Turner Foundation turns to SG restoration……….!

Membership renewals are due for 2011…!
January 2011
Volume 50
Number 1
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Blackwalls Rule
page 5
The Marketplace
Gordie Chamberlin
finds Airflow Sale Invoices
DEDICATED TO THE RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION OF CHRYSLER AND DESOTO AIRFLOW MODEL AUTOMOBILES AND DODGE AIRFLOW TRUCKSTHEIR RELATED HISTORY AND LORE. OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE AIRFLOW CLUB OF AMERICA A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOUNDED JUNE 1962.
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Editor’s thoughts…………...
One year into the editorship and
hopefully the quality control in our
Newsletter is better. I made some errors in the early editions of 2010 and
hopefully with some assistance, those
errors are being eliminated. I apologize!
Not being trained in the art of lexicography as were Sam and Ben Johnson, I have struggled with the appropriate words at times. And I do mean that
it is an art, not a science. Some of the
errors are due to the specific software
I‘m having to learn.
I want to thank all of you who have
contributed with photos and articles
and letters to the editor. They reinforce
our mission, which is stated at the bottom of each of our Newsletters. Some
of the old photos, toys, and other rare
information you have shared are wonderful and help us save the history of
these wonderful works of art. In fact,
Frank Daly, President as well as Club
Historian, is working hard to compile
as much of this information as possible.
I will be sharing all the completed
Newsletters in a format where he can
extract portions, if he wishes or simply
archive the Newsletter itself. As well, I
plan to have him look over all the collected information that Jerry Allstott
obtained when he was Editor. His culling out of this information takes a lot of
patience and interest; so thanks Frank.
Your Editor
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MEMBERSHIP - Persons of good character become a member upon submission of an
application and payment of the annual dues as follows: $30.00 US per year, $35.00 US
funds outside of North America. All memberships expire on December 31st. Mail
membership requests or renewals to:
Dennis Pitchford
14947 Leigh Ave.
San Jose, CA 95124-4524
NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE: The 10th of each month for the next
issue. Send all material to:
Neal Jacquot, Editor
2714 East 7th Street
Casper, WY 82609
E-Mail: <[email protected]>>
CHANGE OF ADDRESS:
Undeliverable copies, other mail items and
changes of address are to be sent to:
Mary Kathryn Eberly
207 West Main St.
Mount Joy, PA 17552-1213
Email: <<[email protected]>>
The AIRFLOW CLUB OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED is a non-profit organization founded in June 1962. The Club is dedicated to (1) the preservation, restoration,
exhibition, and use of Chrysler and DeSoto Airflow cars and Dodge Airflow trucks;
(2) the collection, recording and preservation, of Airflow historical data; (3) the dissemination to the public of the story of Airflow contributions to the automotive industry and (4) the promotion of good fellowship and cooperation among its members.
The Airflow Club of America is authorized and licensed by Chrysler Corporation to
use Chrysler, Dodge and DeSoto trademarks. Additionally, the Club is officially a
member of the Chrysler Corporation family of enthusiast clubs under specific legal
provisions of a signed agreement dated January 20, 1994.
The AIRFLOW NEWSLETTER, published monthly, is the official publication of the Airflow Club of America. The opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the
Airflow Club of America. official policy. All manuscripts, articles, letters and ads are subject
to being edited unless specified print verbatim.
AIRFLOW NEWSLETTER - COPYRIGHT 2010 by the Airflow Club of America, Inc. All
rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or part, in any form, without express written permission of the Airflow Club of America, Inc. The Club‘s internet address is
<<http://www.airflowclub.com>>.
AIRFLOW CLUB OFFICERS
President – Frank Daly, Sammamish, WA. (425)-210-1804
Vice President – Chandler Smith, Fort Worth, TX. (817) 921-6699
Secretary - Doug Conran, Benton Harbor, MI. Phone: (269)-925-1950
Treasurer - Dennis Pitchford, 14947 Leigh Ave., San Jose, CA 95124-4524
Phone: (408)559-7977, E-mail: <<[email protected]>>
NATIONAL DIRECTORS
Dennis Barfield, Goose Creek, SC
Jim Lightfoot, Simi Valley, CA
John Librenjak, Riverside, CA.
REGIONAL DIRECTORS
Eastern: John Wagner, Athens, GA.
Central: Roger Bise, Ft. Smith, AR.
Western: Tom Prince, Walnut, CA.
CLUB STAFF
Editor: Neal Jacquot, (Address and email in above box)
Mail Records: Mary Kathryn Eberly, 207 W. Main St., Mount Joy, PA 17552-1213, Phone:
717)-653-1094, Email: <<[email protected]>>
Chief Judge: Phil Putnam: Orland, CA.
Chief Judges Emeritus: John Heimerl, Suffolk, VA.
Chief Judge Emeritus: Port Byron, IL.
Chief Judge Emeritus: Ellis Claar, Greensburg, PA
Historian: Frank Daly, Sammamish, WA
Storekeeper: John Librenjak, Riverside, CA. Phone:
Website: Jim Lightfoot, 743 Harper St., Simi Valley, CA 93065
Phone: (805)522-4040, E-mail: <<[email protected]>>
RECENT PRESIDENTS
1998-2002
Jim Lightfoot, Simi, CA.
2002-2006
Charles ―Chuck‖ Cochran, Indianapolis, IN.
2006-20010
John Librenjak, Riverside, CA.
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SG DeSoto now a Turner Foundation Priority
By John Spinks
In January 2009 I was invited by the
Turner Foundation to travel up into the
mountains outside Melbourne to inspect an Airflow with the view of offering an opinion as to the viability of
undertaking a restoration of it in the
future. Well, the inspection did reveal a
very tired old '35 SG Desoto Airflow
Sedan and to be honest I did have reservations as to whether or not this restoration could ever be done. At least 12
months went by and during that time,
Charles Restorations and I as a contractor, were kept very busy restoring
cars and amongst those was the award
winning S-2 Airflow Sedan. Well, as
history tells, the S-2 was completed
and the SG issues cropped up once
again. Mr. Turner advised me that he has had the car
for at least 15 to 20 years and it was stored away in a
garage on a remote property in the mountains about 65
miles out of Melbourne.
Apparently many years ago Mr. Turner had enrolled
in a hobby type training course to learn metal craft
hand skills and automotive engineering principles at a
Melbourne Technical College and during that time he
had a number of discussions with other students regarding Airflows. As chance would have it, one of his fellow students whose occupation was a piano tuner
claimed to own an Airflow. That Airflow was the SG,
serial number 5086508, and Mr. Turner purchased and
put in storage. Over time, the Airflow had been dismantled as the body panels and engine were to be used
as training modules at the Technical College.
The SG was recovered from its resting place sometime
ago after a few days of hard work, combined with a
race against pending heavy rains. As a matter of interest on the days leading up to the Airflow recovery, the
heavens had opened up and Melbourne and regions
were coping with record rains that were trying to end a
15 year drought.
I collected the remaining parts to the car which had
been stored well away from the main part of the body
and after a thorough inspection I have to say that Mr.
Turner learnt and listened well during the time that he
attended the hobby training course as the body panels
were found to be in great shape. Whilst at the College
even the engine block was bored and sleeved to about
0.005" under standard bore and the top deck was surfaced and new valve guides installed and all of the
valve seats were cut to size. I also found that Mr.
Turner had prepared a complete set of new inlet and
exhaust valves which had been matched to each valve
seat and were labeled accordingly. The connecting
rods had been metalled with bearing metal and machined to size as the normal shell type bearings were
not available at that time here in Australia. The crankshaft has been ground to suit the bearings; however,
surface corrosion on the main bearings over time may
become an issue which we will address at a later date .
Continued on page 6……..
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1936 Chrysler Dealer Invoices Reveal Airflow Sales—Gordie
Chamberlin strikes again, with another find...
ACA member Gordie
Chamberlin has again
come up with more great
Airflow nostalgia….. !
Gordie writes:‖Enclosed
are selected Airflow sales
I found in two huge albums that contain invoices from a St. Joseph,
Missouri dealer from the
years 1926-‘36. They are
kind of interesting. One is
for a used car sale and one
for a new Imperial sedan.
I thought you might be
interested.‖
The upper invoice
shows the sale of a used
1934 CV sedan with trade.
Note the invoice numbers
and the dates (1936). The
transactions occurred not
far apart.
In viewing the lower invoice, one can see that the
new C-10 included an installed heater and radio;
with a 1934 Airflow Town
Car trade-in.
Thanks for all you
share,Gordie!
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―Blackwalls Rule‖
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5
by Richard Lentinelllo
Editor-in-Chief, ―Hemmings Classic Car‖ magazine
There‘s been a friendly debate going on recently in
Recaps about the pros and cons of wide whitewall tires.
Some of the owners like them; others don't. In our country‘s grand democratic system, it‘s good that we can
choose to do what we want without being told otherwise.
Freedom to choose is what makes living here so wonderful and what makes the collector car hobby so interesting
and entertaining.
I've always been a huge fan of backwall tires, and I
vowed long ago, back when I was a teenager, never to
have any of my cars fitted with whitewall tires, be that
band of white narrow or wide. I just don't like the way
they look. Whenever I see a car fitted with wide whitewall tires, I cant help but think, ―There goes another fine
automobile rolling on fat, spongy marshmallows.‖ The
cars look as if they‘re suspended off the pavement, protected from touching the asphalt by a pair of caring clod
hands. But what I find most upsetting is just how feminine wide whitewalls make a car look. Yep, feminine.
As in girly-girl. To my eyes cars shod with blackwall
tires look truly masculine, with a toughness that most
men can readily appreciate.
A car is a mechanical object, so why doll it up with
pretty decorations that only distract from its utilitarian
good looks? Cars fitted with wide whitewalls remind me
of a cheap hooker all dolled up with three pounds of
makeup and a sequined skirt to make her look attractive.
In many cases, not only do these tacked-on decorations
not work, but they make them look far uglier than if they
didn't wear any makeup at all. Embellishment for the
sake of embellishment is counterproductive. Whenever I
travel down to Brooklyn and go to Spumoni Gardens for
a couple of squares, it‘s considered a sin to add extra
cheese to what is regarded as the world‘s best-tasting
Sicilian pizza. That delicious taste of fresh tomatoes and
savory mootsa-rella just can‘t be beat, so
why ruin it with frivolous dressing?
Same with a car.
Wide whitewalls distract from a car‘s
natural beauty. They draw your eye away
from the car‘s shape, with a ―hey, look at
me‖ attitude that reminds me of an annoying
rug rat that never stops screaming because
he‘s desperate for attention. Blackwall tires
let me view a car‘s lines and body design
the way its stylists intended it to be viewed.
The blackwalls disappear into background,
allowing the design of the body to take center stage, and to be appreciated for what it
is. Admiring the flow of the fender, the
crease of the beltline, the attractive trim and
the way the styling affects the body‘s proportions just can‘t be done to the same level
of honest enjoyment when wide whitewalls
sidetrack your vision.
My disdain for whitewalls goes beyond
the four-inch-wide variety, but also includes
the thin whitewalls that became so popular in 1961. Even
when I was a kid and spent many Saturdays cleaning my
dad‘s 1958 Oldsmobile 88 or his 1970 Buick Electra 225,
I always wanted to spray-paint those whitewalls, and
thought it was a sign of middle class success, as opposed
to these cheap cars with their plain-looking blackwalls.
A Shelby Cobra or G.T. 350 Mustang wearing Goodyear bluestreaks looks perfectly normal; Pontiac GTOs
and Firebirds, along with Triumph TR6s, look great with
redlines. For some reason, that thin bead of color enhances the appearance of those cars, without distracting
from their good looks.
For those fans of the wide–whitewall look, rest assured that I would never let my own prejudices against
those unsightly tires prevent us from featuring cars so
equipped. As you all have seen in this magazine, we
regularly feature cars-and now trucks-wearing wide
whites, and we will continue to do so. When I view the
photos of these cars, I have to squint my eyes and try to
imagine just how much better that car would look with
blackwalls. It always does.
Reprint (October 2010) courtesy of “Hemmings Classic
Car” magazine, a publication from Hemmings Motor
News
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- page 3 continued, Turner SG article…….
Mark Catania at Charles Restorations is now about to fit
up the renovated doors and running boards so that he can
continue on with the installation of the box sections behind the running boards, which we refer to as sills and I
think that you guys call rocker panels. Denis Robertson
is manufacturing special repair sections for the body and
I am currently working through the mechanical components such as the transmission, starter motor, carburetor
(what a mess) etc etc. Further to that we have e-mails out
to John Heimerl and Chuck Cochran in an attempt to
source the supposedly unprocurable parts and at this
stage all prospects are looking good as these 2 guys have
been extremely helpful.
……….one taillight SG!
SG headed for restoration……
...wonderful Aussie countryside!
Ads for Newsletter
Deadline for the Marketplace ads is the 24th of the month to have your ad placed in the next month’s
edition.
ber of 6593152. The factory starting serial number for the CU
line was 6593001, making ours the 152st CU Airflow made.
Were any Airflows made in 1933 that were sold to the public?
Second, in 1998, a professional photographer took photoTo All:
graphs of Old Blue and as I was paid, he owned the photos.
It appears that I may have discovered the new location of a
As a result, photos of our Airflow have appeared in a number
couple of Airflows here in Australia. Both of these cars have
of automotive books, including ―Hot Cars, The Encyclopedia
been known to me for many years; however, I had lost sight of World History of Cars,‖ ―American Classic Cars,‖ ―The Autothem in the last few years. I have only recently become aware mobile, Five-view Photographs-250 Classic Cars,‖ and
of their new location. I will be contacting the owner of these 2 ―American Cars, The Automobiles that made America.‖ Howcars with the view of joining the Airflow Club. The cars are
ever, we were flabbergasted that our Airflow recently showed
‗34 SE Sedan serial number 5081422, engine number SE14265 up in the book ―The Worlds Worst Cars.‖ Well, I guess you
and C-17 Sedan (numbers not available yet).
can‘t win them all!! The article does say, ―The Airflow was a
disaster in its time, but while Chrysler might have taken the
I will provide further information as it comes available.
financial hit for this goose, its legacy remains in the shape of
Regards,
every car built ever since. The goose that laid the golden egg.‖
John Spinks
Pakenham, Victoria
Hope to see you in Durango!
Australia
Bill Rothenbuhler
Neal,
Banning, California
Just a couple of things. First I think our 1934 Chrysler CU
Airflow (Old Blue), may be one ot the oldest Airflows on the
Editor’s Note: Anyone have an answer to Bill’s question?
road. The build date was February 19, 1934, with a serial num-
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Ads are renewable every 2 months: must
be submitted by the 24th of each month to
be in the next month’s edition.
For Sale: 1934 Airflow is from a Dental Professor in Florida. I
have owned the car about 6 months. The car was totally restored
in 1999 in Philadelphia. The
interior and
body are excellent, it runs and
drives good and
the overdrive
works fine. I have many manuals and ads that go with the car.
Price $37,000.
Contact: Rollin Andreas, P. O. Box 1128, Van Alstyne, Texas
75495, Phone: (214)-707-1906, E-mail:
<<[email protected]>>
For Sale:1934 Desoto Airflow Coupe, partial restoration needs
to be finished.
Engine and drive
train rebuilt and
driven once.
New tires. No
major rust or
body damage. Inside storage for 40+ yrs. Most all parts, trim,
lights, bright work, windows plus extra engine and parts included. Very rare and complete
car in excellent restorable condition. $20,000 clear title, located
in NW Arkansas. Also For Sale: 1934 Desoto Airflow 4-dr Sedan. Barn fresh,
needs full restoration.
90% complete. Some
rust thru in tail and
fenders. Right front
spring hanger damage. Main body panels and doors look solid and complete. Engine and drive train
look complete. Under cover storage 10+ yrs. Good restoration
project or parts car. $3,000, bill of sale only, located in NW Arkansas. Additional photos available via E-mail to see completeness of cars.
Contact Jim at (530)-283-5931 (California number) or
[email protected].
For Sale: 1935 DeSoto Coupe SG, vin. 5088427, body SG 56
1417, trim # 324 DC, total correct restoration. National AACA
1st , $60,000.
Contact: Edsel H. Pfabe,
10151 S. Indian River Dr.,
Fort Pierce, FL 349827829. Phone: (772) -8787808, E-mail:
<<[email protected]>>
Phone: (406)-777-5868
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Wanted: Parts for 1936 DeSoto S-2, dash assembly to include
clock/gauges/cable/lines, ash trays for rear seats and inside light,
handles for cranking out windshields, front windshield, heater
for inside, spare tire platform and jack, left (license plate holder),
radio, glove box door, headlight buckets for left and right side,
good gas tank, head light lenses, trunk handles and hinges, gas
tank, head light reflectors for left and right. Contact
Chuck Phillips, Phone (804)-279-8976 or E-mail:
<<[email protected]>>
For Sale: Reproduction gas tank filler grommets. Grommets
fit 1934-35 Chrysler and DeSoto coupes and sedans. These are
EXACT reproductions. Please specify - coupe or sedan when
ordering. Price is $45.00 plus $5.00 shipping. (Check
payable to John Librenjak - NOT Airflow Club).
Contact: John Librenjak, 3595 McKinley
St., Riverside, CA 92506, Phone: (951)788-4678.
For Sale: the following parts for a S-2 1936 DeSoto
Airflow; aluminum cylinder head $1,000, wind wing window,
one used used clutch plate, one new electric fuel pump, trunk
hinges, grille emblem, outside door handle, one coil, license
plate holder, new thermostat heater, pair of front fender guides,
door striker, overdrive ready to install $100; call for prices not
cited,
Contact: Pete Wiltgen, 306 11th Street, Stevensville, MT 59870,
Phone: 406-777-5868.
For Sale: New remanufactured Aluminum Heads for Desoto 6
cylinder SE, SG, S-2 motors. $2,000 plus shipping.
Also for Sale: New remanufactured Aluminum Heads for Chrysler 8 cylinder CU, C-2, C9, and C-10. $2,200 plus shipping.
Also for Sale: New remanufactured exhaust manifold center collection box with valve assembly installed on your Chrysler manifold for CU, C-1, C-2. $1,400 plus shipping.
Contact: Norman Stottlemyer for any of these 3 items,
Phone: 1-(717)-872-0711.
Wanted: 2 carb manifolds for 6 and 8 cylinder Chrysler engines
up to 1954. Looking for 1937/1938 DeSoto or Chrysler taillights.
Rear view mirror with clock and 15/16‖ artillery wheel any
make.
Contact Ed Hegarty Phone (510) 232-0197
“Marketplace” Continued on page 8
Ads for the Marketplace
Post, phone or E-Mail your ad insertion to : Neal Jacquot,
2714 E. 7th St. Casper, WY 82609, or Phone: (307) 234-9198
or Email: [email protected]
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Continued from page 7
For Sale: Doorsill scuff plates. Exact reproductions just like
the factory installed to make her look spiffy. Doesn't matter
if she's a stately sedan or a slinky coupe, we can help you
dress her up to look sassy when you take her out to a show.
For your elegant Chrysler or sporty DeSoto, call us now for
Christmas delivery!
Also for sale for a 1934 Chrysler Airflow—'34 CU steering
column, 3 window winders, 1 windshield opener crank,
1front door vent window crank. All need plating but are
functional; steering column and gear box. 1934 DeSoto Sedan right front door window garnish moulding - excellent;
hood insert panel - gangster style with bullet hole; hood
lower center trim - intact but needs plating; tail light
stands—2 right, 1 left - all are repros in poor shape and need
repair and plating but if you are desperate? Right tail light
shell - cracked but repairable; 2 tail light lenses and rings cracked but could be used? All available to good homes at
reasonable prices.
Contact: Jim Hazlewood, 141 Stanley St. N., RR #
4,Thamesford ON, N0M 2M0, Canada; Phone (519)-2852279, E-mail: <<[email protected]>>.
For Sale: Original Chrysler and DeSoto Literature! Large
selection of Chrysler and DeSoto sales brochures, manuals,
factory photos, etc., for all models including Airflows. Send
stamped envelope with years for free list. Please specify
Chrysler or DeSoto as I have lists for all makes of cars/
trucks/motorcycles - worldwide.
Contact: Walter Miller, 6710 Brooklawn Pkwy, Syracuse,
NY 13211. Phone: (315)432-8282 or Fax: (315)432-8256. Email: <<www.autolit.com>>.
Wanted: Driver's door for an Airflow coupe-the door is the
same as Custom Imperial Eight with three hinges, same as
CX, C3, or C11. Also, need a coupe deck lid and a hood for
a '34 Desoto Airflow.
Contact: Ed Britz 187 Rock Springs Road, PO Box 68,
Delmont, PA 15626, Phone (724)468-5284, Email:
[email protected]
Ads for the Marketplace
Post, phone or E-Mail your ad insertion to : Neal Jacquot,
2714 E. 7th St. Casper, WY 82609, or Phone: (307) 2349198
or Email: [email protected]
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Mark Your Calendar-for the 48th
Annual Airflow Meet June 8-11,
2011, Durango, Colorado
Registration forms included in
the February Newsletter
San Diego’s Big 45th Annual Big 3
Auto Parts Exchange
February 25-27,2011
See enclosed flyer!
Trying to fix her up?
Airflow Newsletter’s
Tech Tips may provide a solution for
your problem. Have a
question?
Send it !!!!!!!!
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
Remember to complete your renewal form for
membership for the Airflow Club. It was included
in the November Newsletter and it will not be sent
out again. If your renewal form and payment are
not received by the Treasurer before February 1, a
reminder will be sent out asking if there is a reason
you are not renewing. In addition, a late renewal
(postmarked after March 1) will require a payment
of $35.00 ($40.00 International) instead of the regular $30.00/$35.00 payment to cover the additional
costs that will be incurred.
Dennis Pitchford, Treasurer
AIRFLOW CLUB INTERNET FORUMS
The Airflow Club participates in two internet forums, one hosted by the AACA
and other hosted by Yahoo. The easiest way to reach the AACA Forum is to
go to the Airflow Club Home Page at <<www.airflowclub.com>> and at the
bottom of the page click on the AACA Forum address. If you want to access
the forum directly, their address is <<http://forums.aaca.org>>. Then click
on Forums. This opens all the forum lists. Click on Register Here and register
as a forum member, then scroll down the list Airflow Club of America in the
Chrysler Products group.
January 2011