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The 1936 Chrysler Airflow
The Airflow was the first American production car to use a more streamlined chassis design, one less susceptible to air resistance.
This sedan was produced by Chrysler between 1934 and 1937 but the car went through a number of chassis design changes over the years. Chrysler changed especially the rear section of the car. The car had originally no trunk and the 1936 model was the first one with a trunk. Fortunately we see in this Baie-D'Urfe Town Hall photo by the Montreal Lithographing Company a part of the rear section of the car. The car seen in the photo is a shiny 1936 Chrysler Airflow. Rustproofing was not very advanced in those days. It was common to see already after 3-5 years a significant deterioration. The Town Hall photo was therefore likely taken between 1936 and 1940. We see also a large number of tulips in the garden at Town Hall. This means it was about mid May.
Town Hall, in May, about 1936. Source: the town of Baie-D'Urfé. You can click on the image to see it in full size. It has enough detail to see the grain of the paper.
Town Hall, in May, about 1936. Source: the town of Baie-D'Urfé. You can click on the image to see it in full size. It has enough detail to see the grain of the paper. This copy was taken with sun light.
Below are a few photos of the 1936 Airflow. This car was a technical revolution and it is itself very interesting.
The video available in the reference section further down provides a good overview of the car.
Advertisement for the 1936 Chrysler Airflow from various newspapers and magazines. You can click on the images to read the text.
1936 Chrysler Airflow, Napa Valley Register, Nov. 30, 1935
1936 Chrysler Airflow, Chicago Tribune, Jan 26, 1936
1936 Chrysler Airflow, Pittsburgh Press, Jul. 12, 1936
1936 Chrysler Airflow, source: http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/
1936 Chrysler Airflow, source: http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/
1936 Chrysler Airflow Adv.
1936 Chrysler Airflow Adv.
It is also possible that the car shown in the Town Hall photo is a Chrysler Airstream. Airstream and Airflow differ mostly in the front. The Airstream has a more narrow engine compartment with separate head lights to the left and right of the engine. It was at the time a more popular design than the Airflow because the front looked more like a classic horse carriage. The front of the Airflow is similar to today's cars with integrated head lights, but it was an unfamiliar design at the time.
The Airstream was produced by Chrysler from 1935 to 1936.
Seen from the rear the only difference between Airstream and Airflow would be the pillar between the second and third window on the side. It's angled for the Airflow and straight for the Airstream.
If it is indeed an Airstream then that Town Hall photo could have been taken already in 1935 instead of 1936.
The above photo shows a 1935 Chrysler Airstream. This particular car does not have covers on the rear wheels (wheel shields) but there were Airstream models that had them, source: https://commons.wikimedia.org
1936 Airstream advertisements:
1936 Chrysler Airstream Adv.
1936 Chrysler Airstream, Windsor Star, Apr. 20, 1936
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