If you’re not a Chrysler Airflow fan, you’re about to become one, just like I did. Although they were arguably failures when introduced in 1934, today they represent perhaps the pinnacle of Art Deco design in the 1930s and offer some of the most exquisite detailing to be found on any car of any kind from any period. Functionally, the Airflow offers superior driving dynamics to almost anything on the road at the time, and introduced several innovative features, not the least of which was the highly aerodynamic bodywork. Period promotional films (shown below) ably demonstrate the Airflow’s performance and legendary durability, including being able to be pushed over a cliff and then driven away at the bottom.

Fresh from a professional restoration, this Model CU is among the finest Airflows in existence. The 1934 models hold a special place in collectors’ hearts due to the purity of the design (not yet watered down by public backlash) and exceptionally artistic details. With thousands of dollars spent on the restoration, every aspect of this car has been restored to better-than-new condition and it is poised to start winning at the very highest levels. During the restoration this particular Airflow received blanked-out quarters to emulate the ultra-rare Town Sedan, of which 900 or so were built with only a handful remaining, and from any angle it is impossible to distinguish where the changes were made. The unique design reinforces the sleek styling, particularly the fastback profile, and there are experts out there who have never even seen one like it.

The color is called Moonglo or Sultana Sand depending on whose color chart you are reading, but it’s correct code 813. In truth, it’s a bold cream that looks right on the smooth Airflow curves, expertly rendered in modern urethane, so it has an incredible shine. Fit and finish are excellent, with four doors that close securely and panels that line up evenly. Having been driven just a few hundredmiles since it was completed, there are virtually zero signs of use or wear, save for some dirt splashed on the undercarriage during my test drive (which amounted to about 15 of those miles). The Airflow features incredible and elaborate detailing throughout, as if Chrysler designers knew they would be the center of attention (which, of course they were). Note the lovely waterfall grille, the traditional Chrysler winged hood ornament whose details are still sharp, and the aircraft-inspired tri-bar bumpers fore and aft. Then there are the side vents to cool the engine in warm weather, the striking fender skirt ornaments, and the rear-mounted spare that somehow enhances the sleek lines rather than detracting from them. And all of the chrome has been expertly restored and shows in outstanding show-worthy condition.

The interior was also clearly inspired by aircraft design, a feature most apparent in the tube frame of the front seat. Contrary to popular belief, the Airflow was not a unit-body car, but the rumor stems from the fact that it is in fact built from a steel safety cage to which the exterior panels were welded, creating an incredibly rigid and strong body (as the cliff stunt so ably demonstrates). The advanced design allowed the passengers to sit between the axles, which had the effect of both improving ride quality and increase hip and shoulder room, so the car is remarkably spacious and comfortable inside. Both seats have been upholstered in correct brown broadcloth with accurate piping and buttons for a truly gorgeous presentation. The aircraft-like dash offers a surprisingly modern driving position, with a steering wheel far more vertical than most of the period. Two large gauges show the speedometer on the left and the auxiliary gauges on the right, all fully functional and beautifully restored. As a lifetime California car, there is no heater, but things like the instrument lights, dual windshield wipers, and other details are fully functional. Both windshield panes crank open, which combine with dual cowl vents to provide outstanding ventilation. And speaking of ventilation, please note the unique front windows, which include both crank-open vent windows and roll-down main windows. However, by turning a knob, both the vent and main windows lower into the door as an assembly, leaving a single opening. What a neat design feature! Of course, carpets, door panels, garnish moldings, and all the hardware have been fully restored and look like new.

All Chrysler Airflows were straight-8s, with this one carrying a 299 cubic inch engine that’s every bit as smooth as you would expect. The engine has been fully rebuilt, balanced, and detailed for show, and fits neatly inside the well-designed Airflow engine bay. Lift the massive rounded hood (and watch your knuckles, the bumper’s pretty close!) and you’ll find a familiar silver Chrysler powerplant. All the correct details are intact, from the air cleaner with reproduction decals to the original carburetor underneath it. Up front there’s a massive radiator which, due to the low-profile hood, has a separate filling tank on the driver’s side of the engine bay, much like, say, the Shelby Cobra decades later. Correct hoses and clamps give it an authentic look. It spins to life quickly and easily, hot or cold, and has a buttery-smooth idle that is almost imperceptible from inside the car. Out on the road, performance is quite lively, with great torque and an effortless feel that’s surely due to the 4.10 gears out back. The frame and suspension are conventional for the period, with a rigid axle and leaf springs fore and aft, but as an early adopter of hydraulic brakes, the Bendix binders on this car are exceptional, particularly with vacuum assist. The three-speed manual transmission shifts in the conventional manner, and with synchromesh on 2nd and 3rd, it’s as easy to drive as any modern car. Pretty color-matched artillery wheels with trim rings and hub caps were standard equipment, with these wearing sparkling 7.50-16 Lester wide whites.

Exceptional in design and expertly finished, this Airflow represents the finest in design and forward-thinking engineering. Although 1930s consumers were not taken by the Airflow’s look, it has aged beautifully and today stands out as an icon that was truly ahead of its time. This car represents an opportunity to own one of the finest Airflows anywhere, and since the restoration it has not been shown publicly, so it is poised to take home trophies for its lucky new owner. Iconic, but every bit as nice to drive as it is to look at, the Airflow is a triumph of 1930s engineering.