Blue Chrysler Airflow 1936 model car in 1/43 scale
This blue Chrysler Airflow model car reproduces one of the boldest cars of the interwar period. Produced by Auto Plus in 1/43 scale, it finely captures the streamlined lines of a saloon that challenged the aesthetic codes of its era. For anyone interested in the history of American automobiles, this model stands out and tells a real chapter of the industry.
In a collection, the Chrysler Airflow model car occupies a special place. It does not merely illustrate an era: it represents an attempt, a technical gamble that left a mark on people's minds without finding its audience. It is precisely this gap between innovation and reception that makes this model so interesting for the curious collector.
Model car features
- Model: Chrysler Airflow
- Brand: Auto Plus (manufacturer)
- Year: 1936
- Scale: 1/43
- Colour: Blue
- Protective box included: Yes
The real car: the Chrysler Airflow
The Chrysler Airflow was born in the mid-1930s, at a time when the automotive world sought to break away from the boxy silhouettes inherited from the first decades of the century. Chrysler engineers, led notably by Carl Breer, carried out wind tunnel tests to design a body that would cut through the air with minimal resistance. The result, presented for the 1934 model year, radically broke with the saloons of the time, with its elongated bonnet, rounded flanks and grille integrated into the bodywork.
Technically, the Airflow was just as innovative. Its structure combined a more rigid body and a carefully balanced weight distribution, with the engine placed further forward and the passengers seated between the axles. Driving comfort and stability at high speed were its main assets. The 1936 model, recognisable by a few front-end revisions, kept this philosophy while becoming more accessible thanks to revised finishes.
Despite these qualities, the Airflow did not achieve the success expected of it. Its design, judged too strange by a customer base still attached to traditional silhouettes, slowed sales. Production was halted in 1937, leaving behind a model today regarded as a milestone in automotive aerodynamics.
History of the Chrysler brand
Chrysler owes its name to Walter Percy Chrysler, former production manager at Buick, who took over the Maxwell Motor Company in 1925 and then founded the brand that now bears his name. Within a few years he established himself as one of the great names of the American industry, relying on technical innovations and an ambitious range policy that competed directly with General Motors and Ford.
In the early 1930s, the brand sought to stand out through research and design. It was in this context that the Airflow project was born, a true laboratory of ideas expressing the will to innovate and confidence in engineering science. Chrysler then invested heavily in aerodynamic research, a bold choice for the time.
After the Second World War, the brand continued its development with iconic models, such as the large American cars of the 1950s and successive updates to its range. The history of Chrysler remains that of a manufacturer willing to take risks, sometimes at the cost of commercial setbacks, but always with a vision oriented towards the future.
Anecdote: a car ahead of its time
One of the most fascinating aspects of the Chrysler Airflow lies in the way it was perceived by the public. At its launch, many American motorists found its look too futuristic, almost disconcerting. For a public that associated solidity and prestige with vertical, imposing lines, this saloon seemed fragile, even experimental. The paradox is that today these same curves have become the norm in modern cars.
This gap perfectly illustrates the spirit of the time. The 1930s were marked by a fascination with speed, technical progress and the Streamline Moderne style, which also influenced architecture, furniture and industrial design. The Airflow was part of this wave, but it went further than mere aesthetics: it rested on calculations, tests and a genuine reflection on how an object should move through the air.
One also finds in this car a form of trust in technology that characterised interwar America. Engineers saw a demonstration of rationality, whereas the public mainly saw a break with the past. This tension between scientific ambition and public taste largely explains the commercial fate of the model.
For the enthusiast, this history gives the model an extra dimension. It is not only the reflection of an elegant blue body, but the witness of an era when the automobile was becoming a field of experimentation as much as an object of desire.
Complete your Chrysler model car collection
In the world of model cars, the Chrysler Airflow will especially appeal to lovers of classic cars and original design. It naturally sits alongside the saloons of the 1930s, which can be discovered in the selection 1930s model cars. To complete a display case devoted to the history of the brand, the range Chrysler model cars offers an overview of several eras, from bold design to more classic models.
Complementarity with other models is also an asset. An older saloon pairs well with the creations of the manufacturer Auto Plus, which offers carefully made reproductions of many historic models. Fans of aerodynamic bodywork will also find it interesting to compare the Airflow with other vehicles in the 1/43 scale collection, a scale appreciated for its balance between detail and compactness.
This model is aimed at collectors passionate about classic cars, lovers of 1930s design and those who enjoy unusual industrial stories. It is also suitable for anyone wishing to discover lesser-known models rather than the great classics. To explore other selections, you can browse the classic model cars or the range of saloon model cars, which bring together many iconic models.
