![]() ![]() The result was a structure that was 150-200lb lighter than a conventional separate-chassis design, with 40% improved torsional stiffness.įinally, the weight distribution and the periodicity of the springs were carefully studied, resulting in a loping ride said to be in harmony with the rhythm of the human stride. Bolted to this was a sketchy chassis to locate all of the mechanicals. The new body lent itself to semi-monocoque construction, so was given a perimeter frame that was a part of the shell. Led by Breer, a car was designed around aerodynamic requirements, starting by lowering the build of the body by moving the rear seat forward and dropping it down in front of the axle rather than having it sit above it.īut the Airflow wasn’t just a wind-shaped styling exercise: uniquely for a mainstream American model, it was an integrated design. With input from the Wright brothers, a scale wind tunnel was built – and an astounding realisation was that the cars of the time were more aerodynamically efficient when put backwards through the tunnel. Having already come up with the ‘Floating Power’ flexible engine-mounting system, the threesome’s next field of investigation was aerodynamics. The company was ahead of its rivals in having a high-grade engineering department, led by a trio known as ‘The Three Musketeers’ – Fred Zeder, Owen Skelton and Carl Breer. His engineers, meanwhile, had been questioning, exploring, experimenting. ![]() The story had begun when, to celebrate his 10th anniversary as a car manufacturer, Walter Chrysler had wanted something special. ![]() In total, and after continual facelifts, a mere 55,155 of all types would find buyers. The more expensive Chrysler version registered 11,292 sales in 1934 and managed just 4600 units in its farewell year of 1937. That figure crashed to 6275 cars in 1936, the De Soto’s final year. In its cheaper De Soto form, just 13,940 were sold in 1934, against 22,736 more conventional De Sotos the previous year. Abandoning the controversial waterfall front for 1935 made no difference. ![]()
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