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
important 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 7 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 the 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. It is no secret that the Town & Country is both costly
and difficult to restore properly. Expert care is needed to ensure
proper fitment of the body, and high value is placed on the correct
presentation of the wood. This exceptional 1947 example is far and
above one of the finest of its kind we have encountered. While in
the care of its most recent owner, it has been treated to an
extensive, photo documented restoration to concours quality
standards. The wood was painstakingly restored by noted marque
expert Dennis Bickford to correct factory specifications and today
presents in gorgeous order. The steel body panels are finished in
the rare shade of Catalina Tan, which, combined with the maroon
canvas top makes for a striking combination. Fitment of both wood
and steel body components is exemplary and it retains the correct
Mahogany door and�boot lid inserts as originally fitted to the
early 1947 cars such as our example, later cars having Di-Noc
simulated wood inserts. Chrome and stainless trim has been
thoroughly restored to an equally high standard and everything from
the intricate chrome grille to the the large chrome bumpers are
absolutely straight and correctly detailed. The Town & Country sits
proudly on the road and rides on correct wide whitewall bias-ply
tires with beautifully restored chrome hubcaps and deep trim rings.
Along with dual cowl-mounted spot lamps, the presentation is simply
stunning. The lavishly appointed interior was restored by Pebble
Beach Concours-winning trimmer Ken Nemanic of Vintage Automotive
Upholstery. As one would expect from such a reputable restorer, the
interior is beautifully trimmed to original specification in
correct dark red leather with tan Bedford cord cloth inserts and
two-tone door cards. Chrysler's "library chairs" are supremely
comfortable with room for three abreast seating both front and
rear. The cabin is a beautiful display of late art-deco style and
early post-war luxury. Maroon carpets and a two-tone tan and maroon
dash tie the appearance together. The dash features the original
radio and the shift lever for the Fluid Drive transmission features
the signature clear Lucite shift knob. The convertible top in
maroon canvas is quite striking, and a matching boot is included
for when the top is folded. No detail has been overlooked; even the
trunk is properly lined with upholstered hard board, bound
carpeting and a correct spare wheel and jack bag. Lifting the large
hood reveals Chrysler's tried and tested 323.5 cubic inch flat-head
inline eight cylinder engine. It too has been meticulously detailed
to factory specifications, with correct style fittings, hardware,
finishes and hose clamps. Generally speaking, only convertibles
received the eight-cylinder engine, while the sedan made do with
the smaller six-cylinder unit. The additional horsepower of the
eight (135hp vs 114hp) made up for the hefty weight, returning
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. This
example has covered fewer than 200 miles since the restoration, and
is reported to be fully sorted and ready for enjoyment. Town &
Country convertibles of this nature and quality are a rare find.
They require a special passion and commitment to restore properly,
and this stunning example has clearly been lavished with the utmost
in care. The most recent owner, who also carried out most of the
restoration work, has shown the car on just one occasion: A
southern California CCCA show where it received a staggering 99.5
points on its debut. That half point deduction has since been
resolved, making this in theory a 100 point restoration that has
yet to appear at any major concours. This is a rare opportunity to
acquire one of the finest concours-quality Town & Country
convertibles extant, fresh from its outstanding restoration.