Tuesday, February 23, 2016

The Chrysler Airflow, so far ahead of it's time, and stylistically different, and frought with defects, it didn't sell, and cost the company money in the midst of the depression


Chrysler engineers Fred Zeder and Owen Skelton, began a series of wind tunnel tests, with the cooperation of Orville Wright, to study which forms were the most efficient shape created by nature that could suit an automobile.

The early Airflows arriving at dealerships suffered from significant problems, mostly the result of faulty manufacturing. According to Fred Breer, son of Chrysler Engineer Carl Breer, the first 2,000 to 3,000 Airflows to leave the factory had major defects, including engines breaking loose from their mountings at 80 mph


Chrysler finally gave up, and the 1934 -1937 run was all they could do.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Airflow

2 comments:

  1. http://www.speeddoctor.net/2010/volvo-pv36-carioca-1935/

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    Replies
    1. yes, exactly, I didn't bring the DeSoto airstream and the Volvo into this story, I was focusing on the problems, not how it influenced other car companies

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