Chrysler Corporation made automotive history when it premiered the Airflow at the New York Auto Show in January 1934; it was a radical departure from anything that preceded it. In addition to its streamlined, Art Deco looks, the car was bursting with technical ingenuity: a novel beam and truss design combining light weight and superb strength (a precursor to the unibody); an enormous interior with 50-inch wide chair-height seats; for the first time in an automobile, a rear seat situated forward of the rear axle, offering unprecedented room; and an engine placed over the front axle 20 inches further forward than it did in other Chryslers, making for a very spacious front seat. Passengers sat within the wheelbase, resulting in a remarkably smooth ride.

The public never quite warmed to the styling, and the Airflow disappeared after 1937 with only 55,000 produced for both Chrysler and DeSoto car lines over four years. Today, they are regarded as automotive icons due to the myriad technical and stylistic advancements the car offered, with over 50 engineering firsts and 72 national speed records.

The futuristic styling is of course the hallmark of the Airflow, although the revolutionary unitary construction also made its share of headlines when new. The signature waterfall grille features prominently, as do the highly stylized bumpers and lamps. This elegant example is further enhanced with period-correct fender skirts, dual taillights, an exhaust extension, Appleton fog lights, artillery-type wheels, and wide whitewall tires.

Having spent over 50 years in the quiet captivity of a museum, this 1936 Chrysler Imperial C-10 Airflow Sedan was restored in 2013 by Ruozzi Brothers Collection, of Breinigsville, Pennsylvania, to concours quality. It has been officially recognized by both Chrysler Heritage and the Airflow Club. The body, painted the correct shade of Del Monte Beige Metallic, is exquisitely presented. All chrome, brightwork, and glass are in similar concours condition, expertly fitted and finished. The interior, a fabulous display of Art Deco style, has been painstakingly restored with correct tan cloth upholstery and correct finishes on the dash and window surrounds. Aircraft-inspired gauges are all like new with crystal-clear lenses and polished bezels. An ultra-rare and very desirable genuine Airflow banjo steering wheel features prominently in the cabin. Highly desirable accessories, such as a radio, a heater, and a Trico defroster fan, have all been fully restored to original, fully functional specification. Lifting the hood reveals an engine compartment that is factory correct and concours detailed. The engine wears a very rare and correct Airflow-specific alloy cylinder head topped by a full set of new-old-stock Champion H10 spark plugs as would have been fitted when new. Great care and pride was taken to ensure that not a single screw is out of place and that this fine automobile absolutely meets factory specifications both cosmetically and mechanically. It performs beautifully with no issues, driving exactly as it would have when it first left the showroom floor.

Attesting to the quality of the restoration and the attention to detail, this Airflow has been the recipient of the DuPont Homsey Award at the 2014 100 Motorcars of Radnor Hunt, the Chairman’s Award at the 2015 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, and the American Spirit Award at the 2015 Elegance at Hershey. Restored to award-winning standards, it would be difficult to locate a finer example of the ahead-of-its-time Chrysler Airflow.