- Chrysler Town and Country (pre-1990)
Infobox Automobile
name = Chrysler Town & Country
manufacturer =Chrysler Corporation
production = 1941-1989
successor = Chrysler Town & Country Minivan
class =Full-size (1941-1976)Mid-size (1977-1981)
Compact (1982-89)Infobox Automobile generation
name = First generation
production = 1941-1950
body_style = 4-doorstation wagon
layout =FR layout Infobox Automobile generation
name = Second generation
production = 1947-1950
body_style = 4-door sedan
2-doorcoupe
2-doorconvertible
layout =FR layout
related =Chrysler Newport Infobox Automobile generation
name = Third generation
production = 1951-1960
body_style = 4-doorstation wagon
layout =FR layout
related =Chrysler Windsor Chrysler Saratoga Chrysler New Yorker Infobox Automobile generation
name = Fourth generation
production = 1961-1964
body_style = 4-doorstation wagon
layout =FR layout
related = Chrysler 300Chrysler Newport Chrysler New Yorker Infobox Automobile generation
name = Fifth generation
production = 1965-1968
body_style = 4-doorstation wagon
layout =FR layout
assembly =Detroit, Michigan
platform = C-body
related =Chrysler New Yorker Dodge Polara Plymouth Fury Dodge Monaco Plymouth VIP
Chrysler 300Chrysler Newport Dodge Custom 880 Chrysler 300L Infobox Automobile generation
name = Sixth generation
production = 1969-1977
body_style = 4-doorstation wagon
layout =FR layout
platform = C-body
related =Chrysler New Yorker Dodge Polara Plymouth Fury Dodge Monaco Plymouth VIP
Chrysler 300Chrysler Newport Plymouth Gran Fury Infobox Automobile generation
name = Seventh generation
production = 1978-1981
body_style = 4-doorstation wagon
layout =FR layout
platform = M-body
F-body
related =Chrysler New Yorker Dodge Diplomat Plymouth Caravelle Dodge Aspen Plymouth Volare
wheelbase = Auto in|112.7|0
length = Auto in|205.5|0
width = Auto in|74.2|0
height = Auto in|55.5|0 Infobox Automobile generation
name = Eighth generation
production = 1982-1989
body_style = 4-doorstation wagon
2-doorconvertible
layout =FF layout
platform = K-body
related =Chrysler LeBaron Dodge 400 Plymouth Reliant Dodge Aries
wheelbase = Auto in|100.4|0
length = Auto in|179.0|0
width = Auto in|68.0|0
height = Auto in|53.2|0
assembly =Newark, Delaware
engine = 2.5L 96 hp I4
transmission = 3-speed automaticThe Chrysler Town and Country was introduced by
Chrysler Corp. in 1941. This was a debute of the firstwoodie wagon with an all-steel roof. The car was dubbed the Town & Country. Production of the cars stopped duringWorld War II . In 1941 and 1942, less than 1,000 were manufactured.After the war, the Town & Country returned, this time being produced in much larger numbers. Town and Country sedans,
coupé s, andconvertible s were also produced from 1946 to 1950. Production of the original, woodie Town & Country ended in 1950.1951–1977
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 firstV8 engine (then calledFirePower , but later dubbed HEMI). This wagon introduced several firsts, including roll-down rear windows fortailgate s in 1951 and rear-facing third row seats in 1957,rear wipers in 1968, integral air deflectors in 1969 andignition interlock to prevent children from opening the gate while the car was running in 1971. [cite web
title = The Chrysler Town & Country woodie wagons, station wagons, and cars
publisher = Allpar, LLC
url = http://www.allpar.com/old/townandcountry.html
accessdate = 2007-11-21]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.
From 1960 to 1964, all Town & Country wagons were built with
hardtop styling. In 1965, the Town & Country was officially placed on theChrysler C platform , along with such cars as the Chrysler New Yorker andPlymouth Fury . The 1968 edition added simulated woodgrain paneling, in a way bringing it back to the tradition of the 1941–1950 Town & Country.1978–1981
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 theChrysler M platform , which included theChrysler LeBaron ,Dodge Diplomat , andPlymouth Gran Fury as well as the Town and Country. There were, however, not many substantial differences in thechassis andpowertrain , and only Town & Country had plastic woodgrain trim on the sides.1982–1988
From 1982 to 1988, the Town and 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 and Countryconvertible was manufactured in 1983, which featured plastic woodgrain paneling to bring up comparisons to the original 1940s convertibles.1990-present
The Town and Country name was revived in
1990 on a luxury minivan, a twin to the Dodge Grand Caravan and Plymouth Grand Voyager, which had both been introduced in1984 . All three vans were redesigned in1991 .References
* "Encyclopedia of American Cars" by Publications International, Ltd. ISBN 0-7853-6275-4
External links
* [http://allpar.com/old/townandcountry.html The original Town & Country Woodie]
* [http://allpar.com/model/dodge-diplomat.html Chrysler LeBaron and Town & Country]
* [http://allpar.com/model/m/minivans.html Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country]
* [http://www.fuselage.de 1969 - 1973 Chrysler Town & Country Station Wagons at Fuselage.de site]
* [http://www.autoguidewiki.com/Chrysler_Town_and_Country_Limited AutoGuideWiki.com]Related content
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