| Chrysler Town and Country Facts and Figures | |
|
Chrysler produced these wonderful woodies from 1941 thru 1950 and again in 1983 thru 1986. The wood used on the cars in the 40's was White Ash with a Mahogany insert. Real Mahogany paneling was used from 1941 until 1946, then a Di-Noc panel (metal panel with a wood grain 'sticker') was substituted to reduce costs. In the later part of 1949 the Mahogany wood graining was abandoned altogether and the metal panel was simply painted the same color as the rest of the body. Throughout the 40's the White Ash was most definitely structural, although to a much lesser extent on the '49 and '50. When the T&C concept was revisited in the 80's plastic was used instead of real wood. They were cute cars but nothing like the 'Land Yachts' of the 40's. Click picture on the left for more photos! |
|
|
1941 |
|
 1941 Chrysler 9-Passenger Wagon
1941 Chrysler 6-Passenger Wagon |
With one exception all of the 1941 T&C’s were ‘station wagons’ equipped with a 6-cylinder engine. They were available either in a 6 or a 9-passenger configuration. The exception was an 8-cylinder 9-passenger wagon. The base price in 1941 was $1492, and all together there were 998 units produced – 797 9-passenger, 200 6-passenger, and the one exception. A unique attribute of the 41 (and 42) Chrysler wagons was the ability to fold down the rear seats to form a flat bed. This feature has caused some people to credit it as the very first SUV. The 6 passenger model is easy to pick out because the rear window is filled in with a wood panel. |
|
1942 |
|
 1942 Chrysler 9-Passenger Wagon |
Like the ‘41s, all 1942 T&C’s were available as 6 or 9 passenger 6-cylinder wagons with one exception. The exception was another 8-cylinder, 9 passenger car. Production in 1942 totaled 1000 units – 849 9-passenger, 150 6-passenger, and the one exception. |
|
1946 - 1948 Convertible |
|
 1948 Chrysler Town and Country Convertible
1947 Chrysler Town and Country Sedan |
In 1946 - 1948 T&C buyers had the choice of an
8-cylinder convertible or a 6-cylander sedan. The 46 to 48 models were
essentially identical, you really have to know what you're looking for
to tell the difference. For example the 46's had real Mahogany
door panels and White reflectors on the tail lights.
T&C Production
figures for 1946 - 48 |
|
1949 |
|
 1949 Chrysler Town and Country Convertible |
1949 T&C’s all came in one flavor – 8-cylinder convertible. The earlier ‘49’s had wood grained Mahogany inserts and the later ‘49’s were just painted the same color as the body (as shown here). All together there were 993 units produced in 1949. The base price for a brand new 1949 T&C was $3970. |
|
1949 Royal Wagon |
|
 1949 Chrysler Royal Wagon |
Aside from the Town and Country, 1949 brought the return of the wooden bodied station wagon. 850 wagons were produced in '49 and all had the 6-cylinder engine. Officially, the Royal Wagon wasn't part of the Town and Country lineup but it is usually considered by collectors to be part of the family. |
| 1950 |
|
 1950 Chrysler Town and Country Hardtop |
Once again in 1950 all T&C’s came in one flavor, but it was a different flavor this year. All 1950 Chrysler T&C's were 8-cylinder 2-door hardtops with body colored door panel inserts. Most were two-tone with a beige top, like the one shown, but a few non two-tones versions were produced. Only 698 units were made for the 1950 model year. |
| 1950 Royal Wagon |
|
 1950 Chrysler Royal Wagon |
The Royal wagon was made again in the
1950 model year and they were again all produced with the 6 cylinder
engine. Only 600 were made in 1950 making them pretty scarce today.
This was the last year for the wood-bodied wagons although Chrysler did
continue to make a steel-bodied Royal wagon into the mid 50's. The most notable difference between the 49's and 50's from this angle
was the updated grill treatment but it also got a refreshed tailgate
and seats that fold down to form a flat bed. Restoration on this one is in progress, click the picture to see how it's coming along! |
| 1983 |
|
 1983 Chrysler LeBaron Town and Country |
In it's new incarnation, the Town and Country sat on a 4 cylinder LeBaron chassis. T&C's of the new generation came with a Mark Cross interior which provided an AM-FM stereo, two-tone leather bucket seats, and a Mark Cross Edition embossment on the armrests. In it's first year back it was greatly underpowered (93 horsepower) but it was a convertible and... who else made one? 1520 were produced this year |
| 1984 |
|
 1984 Chrysler LeBaron Town and Country |
The 1984 model received a few notable updates including the addition of rear side windows, taillights that wrapped around the side (effecting a slight change in the wood cladding), and a digital gauge cluster. There were 1,104 Town and Country convertibles made in 1984 and their cost when new was about $16,500. With the optional 4 cylinder 2.2 Liter turbo the T&C was rated at 140 horsepower. Not bad for the 80's! |
| 1985 |
|
|
|
The only visible update in the 1995 model year was a slightly updated grill design. That and a slight increase in the turbo horsepower rating to 146 were the only changes between 84 and 85. Only 595 cars were produced this year. |
| 1986 |
|
 1986 Chrysler LeBaron Town and Country |
1986 was definitely the best year back for the T&C. They rounded out the edges a bit and with the optional turbo engine it had a lot of zip. Unfortunately for us collectors this was the last year for the wooden bodied Town and Country convertibles and only 501 were produced. |
