Chrysler Airflow Series CU
A wind-tunnel-shaped family car that moved its passengers between the axles for a smoother ride.
1934 Chrysler CU Airflow 8 Sedan.JPG · AlfvanBeem · CC0 1.0
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
The 1934 Airflow challenged the long hood and upright cabin of ordinary American cars. Chrysler used wind-tunnel work, a rounded nose and a body structure built around the passengers. This page follows the standard-wheelbase Series CU sedan with the 299-cubic-inch straight-eight, not the longer Imperial Airflows or the shorter six-cylinder DeSoto.
Look a little closer.
Chrysler publicized the idea by driving a conventional car backwards, showing how awkward its square rear shape was in the wind.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Streamlining was more than decoration
Chrysler tested shapes in a wind tunnel and rounded the body to manage airflow. The radiator hid behind a waterfall grille, the windshield leaned back and the headlights blended into the body instead of standing alone.
Source: Detroit Historical Society · Chrysler Corporation ↗People moved inside the wheelbase
The Airflow placed occupants farther forward and between the axles. That gave the cabin more usable room and reduced the sharp motions felt by passengers seated directly over a rear axle.
Source: Southward Car Museum · Chrysler Airflow Series CU sedan ↗A brave idea that buyers resisted
The Airflow was technically adventurous, but its appearance was unfamiliar and early production problems hurt confidence. Its modest sales show that good engineering does not always become an immediate market success.
Source: Chrysler · brand history timeline ↗Where these facts come from
- Savoy Automobile Museum · 1934 Airflow Series CU
- Detroit Historical Society · 1934 Chrysler Airflow sedan
- Southward Car Museum · Airflow CU engineering
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 29, 2026.