Chrysler Town & Country (1941–1988)

Chrysler Town & Country

Manufacturer	Chrysler Corporation
Production	1941–1989
Successor	Chrysler Town & Country minivan
Class	Full-size (1941–1977) Mid-size (1978–1981) Compact (1982–1989)

The Chrysler Town & Country was a station wagon manufactured by Chrysler Corporation and sold under its flagship brand from 1941–1989. The model was also sold as a sedan, coupé, and convertible from 1947–1950 and as a convertible from 1982–1986.

Chrysler re-introduced the Town & Country nameplate as a rebadged variant of the Dodge Caravan minivan in 1990 and continues to sell this incarnation of the Town & Country to the present day.

1941–1950

1942 Chrysler Town and Country wagon

First generation

Production	1941–1950
Body style	4-door station wagon (1941-42) 4-door sedan (1946-48) 2-door convertible (1946-49) 2-door hardtop (1950)
Layout	FR layout

1942 Chrysler Town and Country wagon

1950 Chrysler Newport Town and Country coupe

The Town & Country was a debut of the first woodie wagon with an all-steel roof; the roof used was that of the big Chrysler Imperial 8-passenger sedan and limousine, which led to a unique (and compromised) rear loading arrangement with wooden double doors that opened hutch-style beneath a fixed rear window. Production of the cars stopped during World War II. In 1941 and 1942, less than 1,000 were manufactured.

After the war the Town & Country nameplate returned, but the station wagon body did not. Town & Country sedans, coupés, and convertibles were also produced from 1946 to 1950 in much larger numbers than the prewar wagon. Production of the original, woodie Town & Country ended in 1950.

1951–1959

Second generation

Production	1951–1960
Body style	4-door station wagon
Layout	FR layout
Engine	413 cu in (6.8 L) V8
Related	Chrysler Windsor Chrysler Saratoga Chrysler New Yorker

After the woodies were discontinued, the Town & Country name was immediately transferred to a steel-bodied full-size rear wheel drive station wagon, coinciding with the debut of the company's first V8 engine (then called FireDome, but later dubbed HEMI). This wagon introduced several firsts, including roll-down rear windows for tailgates in 1951 and rear-facing third row seats in 1957, rear wipers in 1968, integral air deflectors in 1969 and ignition interlock to prevent children from opening the gate while the car was running in 1971.^[1]

The 1951 Town & Country wagons were offered in the Windsor, Saratoga and New Yorker series. The New Yorker version disappeared for 1952, but reappeared for 1953 when the Saratoga series was dropped. The Windsor version lasted through 1960, then was moved to the new Newport series for 1961; the New Yorker edition continued through 1965. Then in 1969, the Town & Country became a series in its own right.

1957 Chrysler Windsor Town and Country

1960–1964

1961 Chrysler Newport Town and Country

Third generation

1960 Chrysler Town and Country
Production	1961–1964
Body style	4-door station wagon
Layout	FR layout
Related	Chrysler 300 Chrysler Newport Chrysler New Yorker

From 1960 to 1964, all Town & Country wagons were built with hardtop styling. In 1965, the Town & Country was officially placed on the Chrysler C platform, along with such cars as the Chrysler New Yorker and Plymouth Fury. The 1968 edition added simulated woodgrain paneling, in a way bringing it back to the tradition of the 1941–1950 Town & Country.

1965–1968

1968 Chrysler Town and Country convertible

Fourth generation

Production	1965–1968
Assembly	Detroit, Michigan
Body style	4-door station wagon
Layout	FR layout
Platform	C-body
Related	Chrysler New Yorker Dodge Polara Plymouth Fury Dodge Monaco Plymouth VIP Chrysler 300 Chrysler Newport Dodge Custom 880 Chrysler 300L

1968 Chrysler Town and Country convertible

1969–1973

Fifth generation

Production	1969–1973
Body style	4-door station wagon
Layout	FR layout
Platform	C-body
Related	Chrysler New Yorker Dodge Polara Plymouth Fury Dodge Monaco Plymouth VIP Chrysler 300 Chrysler Newport Plymouth Gran Fury

1974–1977

1975 Chrysler Town and Country

Sixth generation

Production	1974–1977
Body style	4-door station wagon
Layout	FR layout
Platform	C-body
Related	Chrysler New Yorker Dodge Polara Plymouth Fury Dodge Monaco Plymouth VIP Chrysler 300 Chrysler Newport Plymouth Gran Fury

1975 Chrysler Town and Country

1978–1981

Seventh generation

Production	1978–1981
Body style	4-door station wagon
Layout	FR layout
Platform	M-body F-body
Engine	318 cu in (5.2 L) V8 360 cu in (5.9 L) V8
Wheelbase	112.7 in (2,863 mm)
Length	205.5 in (5,220 mm)
Width	74.2 in (1,885 mm)
Height	55.5 in (1,410 mm)
Related	Chrysler New Yorker Dodge Diplomat Plymouth Caravelle Dodge Aspen Plymouth Volare

Starting in 1978, and ending in 1981, the Town & Country moved to the same bodytype or shell as the compact rear wheel drive Dodge Aspen/Plymouth Volare wagons. The more upmarkets were considered a separate series, designated the Chrysler M platform, which included the Chrysler LeBaron, Dodge Diplomat, and Plymouth Gran Fury as well as the Town & Country. There were, however, not many substantial differences in the chassis and powertrain, and only Town & Country had plastic woodgrain trim on the sides.

1982–1989

Eighth generation

Production	1982–1989
Assembly	Newark, Delaware
Body style	4-door station wagon 2-door convertible
Layout	FF layout
Platform	K-body
Engine	2.5 L 96 hp I4
Transmission	3-speed automatic
Wheelbase	100.4 in (2,550 mm)
Length	179.0 in (4,547 mm)
Width	68.0 in (1,727 mm)
Height	53.2 in (1,351 mm)
Related	Chrysler LeBaron Dodge 400 Plymouth Reliant Dodge Aries

From 1982 to 1989, the Town & Country name was used on a station wagon version of the K-based, front wheel drive LeBaron, featuring plastic woodgrain exterior trim. A special Town & Country convertible was manufactured in 1983, which featured plastic woodgrain paneling to bring up comparisons to the original 1940s convertibles.

1982–1989 K-car Town & Country

Chrysler Town & Country convertible

1990–present

Main article: Chrysler Town & Country

In 1990 the Town & Country name was applied to a the new Chrysler branded luxury minivan, based on the Dodge Grand Caravan and Plymouth Grand Voyager, which had both been introduced in 1984. All three vans were redesigned in 1991.

References

1. ^ "The Chrysler Town & Country woodie wagons, station wagons, and cars". Allpar, LLC. http://www.allpar.com/old/townandcountry.html. Retrieved 2007-11-21. 

• Encyclopedia of American Cars by Publications International, Ltd. ISBN 0-7853-6275-4

External links

• The original Town & Country Woodie
• Chrysler LeBaron and Town & Country
• 1969 - 1973 Chrysler Town & Country Station Wagons at Fuselage.de site