The Airflow was the first full-size American production car to use streamlining as a basis for building a sleeker automobile, one less susceptible to air resistance.

Carl Breer, along with fellow Chrysler engineers Fred Zeder, and Owen Skelton, began a series of wind tunnel tests, with the cooperation of Orville Wright, to study which forms were the most efficient shape created by nature that could suit an automobile.

Chrysler built a wind tunnel at the Highland Park site, and tested at least 50 scale models by April 1930.

[3] The car thus represented a breakthrough in lightweight-yet-strong construction, as well as increasing the power-to-drag ratio, since the lighter, more streamlined body allowed air to flow around it instead of being caught against upright forms such as radiator grilles, headlights and windshields.

When loaded with passengers, the weight distribution tended to become further imbalanced, rising to 75% or more over the rear wheels, resulting in unsafe handling characteristics on slippery roads.

The stunt caused a near panic, but the marketing department felt that this would call attention to the poor aerodynamics of current cars, and send a hint that Chrysler was planning something big.

The Airflow, which was heavily influenced by the streamlining design movement, was sleek and low compared to other cars on American roads.

The car's grille work cascaded forward and downward forming a waterfall look[1] where other makes featured fairly upright radiators.

The factory had not accounted for significant manufacturing challenges and expense due to the unusual new Airflow design, which required an unprecedented number and variety of welding techniques.

At the very top was the model CW Airflow Custom Imperial with a body built by LeBaron on a 146.5 in (3,720 mm) wheelbase.

And while the Airflow design looked somewhat sleek on the Chrysler's longer wheelbase, the DeSoto appeared to be short and stubby.

In one widely distributed advertising film shown in movie theatres, an empty Airflow was pushed off a Pennsylvania cliff, falling over 110 ft (34 m); once righted, the car was driven off, battered, but recognizable.

[9] [11] It was in this year that an Imperial Custom Airflow Series CW limousine became the official car of Philippine president Manuel L. Quezon.

It later became part of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines collection for its Presidential Car Museum inaugurated on August 19, 2018 in partnership with the Quezon City government.

While the Airflow may have signaled Chrysler's attempt to set itself apart from other manufacturers, the failure of the car in the marketplace caused the company to take a more conservative path with its future models.

Until the debut of Virgil Exner's "Forward Look" cars of 1955, Chrysler's corporate styling was conservative and mainstream.

It is rumoured that Ferdinand Porsche imported an early Airflow coupe into Germany, and using this model for "inspiration", designed the first Volkswagen Beetle.

General Motors was quick to respond with all-steel "Turret Tops"[further explanation needed], and later introduced a fastback coupe appearance on all of their nameplates from 1942 until 1950, offering the appearance on the Chevrolet Fleetline, Pontiac Streamliner, Oldsmobile 88 Club Coupe, Buick Super Sedanette and Cadillac Series 61 Sedanette; other manufacturers either followed suit or went out of business.

Volvo was one of the first to get a smaller copy of the Airflow into production and was later followed by Peugeot with their 202 and larger 402 models, which would become a major sales success.