Best pre-bankruptcy Chryslers

By Derek Fung on 04 May 2009

Last week Chrysler filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US, which allows for the company to restructure without many of its liabilities and unwanted assets. The company's Australian arm quickly put out a statement that it's "business as usual" down under. We're taking this opportunity to be positive, and reminisce about Chrysler's ground-breaking vehicles of yore.

Chrysler Airflow (1934)

Although ultimately a financial and sales flop, the Airflow changed how designers and engineers thought about cars. As its name suggests, this was one of the first cars to be designed with aerodynamic efficiency in mind. It also rejigged where passengers sat in a car, placing them within the confines of the car's wheelbase. Lastly, the Airflow was the first mass-produced American vehicle to feature unibody or monocoque construction, where the car's body is an integral part of its structure, as opposed to the more common body-on-frame model — the body-on-frame structure continues today in utes, trucks, large four-wheel drives and anything built for serious off-road work or load carrying.

(Credit: Chrysler)

Topics: chrysler, dodge, bankruptcy, imperial, plymouth, credit, car, jeep, building, company

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Comments (2)

  • Jesse commented on 11/05/2009 17:23 Report abuse

    Derek,

    The Aussie Charger started in 1971 (not 1972) and died sadly in 1978. Suprised you don't rate more stuff under the dodge badge (Challenger?)

  • Maurie10 commented on 05/05/2009 14:50 Report abuse

    As a young kid sign writing in Orbost Victoria Australia, I remember seeing one of these Chrysler Airflow cars driven by the local Dr. I never thought I would ever see one again, I've googled many times, today was a surprise an d pleasure to revive an old memory.
    I am a little long in the tooth now I was fifteen at the time.

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