DeSoto Airflow

The DeSoto Airflow was one of Chrysler under the car brand DeSoto built in model years 1934-1936 cars. DeSoto was the then revolutionary Airflow model because of its price relationship to the larger and more expensive cars of the Chrysler brand.

Current line of Airflow

The streamlined and novel shaped car was presented together with the slightly larger Chrysler Airflow. The Airflow design was an early attempt to flatten the objects and lines to the then cars that lined up against the wind. The headlights migrated from their place (next to the radiator grille ) forward and were housed either side of the waterfall grille in the same continuous front panel, who had no traditional filler neck with hood ornament more. Instead of the one-piece, almost vertical windshield of that car ( the abbekam the force of anstömenden wind when the car was moving through the air ) had the Airflow a split windshield, the two halves were hired laterally to better derive the wind outside. The front and rear fenders were softer, the body form more adapted forms. The rear wheels were covered.

In addition to the advantages of softer outer shapes, resulting in less wind noise in the interior of the car than in previous models, DeSoto, the cars were internally wider and the seat moved further forward. The passengers were sitting between the axles and because of the monocoque construction within the frame and not on the frame as with cars from other U.S. manufacturers. The vehicle was stiff and the weight distribution better because the motor with its focus on the front axle and was not, as was customary, mounted behind it. In the trade press, the car was praised for its good handling and high acceleration.

Failure on the market

Although DeSoto ( and Chrysler) enacted their Airflow bodies as futuristic in the age of electricity line, found the customer the car but too unusual in a time of great economic uncertainty. Chrysler Airflow looked better on the long chassis than the chubby DeSoto with the short wheelbase of just 2,921 mm. Walter P. Chrysler, a big proponent of the Airflow project, was disappointed at the lack of interest in the car, which he believed to be crucial to the future U.S. automobile production.

There were also rumors that bodies were uncertain. Experiments showed that the all-steel monocoque construction were safer than other cars of this time ( many manufacturers had still wooden support frame with sheets pulled over ). In a widespread promotional film, which was shown in theaters, saw an empty Airflow, which was overthrown by a rock in Pennsylvania and set up again after a fall of more than 30 m and driven away, though dented, but still recognizable as Airflow. Nevertheless, kept the rumor Airflows are uncertain.

While Chrysler 1934 a standard looking car built, DeSoto offered only the Airflow. Although DeSoto Airflow models sold more than Chrysler, Chrysler sold more cars in total, with the majority revised models of the "usual" 1933er Chrysler were.

1935 and 1936 DeSoto offered in addition to the more traditional Airstream, a model which they shared with Chrysler, and DeSoto won some of the lost market share back. The Airflow was still offered, but most cars were sold Airstream, and so the airflow was passed through to the end of the DeSoto catalog.

The buyers who opted for a Airflow, found that her car had a conspicuous pointed grille. Otherwise, there were only cosmetic changes ( air intakes, etc.).

While the Airflow body gave Chrysler until 1937, DeSoto introduced the model end of 1936 in order to concentrate on more traditional models that could be sold better.

Swell

Kimes, Beverly R. (Editor), Clark, Henry A.: The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1945, Kraus Publications ( 1996), ISBN 0-87341-428-4

DeSoto
Car model
Vehicle of the upper middle class
Limousine

DeSoto (automobile) Aerodynamics DeSoto Airstream DeSoto Adventurer DeSoto Custom DeSoto Deluxe DeSoto Diplomat DeSoto Firedome DeSoto Fireflite DeSoto Firesweep DeSoto Powermaster

258262