The innovative design of the Desoto Airflow was the result of Chrysler's research on streamlining.
Carl Breer an engineer working for Chrysler had seen a squadron of fighter planes and this inspired him to conduct wind tunnel experiments. He found that cars actually moved through the air better if they travelled trunk first
A racing car driver called Harry Hartz drove a motor car that had been changed to travel the wrong way from Michigan to New York. It was found that he used less fuel and achieved a higher average speed than if he had driven the right way around. |
The Desoto Airflow was more than just a car that had been turned around. Wind tunnel tests had shown that a car wider in front and tapering to the back with a teardrop shape was actually aerodynamically more efficient.
This resulted in the fastback type of shape of the Desoto Airflow. This car broke 32 stockcar records and maintained an average speed of 76.2 miles per hour for 500 miles and then later averaged 74.7 mph for 2000 miles.
The same Harry Hartzdrove a Desoto Airflow 3114 miles from New York to San Francisco averaging 21.4 miles per gallon. |
The Desoto Airflow did not sell as well as expected despite a huge publicity campaign. Some people blamed the style others blamed the selling price of $995 and others blamed a premature debut.
Whatever the reason only 13,940 Desoto Airflows were built.
SIn 1935 contrary to everything that had been learned from the wind tunnel tests Desoto introduced the Desoto Airstream with a long hood and and built up front. Sales for the Desoto Airstream climbed and the Desoto Airflow production stopped in 1936.
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The 1939 Oldsmobile Business Coupe 80 L series was relatively rare, with only 736 being built and 2 were exported.
It sold for $920.
There was a no charge factory option eliminating running boards, although very few cars had them
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This car had no back seats, it was only a two-seater, with a 257 cubic inch, straight- eight, side valve engine of 110 horsepower.
The 70 and 80 models both had a wheelbase of 120 inches.
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