| Production | 1934–1936 |
|---|---|
| Body style | 4-door sedan |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Engine | Imperial Airflow and Custom Imperial Airflow CX-323.5CID cast-iron L-head 130 hp 250lb.ft.torque Straight-8(1934–1936); Custom Imperial Airflow CW-384.8CID cast iron L-head 150 hp CR 6.5:1 Strait-8(1934–1936) |
| Transmission | Imperial Airflow and Custom Imperial Airflow CX:3-speed manual floor-shift; Custom Imperial Airflow CW:4-speed manual, overdrive in 1935–1936 |
| Wheelbase | Imperial Airflow-128"(1934–1936); Custom Imperial Airflow-137.5"(1934), 137"(1936); Custom Imperial Airflow CW-146"(1934), 146.5"(1935–1936) |
The 1934 to 1936 Chrysler Imperial ushered in the 'Airflow' design. The car was marketed with the slogan "The car of tomorrow is here today." It featured eight passenger seating and again an eight-cylinder engine. This was the first car to be designed in a wind tunnel. Initial tests indicated that the standard car of the 1920s worked best in the wind-tunnel when pointed backwards with the curved rear deck facing forward. This led to a rethinking of the fundamental design of Chrysler's line of cars. The Airflow was an exceptionally modern and advanced car, and an unparalleled engineering success. Both engine and passenger compartment were moved forward, giving better balance, ride and roadability. An early form of unibody construction was employed, making them extremely strong. This was one of the first vehicles with fender skirts.
The public was put off by the unconventional styling and did not buy the car in large numbers. The failure of the Airflow cars in the marketplace led Chrysler to be overly conservative in their styling for the next 20 years. The "standard" styling on the lower-end Chryslers outsold the Airflow by 3 to 1.
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