one. Estimates are that all Airflow production comprised just 55,000 cars sold between 1934 and 1937 (the DeSoto version was dropped after 1936). Besides being somewhat unorthodox in appearance, rumors persisted that the Airflow’s body was unsafe, but there was no proof of that. To combat sagging sales, Chrysler and DeSoto also produced a more conventionally styled product called the Airstream, which sold much better than the Airflow.
Not a lot is known about this 1934 DeSoto. It’s said to be in fair condition and the photos support that. We’re told it’s complete, so hopefully, you won’t be in search of any unusual parts. The fuel tank was redone last year and that’s the last time this Airflow was running. So perhaps it won’t take much to revive the DeSoto for weekend outings. The seller is open to trades, so the sale is not predicated by a need to downsize inventory.
I love the Airflows, especially the 34’s but, that blue interior……. eeesh.
The passenger version of DIvco trucks, judging from the front end.
Not intended as a knock on Airflows. Chrysler Corp has over the years done a lot of innovative engineering. If only their stylists had been more help.
One clever engineering feature are the vents in the wheel wells which may have helped prevent vapor lock. Any ideas out there?
My father was an iron worker in NYC before the war and he drove one of these. He loved it. I have two black and white photos of him with it- one of him next to it, wearing a suit and getting ready to go on a date with my mother and another with him standing next to it with the entire right front corner completely mangled (RF wheel was ripped off of the car) after hitting a deer. I’m not sure what he drove between this car and, shortly thereafter, driving a B-17 over Germany.
So, your dad had a thing for aerodynamic. He was a member of The Greatest generation.
Here in UK we are referred to as the Silent Generation. Be that as it may, we had the BEST of the BEST possible growing up/teenage years!
Those air crews were true heroes I can not imagine the courage it took to get into those things for 25 missions.. WWII, the last war that this country really needed to fight.
My father never made it to 25 missions. Without long range fighter escorts, he, along with many other B-17s, was shot down early in the war. He was outbound from bombing the U-boat pens in Kiel when one of his horizontal stabilizers was shot off and two engines were damaged by ME-109s. That was it- everyone bailed out before being over the North Sea, where certain death awaited in the icy water. He spent the next 2-1/2 years as a POW in Stalag Luft III.
Chrysler were straight eight, Desoto six cylinder
I have always loved Airflows Chryslers or De Sotos. In those years they were far very far ahed of their time In fact they were rather as UFOS in those days not only for their shape but also for their performaces. Think that T Fords were there only SEVEN years before !!!! T Fords were magnicent but ,,,,,,,
The asking is considerably less than I would expect for such a historical car.
IIRC, the DeSoto Airflows had straight six cylinder engines. Were any DeSotos built with an eight cylinder?
The car looks like a blown VW Bug on steroids
Interesting car. Needs all new interior.
Looks like duct tape was used to repair/hide bad areas. Firewall looks like duct used to tape hole and repaint.
Both front fenders need work.
Looks like earl scheib. $29.95 special.
Some type of drip/stain under spare cover.
What is the gear shifter? Is this some type auto shift?
Don’t mean to sound so critical, but it needs a LOT of work. Don’t know what’s under neath.
I saw that too. The shiny handle is the parking brake and what books like some sort of novelty shift knob. Most images show a regular shift knob. I see the DeSoto dash differed from the Chrysler however.
I saw this one last night on Craigslist,
https://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/d/spokane-1934-desoto-airflow/7801391995.html
This is a decent candidate for a frame up restoration, most pieces appear to be present. The air cleaner, hubcaps, rear fender skirts, rear tire cover (wrong one), gear shift knob and horns are missing; all are somewhat hard to find. That’s a correct De Soto Airflow engine with the aluminum head and side exit thermostat housing. The interior and exterior paint colors are incorrect as are the seat and door upholstery. The bumpers are correct, but need plating, the taillight is not correct. More photos would help.
The Airflow Club is a terrific resource with guys that are happy to help share knowledge and possibly scare parts.
Seller has the air cleaner and an extra hood.
Those cranks on the dash are for the windshield wipers? No thanks.
The cranks are to open the windshields. (they open at the bottom) Vacuum powered wipers are above the windshields.
I am a fan of the automotive outliers like Airflows, Bathtub Nashes, Bullet Nose Studebakers and any vehicle which the appearance veers outside the accepted norms. I hope that this DeSoto is purchased by someone who will make the investment in time, money and skill to return it to its original state. The “Silver Bullet” (see name on dash plaque) deserves to be preserved if only because it is a significant piece of automotive history. Aerodynamic and Art Deco in one package! These were quite an engineering achievement for their time. So advanced over the vehicles of just a few years prior. There’s an old promotional movie short produced by Chrysler Corp which demonstrated how solidly built these were. One of the things that they did was to drive it over the edge of a cliff and then proceed to drive away in it. I’d love to see someone try this with a modern SUV. I would bet that it ain’t driving away under its own power. BTW, this little movie is easily found on YouTube. I enjoyed it.
Thank you for mentioning the tumble off the cliff video. I saw this years ago. Took some real courage to perform that stunt.
Apparently the “built like a bridge” was before the Tacoma Narrows bridge collapse.(1940). I remember the clip of the car rolling down the embankment, and we don’t know what was done to it structurally or how it drove after that. Today there would be a disclaimer: Do not attempt.
I like this one, though not correct is several ways cosmetically. Each fender has a minor booboo, but if it runs okay after sitting a year plus, who knows? Brakes? They were hydraulic, right? New tires likely. Drive to shows and be the only one with one. No awards unless for most unusual. Nice wide-open scenery out there in photo.
Wasn’t there an ad back in the day with pictures of it being drove off a hill – flipping – and surviving pretty intack ?
Yep, and they drove it away! I can’t remember if it was driven over the cliff or pushed, but it was certainly driven away.
Here in UK we are referred to as the Silent Generation. Be that as it may, we had the BEST of the BEST possible growing up/teenage years!
The 1934 Airflow films, as I recall there are three, were shown between newsreels and cartoons in your local movie theater.
In the one featuring the cliff, the car is clearly pushed off then a driver gets in at the bottom and drives away. The fall would kill any occupant. In another Barney Oldfield and team do track stunts with the cars including flipping them over.
The other film covers a coast to coast fuel economy run setting several new records in the attempt.