Vehicle Description
To be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at Auctions America's
Auburn Spring event, May 11-13, 2017.
Chassis No.
7410157
Estimate:
$ 70,000 - $ 80,000 US
Perhaps the most successful wood-bodied vehicles of all, the
Chrysler Town & Country is a well-known design that enjoyed a
production run from 1946 through 1949. The wood-bodied Chrysler
would be seen in numerous body styles for the better part of a
decade. For luxury-minded buyers, it was hard to beat the
impressiveness of bodywork that was so clearly handmade, and
Chrysler was pleased to emphasize the cars connections to the good
life: yachts, hunting and horses were the mainstay of period
advertising. The cars commanded a premium when they were new, which
made them rare, but time and the elements inevitably claimed most
of the natural materials on neglected examples; locating a good
Town & Country today is a rare thing indeed.
The 1949 Chrysler Town & Country represented the swan song for the
elegant and low-production wooden-bodied model offering as part of
the New Yorker series. Although Chrysler continued production of
other models, they did not build any more true wood-bodied
convertibles. Throughout its short life span the Chrysler Town &
Country was always desirable; the cars were fashionable and
oftentimes difficult to obtain. This was especially true as
production was limited to a mere 993 examples for the 1949 model
year.
The 1949 Town & Country convertible offered an all-new body style
that was revamped to reflect the trend towards longer, lower and
wider styling. The wood was no longer structural, but became
decoration, preserving the cars good looks while improving
structural rigidity and serviceability.
Featuring a full frame-off restoration to extremely high standards,
this handsome convertible was a repeat show winner and remains an
exquisite automobile today. The Fog Green finish is correct, and
offers a soft and elegant contrast with the woodwork and tan
soft-top top. The ash framework is original and has been fully
restored and the reproduction Di-Noc panels, while not as
convincing as real wood, are nonetheless correct for 1949. Paint
and chrome are outstanding; it is stated that this car hasn't been
in need of rust repair or require body panel replacement. The
stainless has been buffed, and it offers a highly detailed hood
ornament that's simply spectacular. This car is very impressive at
every level.
The interior offers a traditional late-�40s style with durable and
attractive tan Bedford cord and contrasting green leather; a
tasteful combination that works well with the rich light green
bodywork. As inviting as a wood-paneled study, it was fully
restored with the rest of the car and shows almost no wear or signs
of use. Correct light green carpets, brilliantly trimmed door
panels with lots of bright accents, a leather-wrapped padded dash,
and particularly the back seat all look as new. The instruments are
housed in a single pod ahead of the driver, as was the fashion at
the time, and they are crisply rendered and fully functional. All
the chrome remains bright with sharp details, and accessories like
the heater and radio operate correctly. The tan canvas top has
probably never been folded, and offers a small glass rear window in
place of the original plastic curtain for a more formal look. In
the trunk are original sisal carpets and a restored steel wheel
that is in need of a matching spare tire.
Mechanically, the 1949 Town & Country was largely carryover,
including the 323 cubic inch straight eight-cylinder engine. In
this car, it was fully rebuilt and detailed for show, demonstrating
bright silver paint on the engine, proper "Spitfire" spark plug
loom, and an oil bath air cleaner. The massive heater/defroster
assembly dominates the passenger side of the engine compartment,
and remains fully functional. The Town & Country starts quickly and
easily and settles into a powerful-sounding idle. This unit is
linked to the renowned Chrysler Fluid-Drive transmission, a curious
blend of a manual transmission with a torque converter that in
practice is quite easy to drive around town. On the highway, the
big eight-cylinder powerplant stretches its legs and can cruise
effortlessly at modern highway speeds thanks to a set of 3.54:1
gears retrofitted to the differential. The chassis was also
detailed for show during the frame-off restoration, and shows only
the most minor signs of use and needs nothing more than a quick
wipe-down to be ready for the show field. Correct 8.20-15
BFGoodrich Silvertown wide whitewall tires were fitted and correct
full wheel covers sparkle like new against the color-keyed steel
wheels. Additional equipment includes dual exterior rearview
mirrors and AM radio.
The "woodies" were dying off in 1949, but the Chrysler Town &
Country remained the undisputed queen of the timber-based cars.
Sleeker and more modern than the earlier cars, this 1949 is a rare
find that has had a top-flight restoration and has been treated as
a show car ever since. Recently and extensively serviced, it is
ready to show or tour at almost any level.