In 1934, the still-young Chrysler car company built one of the riskiest, most forward-thinking cars of the era. For their efforts, Chrysler was awarded with low sales and a new, conservative attitude that did little to differentiate their cars from the competition. As a result, the Chrysler Airflow is one of the most rare and historically important cars Chrysler ever built.

And for just $12,000, you can own your very own Chrysler Airflow, a car that in hindsight helped propel American automakers towards a new, world-class standard of car design.

Don’t mistake our tone here; some of the best-looking cars ever built came out of the 1930s and 40s. But they share a lot of the same characteristics, especially in the upright front-end area. The Chrysler Airflow was one of the first streamlined cars, with a flowing hood and waterfall-like grille. While the look may not seem that drastic, at the time it was one of the most distinct looking cars on the road.

This particular example is a 1935 model, and according to the seller it has only ever had two owners. After more than two decades in storage, this Chrysler Airflow is up for grabs. The seller says the 354 cubic-inch inline eight-cylinder engine works fine, and with some nice patina going on, we can’t help but think that this old Airflow would make a great custom rod and or restoration. That engine bay is large enough to accommodate nearly any engine, and the suicide doors open to reveal a cabin that’s seen better days, but comes with double bench seats.

This isn’t necessarily a flashy, in-your-face ride – but we think it’s place in automotive history makes it a worthy restoration project for sure! Who’s up for it?