Vehicle Description
While the iconic American Woody may not have been invented by
Chrysler, it can certainly be argued that it was Chrysler that
perfected the concept with their luxurious Town & Country series.
Born out of necessity, the earliest woodies were basic, utilitarian
bodies that were sold in the aftermarket to adapt to existing
chassis such as the Model T. Wood bodied station wagons and depot
hacks proved popular enough to convince Henry Ford to buy his own
forest and offer the bodies himself. As styling became an ever more
crucial factor in selling automobiles, the structural and
functional woodwork grew into a point of style, and by the mid
1930's, many manufacturers (led by Ford) began to offer station
wagons with nicely finished wood bodies and room for seven or more
passengers. But it was Chrysler who set a new standard for the
woody with their new Town & Country of 1941. The Town & Country was
a top-of-the-line luxury machine that combined the best of the New
Yorker series from the windscreen forward, in combination with an
artfully crafted and opulent wooden "country home" feel from the
windscreen back. The name is credited to Paul Hafer of the
Boyertown Body Works in Pennsylvania, who suggested the car looked
"Town from the front and Country from the rear." The Town & Country
was the first of its kind to be fitted with an all-steel roof,
which was cleverly adapted from a limousine. It was expensive to
build, expensive to buy and required specialized maintenance but it
proved to be enough of a success for Chrysler to continue
production into the post-war era. Chrysler's success quickly became
apparent and other manufacturers jumped on the bandwagon. Ford and
Mercury offered the Sportsman, Chevrolet offered Fleetline wagons,
and Buick's Roadmaster wagons came closest to Chrysler in terms of
luxury and style. But few could match Chrysler's commercial
success, and no others offered the same diversity of body styles.
Staying one step ahead of the competition, Chrysler eschewed the
traditional wood station wagon roots in the Post War era in
exchange for pure style points in the form of wood-bodied coupe,
convertible and sedan models.
The traditional wood-bodied Town & Country remained in production
through 1950, before the expense of hand-building the wood bodies
in Alabama and shipping them to Michigan for fitment and finishing
proved far too costly. Pre-War and Post-War examples remain highly
prized for their impeccable style and beautiful road manners, and
all models through 1948 have earned their place on the
all-important list of CCCA Approved Full Classics.
Restoring a Chrysler Town & Country is both costly and complex,
requiring expert care to ensure proper body fitment and accurate
wood presentation. This 1947 model features an older restoration
that displays some patina but remains respectable for a car that
has been driven and enjoyed. The wood has been restored and is
presented in good condition, with only minor imperfections at
certain joints. The steel body panels are finished in the original
shade of Sumac Red, which, combined with the tan canvas top,
creates a striking appearance. The paint is well presented
throughout, with very minute blemishes. Both wood and steel body
fitment are exceptional, and the chrome and stainless trim have
been restored, however the intricate chrome grille does show some
typical pitting, common for pot metal of this era. The car sits
proudly on correct wide whitewall bias-ply tires with restored
chrome hubcaps, complemented by dual cowl-mounted spot lamps for an
lovely presentation.
The interior features beautiful red leather with tartan Highlander
cloth inserts, with the same pattern extending onto the door panels
for a cohesive look. Minor wear marks are present on the driver and
rear passenger seat cushions. The Chrysler's "library chairs" offer
supremely comfortable, three-abreast seating in both the front and
rear. The cabin is a lovely display of late Art Deco style and
early post-war luxury, featuring red carpets and a two-tone red and
maroon dash. The dashboard houses the original radio, while the
Fluid Drive transmission is capped with the signature clear Lucite
shift knob. The tan canvas convertible top is superb, and a
matching boot cover is included for when the top is folded. The
trunk is fully lined with upholstered, color-matching carpeting and
includes a spare wheel and jack.
Lifting the large hood reveals Chrysler's tried-and-true 323.5
cubic-inch flathead inline-eight engine. It has been thoroughly
detailed and properly dressed with period-correct fittings,
hardware, finishes, and hose clamps. Generally, only convertibles
received the eight-cylinder engine, while sedans were equipped with
the smaller six-cylinder unit. The additional horsepower of the
eight (135 hp vs. 114 hp) compensates for the car's hefty weight,
delivering respectable performance and effortless cruising.
Of course, the Town & Country is not about speed; rather, it is
about sumptuous luxury and impeccable style. Thanks to the Fluid
Drive transmission, power delivery is smooth, quiet, and relaxed.
Town & Country convertibles require a special passion and
commitment to restore properly, and this example has clearly been
treated with the utmost care. Desirably equipped and brimming with
character, this is a Chrysler icon and a genre-defining Town &
Country Woody.
Offers welcome and trades considered.
