1935 Chrysler Airflow Coupe 2 door
1935 Chrysler Airflow Eight – 2 Door Coupe
VIN / Serial No: 6603847
Engine No: CU4908
Body No: C15C-1153
Paint Code: 404-536 DG – Desert Sand
Trim Code: SO 2061
An unmistakable and highly desirable streamlined, aerodynamic design from the Art Deco Era, is this stunning 1935 Airflow Coupe.
An automobile that dared to push the styling cues and boundaries of its era, the Airflow Coupe holds a special place in automotive design and engineering.
Cars on the road in the mid 1930’s were all quite similar; large, boxy automobiles traditionally built with the body attached to the chassis. With the help of Orville Wright, Chrysler engineers set out to create a revolutionary car that was lighter, more aerodynamic and had a better weight distribution front to rear. All areas of the car were taken into consideration to improve overall dynamics. A traditional two-box design car of the time carried roughly 65% of its weight over the rear wheels, which worsened with passengers. The new Airflow’s engine was moved forward over the front wheels, and seating positions for all passengers was moved forward so that rear passengers sat between the axles, not on top of the rear axle. This improved the weight distribution to 54% front and 46% rear, which evened to about 50-50 with passengers on board.
The 1935 Chrysler Airflow is widely regarded as one of the most revolutionary automobiles of the pre-war era. Produced in very limited numbers, just 307 examples of the Chrysler Airflow Eight two-door coupe were built for the 1935 model year, making it one of the rarest body styles of this ground-breaking design. Due to wartime scrap drives and decades of attrition, only a small number are believed to survive today, with enthusiasts estimating that perhaps as few as twenty largely original, unrestored cars remain worldwide. As a result, authentic survivor examples such as this — still retaining much of their original factory Desert Sand paint and correct specification — are exceptionally scarce and highly sought after by collectors of significant pre-war automobiles.
A rare and historically important 1935 Chrysler Airflow Eight Coupe, presented today as a wonderfully preserved and highly original survivor. The car retains much of its original factory paint in the correct Chrysler colour “Desert Sand”, now displaying the sort of honest aged patina that collectors increasingly seek.
Originally supplied in the United States and resident in California for much of its life, the dry climate has helped preserve the car exceptionally well. The Airflow was imported into the UK in March 2025 and is now offered for sale from an extensive private collection of notable pre-war classics.
Far from being a rust-ravaged restoration project, this example presents as a solid, highly original and very usable survivor, exactly the sort of car many collectors now prefer over restored examples.
Mechanical Condition
The car has recently benefitted from a comprehensive service, including the replacement of numerous suspension components, ensuring it drives as these refined machines were intended.
The straight-eight engine runs exceptionally smoothly — so quietly and evenly that when standing beside the car it can be difficult to tell whether it is actually running. Chrysler engineering in the 1930s was renowned for refinement, and this example demonstrates that beautifully.
Power is delivered through a three-speed manual gearbox, which shifts smoothly and seamlessly.
The car is also fitted with Chrysler's factory overdrive system, an advanced feature for the mid-1930s. Overdrive allows the engine to run at lower RPM while maintaining cruising speed, reducing wear, improving fuel economy and creating quieter long-distance touring — making the Airflow one of the most advanced highway cars of its era.
The Chrysler Airflow – A Revolutionary Automobile
When introduced in 1934, the Chrysler Airflow changed automotive engineering forever.
Chrysler engineers worked alongside aviation pioneer Orville Wright, conducting extensive wind-tunnel testing to develop the first American production car designed around aerodynamics.
Innovations included:
Streamlined aerodynamic body
Advanced weight distribution between the axles
All-steel body construction
Forward-mounted engine for improved balance
Improved ride comfort and interior space
Many of these ideas became industry standards decades later, making the Airflow one of the most important automotive designs of the twentieth century.
Production & Rarity
Production numbers highlight how rare these cars have become:
Total Chrysler Airflow production (1934–1937): approx. 55, 000 cars
1935 Airflow production: approx. 8, 000–9, 000 cars
1935 Airflow Eight coupes: estimated 1, 200–1, 500 produced
Today only a small fraction of these cars survive worldwide, particularly in such original condition.
Authentic survivor cars with original paint and factory colour specification are especially scarce.
Collectability & Investment Potential
Over the past decade the Airflow has seen growing recognition among collectors, historians and museums due to its enormous historical importance.
Reasons collectors pursue Airflows include:
Living with an Airflow
The Coupe of course very rare, however the mechanical parts are common with the Sedan and therefore parts are not hard to come by. There are a few specialists where you can obtain all the essential parts to keep your Airflow on the road.
As I use my cars, I have already obtained all the essential service items and therefore you really don't need to worry about spare parts for some time.
Flathead engines and drum brakes are very simple in design and any amateur enthusiast is capable of keeping their Airflow on the road.
The electrics on 30's cars are pretty minimal and there is nothing that can't be diagnosed or fixed with a rudimentary electrical tester.
I have a number of 'original' cars because I don't want the worry of driving an immaculate car and having some teenager in a Ford Kia pranging me in a car park.
Summary
This 1935 Chrysler Airflow Eight Coupe represents a rare opportunity to acquire one of the most historically significant automobiles of the pre-war era.
With its California history, largely original Desert Sand paint, correct factory trim, recent mechanical servicing and remarkable originality, it offers a compelling combination of authenticity, drivability and historical significance.
A car that was decades ahead of its time, the Chrysler Airflow remains a landmark in automotive design — and a fascinating centrepiece for any serious pre-war collection.
VIN / Serial No: 6603847
Engine No: CU4908
Body No: C15C-1153
Paint Code: 404-536 DG – Desert Sand
Trim Code: SO 2061
An unmistakable and highly desirable streamlined, aerodynamic design from the Art Deco Era, is this stunning 1935 Airflow Coupe.
An automobile that dared to push the styling cues and boundaries of its era, the Airflow Coupe holds a special place in automotive design and engineering.
Cars on the road in the mid 1930’s were all quite similar; large, boxy automobiles traditionally built with the body attached to the chassis. With the help of Orville Wright, Chrysler engineers set out to create a revolutionary car that was lighter, more aerodynamic and had a better weight distribution front to rear. All areas of the car were taken into consideration to improve overall dynamics. A traditional two-box design car of the time carried roughly 65% of its weight over the rear wheels, which worsened with passengers. The new Airflow’s engine was moved forward over the front wheels, and seating positions for all passengers was moved forward so that rear passengers sat between the axles, not on top of the rear axle. This improved the weight distribution to 54% front and 46% rear, which evened to about 50-50 with passengers on board.
The 1935 Chrysler Airflow is widely regarded as one of the most revolutionary automobiles of the pre-war era. Produced in very limited numbers, just 307 examples of the Chrysler Airflow Eight two-door coupe were built for the 1935 model year, making it one of the rarest body styles of this ground-breaking design. Due to wartime scrap drives and decades of attrition, only a small number are believed to survive today, with enthusiasts estimating that perhaps as few as twenty largely original, unrestored cars remain worldwide. As a result, authentic survivor examples such as this — still retaining much of their original factory Desert Sand paint and correct specification — are exceptionally scarce and highly sought after by collectors of significant pre-war automobiles.
A rare and historically important 1935 Chrysler Airflow Eight Coupe, presented today as a wonderfully preserved and highly original survivor. The car retains much of its original factory paint in the correct Chrysler colour “Desert Sand”, now displaying the sort of honest aged patina that collectors increasingly seek.
Originally supplied in the United States and resident in California for much of its life, the dry climate has helped preserve the car exceptionally well. The Airflow was imported into the UK in March 2025 and is now offered for sale from an extensive private collection of notable pre-war classics.
Far from being a rust-ravaged restoration project, this example presents as a solid, highly original and very usable survivor, exactly the sort of car many collectors now prefer over restored examples.
Mechanical Condition
The car has recently benefitted from a comprehensive service, including the replacement of numerous suspension components, ensuring it drives as these refined machines were intended.
The straight-eight engine runs exceptionally smoothly — so quietly and evenly that when standing beside the car it can be difficult to tell whether it is actually running. Chrysler engineering in the 1930s was renowned for refinement, and this example demonstrates that beautifully.
Power is delivered through a three-speed manual gearbox, which shifts smoothly and seamlessly.
The car is also fitted with Chrysler's factory overdrive system, an advanced feature for the mid-1930s. Overdrive allows the engine to run at lower RPM while maintaining cruising speed, reducing wear, improving fuel economy and creating quieter long-distance touring — making the Airflow one of the most advanced highway cars of its era.
The Chrysler Airflow – A Revolutionary Automobile
When introduced in 1934, the Chrysler Airflow changed automotive engineering forever.
Chrysler engineers worked alongside aviation pioneer Orville Wright, conducting extensive wind-tunnel testing to develop the first American production car designed around aerodynamics.
Innovations included:
Streamlined aerodynamic body
Advanced weight distribution between the axles
All-steel body construction
Forward-mounted engine for improved balance
Improved ride comfort and interior space
Many of these ideas became industry standards decades later, making the Airflow one of the most important automotive designs of the twentieth century.
Production & Rarity
Production numbers highlight how rare these cars have become:
Total Chrysler Airflow production (1934–1937): approx. 55, 000 cars
1935 Airflow production: approx. 8, 000–9, 000 cars
1935 Airflow Eight coupes: estimated 1, 200–1, 500 produced
Today only a small fraction of these cars survive worldwide, particularly in such original condition.
Authentic survivor cars with original paint and factory colour specification are especially scarce.
Collectability & Investment Potential
Over the past decade the Airflow has seen growing recognition among collectors, historians and museums due to its enormous historical importance.
Reasons collectors pursue Airflows include:
- One of the first aerodynamic production cars ever built
- A landmark Art Deco automotive design
- A car that changed automotive engineering forever
- Increasingly rare surviving examples
- Strong appeal among serious pre-war collectors
- Today's market strongly favours original “survivor” cars rather than restored examples, making this Airflow particularly appealing.
- Many enthusiasts believe the Airflow remains undervalued relative to its historical importance, offering compelling long-term collectability.
Living with an Airflow
The Coupe of course very rare, however the mechanical parts are common with the Sedan and therefore parts are not hard to come by. There are a few specialists where you can obtain all the essential parts to keep your Airflow on the road.
As I use my cars, I have already obtained all the essential service items and therefore you really don't need to worry about spare parts for some time.
Flathead engines and drum brakes are very simple in design and any amateur enthusiast is capable of keeping their Airflow on the road.
The electrics on 30's cars are pretty minimal and there is nothing that can't be diagnosed or fixed with a rudimentary electrical tester.
I have a number of 'original' cars because I don't want the worry of driving an immaculate car and having some teenager in a Ford Kia pranging me in a car park.
Summary
This 1935 Chrysler Airflow Eight Coupe represents a rare opportunity to acquire one of the most historically significant automobiles of the pre-war era.
With its California history, largely original Desert Sand paint, correct factory trim, recent mechanical servicing and remarkable originality, it offers a compelling combination of authenticity, drivability and historical significance.
A car that was decades ahead of its time, the Chrysler Airflow remains a landmark in automotive design — and a fascinating centrepiece for any serious pre-war collection.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: L-head straight-eight, 323.5-cu.in.
Horsepower: 115 @ 3,400 rpm
Compression: 6.2:1
Carburetor: Stromberg one-barrel
Transmission: Three-speed manual with optional overdrive
Suspension: Leaf springs front and rear, tubular front axle, live rear axle with open driveshaft
Brakes: Four-wheel hydraulic drum
Wheelbase: 123 inches
Curb weight: 3,200-3,500 pounds
Price new: $1,350
Engine: L-head straight-eight, 323.5-cu.in.
Horsepower: 115 @ 3,400 rpm
Compression: 6.2:1
Carburetor: Stromberg one-barrel
Transmission: Three-speed manual with optional overdrive
Suspension: Leaf springs front and rear, tubular front axle, live rear axle with open driveshaft
Brakes: Four-wheel hydraulic drum
Wheelbase: 123 inches
Curb weight: 3,200-3,500 pounds
Price new: $1,350
Hemmings Article about this actual car
Groundbreaking. Pioneering. Revolutionary. At its introduction in 1934, the Chrysler Airflow was all of these things and more. It’s list of firsts for a production car are legendary, most notably as the first wind-tunnel-tested automobile and the first car where the passengers rode entirely between the axles. Though it attracted much attention when announced, the Airflow was never a commercial success, plagued by early quality problems and a public skeptical of the Airflow’s advances.
While we’ve seen a fair number of thoroughly restored Airflows on the Hemmings Marketplace, this 1935 Chrysler Airflow Eight C1 Coupe now listed on Hemmings Auctions exhibits a remarkable patina, with the seller indicating that the paint is all original, though far from unblemished. Its mechanicals and interior have been refurbished, however, and the seller shares that the car runs properly with all systems functioning.
Engineering and Design Innovations
The Airflow was also noted for its unique construction, which incorporated a traditional ladder frame with a secondary skeleton frame for the all-steel body as well. Since there was no convertible version and none was planned, the doors featured a full steel frame, which added to the body’s strength. With welded body panels, the entire structure proved exceptionally strong.
That structure supported a streamlined body that was unlike anything else on the road. The waterfall grille, headlamps, fenders and even the trunk were integrated into the body, which looked as if one continuous, curving line flowed from front to back. The Streamline Moderne movement was in full swing, massively influencing industrial design, particularly in the field of transportation, as commercial aviation was just beginning to blossom and influence other forms of travel. Consumer products from furniture to radios to toasters all felt the influence of the design trend. Even the inside of the Airflow embraced such influences, with the seats framed with chrome-plated tubular steel, as if they were from an airliner.
Chrysler performed a variety of filmed stunts to promote the Airflow’s structural strength. At the 1934 Chicago Century of Progress World’s Fair, those stunts included wetting down the hydraulic brakes immediately before a hard braking maneuver directly toward a cameraman and having a “speedball artist” pitch a baseball into the double-pane safety glass while a young woman sat comfortably behind the glass. They then had a stunt driver roll the car multiple times. With the roof only partially damaged and the car ending up on its tires, the stuntman casually drove away from the scene.
Chrysler also famously pushed an Airflow off a 110-foot cliff into a rock quarry, the aerodynamic machine tumbling fully end over end, once again landing on its tires as in the stunt from the World’s Fair. An excited movie reel narrator proclaimed, “Despite the terrific shock to the body and chassis, the doors open and close easily. There is no structural damage. Indeed, the entire car has survived the plunge with little more than merely superficial injury.” The windows rolled up and down, the doors opened and close and a man stepped into the car, started it up and simply drove off. The effect was powerful and showed just how tough the Airflow body and chassis were.
Airflow Performance
Chrysler didn’t rely just on safety stunts to sell the Airflow. They also put the car through a battery of AAA-sanctioned, closely observed speed tests. In August of 1934, using an Airflow Imperial Coupe pulled off the showroom floor under the watchful eye of the AAA, Indianapolis 500 veteran Harry Hartz (and at least one other relief driver) set some 72 speed records on a 10-mile loop at the Bonneville Salt Flats. One of those records was achieving an average speed of 97.5 mph hour over a flying mile. A 2000-mile run was achieved at an average speed of 74.7 mph.
To prove that the aerodynamics weren’t just a benefit to top speed and to also show just how durable the car was, Hartz then took that same car just weeks later on a cross-country journey from Los Angeles to New York, passing through 12 states while covering 3,072 miles on America’s nascent highway system, with plenty of gravel roads included. The trip was “sanctioned, supervised and certified by the Contest Board of the American Automobile Association,” with an official of the AAA on board with Hartz monitoring the entire journey and each fuel stop. Chrysler reported better than 18 mpg and total oil consumption of just 2.5 quarts for the trip. The trip cost less than $35 in fuel and oil expenses.
Market Reaction
While Chrysler Corporation went all-in on Airflow for De Soto, it hedged its bets with the Chrysler-badged vehicles, supplementing the Airflow line with the Chrysler Six line. The Airflow’s looks, as revolutionary as they were, ultimately were too much for the Chrysler’s customers of the mid-1930s. In its four years on the market, the more conventional cars outsold the Airflow. For 1935, Chrysler rechristened these older designs as the Airstream. In 1935, the Airstream outsold the Airflow five to one. For 1936, that ratio was nine to one, and by the Airflow’s final year in 1937, the more conventional models outsold the streamlined car at better than 20 to 1.
While the Airflow never proved the hit that Chrysler wanted it to be, it has remained in the consciousness of automotive enthusiasts who have long recognized its technical breakthroughs. And just as there were people who found its look off-putting, there were still others enamored by its slippery shape. There remains an organization, the Airflow Club of America [https://www.airflowclub.com/], dedicated to the “appreciation, preservation, and enjoyment” of the cars.
The Airflow Coupe on Hemmings Auctions
This 1935 Chrysler Airflow Eight C1 Coupe now accepting bids on Hemmings Auctions is not for the buffed and polished crowd, but for the preservationist who likes to drive. The seller describes the car as having its original paint and as having been a California car since new. It is offered from Pasadena, in fact. The finish certainly looks to have aged quite a bit, appearing to have been worn through in spots on the front fenders, roof and trunk, but with no obvious signs of corrosion in the body. The underside does look to have some surface corrosion, though no obvious rot in the chassis.
For those fans of this sort of patina who like to drive, the listing on this rare, one of 297 Airflow coupe indicates that the 324-cu.in. inline-eight engine has been maintained in running condition, as has the three-speed manual with automatic overdrive, the latter described as “fully functioning.” The interior has been reupholstered and a new wiring harness was also installed.
With “no mechanical needs identified,” this Airflow appears ready to roll. Take a look in more detail at this groundbreaking automobile at Hemmings Auctions and let us know if you’d drive it as is or restore it to original condition.
While we’ve seen a fair number of thoroughly restored Airflows on the Hemmings Marketplace, this 1935 Chrysler Airflow Eight C1 Coupe now listed on Hemmings Auctions exhibits a remarkable patina, with the seller indicating that the paint is all original, though far from unblemished. Its mechanicals and interior have been refurbished, however, and the seller shares that the car runs properly with all systems functioning.
Engineering and Design Innovations
The Airflow was also noted for its unique construction, which incorporated a traditional ladder frame with a secondary skeleton frame for the all-steel body as well. Since there was no convertible version and none was planned, the doors featured a full steel frame, which added to the body’s strength. With welded body panels, the entire structure proved exceptionally strong.
That structure supported a streamlined body that was unlike anything else on the road. The waterfall grille, headlamps, fenders and even the trunk were integrated into the body, which looked as if one continuous, curving line flowed from front to back. The Streamline Moderne movement was in full swing, massively influencing industrial design, particularly in the field of transportation, as commercial aviation was just beginning to blossom and influence other forms of travel. Consumer products from furniture to radios to toasters all felt the influence of the design trend. Even the inside of the Airflow embraced such influences, with the seats framed with chrome-plated tubular steel, as if they were from an airliner.
Chrysler performed a variety of filmed stunts to promote the Airflow’s structural strength. At the 1934 Chicago Century of Progress World’s Fair, those stunts included wetting down the hydraulic brakes immediately before a hard braking maneuver directly toward a cameraman and having a “speedball artist” pitch a baseball into the double-pane safety glass while a young woman sat comfortably behind the glass. They then had a stunt driver roll the car multiple times. With the roof only partially damaged and the car ending up on its tires, the stuntman casually drove away from the scene.
Chrysler also famously pushed an Airflow off a 110-foot cliff into a rock quarry, the aerodynamic machine tumbling fully end over end, once again landing on its tires as in the stunt from the World’s Fair. An excited movie reel narrator proclaimed, “Despite the terrific shock to the body and chassis, the doors open and close easily. There is no structural damage. Indeed, the entire car has survived the plunge with little more than merely superficial injury.” The windows rolled up and down, the doors opened and close and a man stepped into the car, started it up and simply drove off. The effect was powerful and showed just how tough the Airflow body and chassis were.
Airflow Performance
Chrysler didn’t rely just on safety stunts to sell the Airflow. They also put the car through a battery of AAA-sanctioned, closely observed speed tests. In August of 1934, using an Airflow Imperial Coupe pulled off the showroom floor under the watchful eye of the AAA, Indianapolis 500 veteran Harry Hartz (and at least one other relief driver) set some 72 speed records on a 10-mile loop at the Bonneville Salt Flats. One of those records was achieving an average speed of 97.5 mph hour over a flying mile. A 2000-mile run was achieved at an average speed of 74.7 mph.
To prove that the aerodynamics weren’t just a benefit to top speed and to also show just how durable the car was, Hartz then took that same car just weeks later on a cross-country journey from Los Angeles to New York, passing through 12 states while covering 3,072 miles on America’s nascent highway system, with plenty of gravel roads included. The trip was “sanctioned, supervised and certified by the Contest Board of the American Automobile Association,” with an official of the AAA on board with Hartz monitoring the entire journey and each fuel stop. Chrysler reported better than 18 mpg and total oil consumption of just 2.5 quarts for the trip. The trip cost less than $35 in fuel and oil expenses.
Market Reaction
While Chrysler Corporation went all-in on Airflow for De Soto, it hedged its bets with the Chrysler-badged vehicles, supplementing the Airflow line with the Chrysler Six line. The Airflow’s looks, as revolutionary as they were, ultimately were too much for the Chrysler’s customers of the mid-1930s. In its four years on the market, the more conventional cars outsold the Airflow. For 1935, Chrysler rechristened these older designs as the Airstream. In 1935, the Airstream outsold the Airflow five to one. For 1936, that ratio was nine to one, and by the Airflow’s final year in 1937, the more conventional models outsold the streamlined car at better than 20 to 1.
While the Airflow never proved the hit that Chrysler wanted it to be, it has remained in the consciousness of automotive enthusiasts who have long recognized its technical breakthroughs. And just as there were people who found its look off-putting, there were still others enamored by its slippery shape. There remains an organization, the Airflow Club of America [https://www.airflowclub.com/], dedicated to the “appreciation, preservation, and enjoyment” of the cars.
The Airflow Coupe on Hemmings Auctions
This 1935 Chrysler Airflow Eight C1 Coupe now accepting bids on Hemmings Auctions is not for the buffed and polished crowd, but for the preservationist who likes to drive. The seller describes the car as having its original paint and as having been a California car since new. It is offered from Pasadena, in fact. The finish certainly looks to have aged quite a bit, appearing to have been worn through in spots on the front fenders, roof and trunk, but with no obvious signs of corrosion in the body. The underside does look to have some surface corrosion, though no obvious rot in the chassis.
For those fans of this sort of patina who like to drive, the listing on this rare, one of 297 Airflow coupe indicates that the 324-cu.in. inline-eight engine has been maintained in running condition, as has the three-speed manual with automatic overdrive, the latter described as “fully functioning.” The interior has been reupholstered and a new wiring harness was also installed.
With “no mechanical needs identified,” this Airflow appears ready to roll. Take a look in more detail at this groundbreaking automobile at Hemmings Auctions and let us know if you’d drive it as is or restore it to original condition.