A 1934 DeSoto Airflow Brougham is the star of the upcoming show at McCormick’s Palm Springs Collector Car auction, set for Feb. 23-25.
In more than 37 years in the auction business, Keith McCormick said, “This is the first two-door Airflow I have ever seen.”
Of the 13,940 DeSoto Airflows sold in 1934, only 522 were two-door Broughams. Part of the Chrysler Corporation’s family of cars, the Airflow Brougham was considered a “streamlined” town car with no rear trunk, which allowed space for a full-size rear seat with plenty of head room for three people. The design, considered ahead of its time, featured a “waterfall” grille in front and a gradual sloping roofline in the rear.
Free and open to the public on opening day, the event will be held at the Palm Springs Convention Center during the Feb. 23-25 weekend. The three-day event is free and open to the public on Friday. The auction continues Saturday and Sunday with $15 for a one-day pass or $25 for two days.
The Airflow Brougham (Lot #262) has been completely restored inside and out. The paint is a two-tone medium brown, the bumpers re-chromed and the engine rebuilt. The upholstery was tailored in a color-coordinated tan. “A very striking and collectable car,” McCormick said.
More than 400 collectable cars, trucks and motorcycles will be passing through the auction tent. Along with the Airflow Brougham, the auction features two Ferraris. The newest is a 2011 Ferrari California convertible (Lot #328) with a 453 horsepower V8 engine. A 1953 Ferrari 340mm Barchetta (#276) recreation was built about 10 years ago by MC Auto Creations in Texas. It has a V12 engine from a 1977 Ferrari 400GT with six Webber carbs and a five-speed manual transmission.
Other collectable cars range from muscle cars like a 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS (#297) to a 1966 VW Bus (#231) and a custom 2000 BMW M Coupe (#518). More cars are entering the sales event daily. To review all vehicles for sale, or for more information go to www.Classic-CarAuction.com or call 760 320-3290 to enter your car for sale.
90 years later, it’s still weird.
Wouldn’t call it Weird, but, it does have a European look about it.
Front end looks like a Dixco milk truck.