12 Scandals That Rocked The Car Industry
The Worst Screw-Ups In Automotive History
Car manufacturers are always seeking ways to stamp out the competition. Most of the time, this works out and they come up with creative ways to push the boundaries of innovation.
But sometimes, that creativity—and desire for financial gains—leads to disaster.
1. General Motors Ads End The Chrysler Airflow
When the Chrysler Airflow was unveiled in 1934, it was a step away from traditional automotive designs, and featured an aerodynamic body that made it stand out from every other car on the market.
That design should have made it one of the most popular cars of the decade—instead, it put a target on its back.
Aerodynamic Innovation
Before the Airflow, car manufacturers paid little attention to how aerodynamics affected overall performance.
Chrysler engineers Carl Breer, Fred Zeder, and Owen Skelton changed that when they realized that their internal compression engines would never push vehicles to their maximum efficiency.
So they turned to an expert for help.
Wright Was Right
The engineers met with aviation legend Orville Wright, who suggested that they use a wind tunnel to test aerodynamics with prototype vehicles.
This was the breakthrough Chrysler needed.
A Fierce Design
From the initial wind tunnel tests, the Chrysler engineers discovered that their cars had less wind resistance when driven backwards. This led them to come up with the teardrop design and streamlined body of the Airflow.
The Airflow was such an innovation that it threatened Chrysler’s biggest competitor, General Motors.
