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-door station wagon
layout = FR layoutInfobox Automobile generation


name = Second generation
production = 1947-1950
body_style = 4-door sedan
2-door coupe
2-door convertible
layout = FR layout
related = Chrysler NewportInfobox Automobile generation


name = Third generation
production = 1951-1960
body_style = 4-door station wagon
layout = FR layout
related = Chrysler Windsor
Chrysler Saratoga
Chrysler New YorkerInfobox Automobile generation


name = Fourth generation
production = 1961-1964
body_style = 4-door station wagon
layout = FR layout
related = Chrysler 300
Chrysler Newport
Chrysler New YorkerInfobox Automobile generation


name = Fifth generation
production = 1965-1968
body_style = 4-door station wagon
layout = FR layout
assembly = Detroit, Michigan
platform = C-body
related = Chrysler New Yorker
Dodge Polara
Plymouth Fury
Dodge Monaco
Plymouth VIP
Chrysler 300
Chrysler Newport
Dodge Custom 880
Chrysler 300LInfobox Automobile generation


name = Sixth generation
production = 1969-1977
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 FuryInfobox Automobile generation


name = Seventh generation
production = 1978-1981
body_style = 4-door station 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-door station wagon
2-door convertible
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 automatic

The Chrysler Town and Country was introduced by Chrysler Corp. in 1941. This was a debute of the first woodie wagon with an all-steel roof. The car was dubbed the Town & Country. 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 returned, this time being produced in much larger numbers. Town and Country sedans, coupés, and convertibles 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 first V8 engine (then called FirePower, 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. [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 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.

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 the Chrysler M platform, which included the Chrysler LeBaron, Dodge Diplomat, and Plymouth Gran Fury as well as the Town and Country. There were, however, not many substantial differences in the chassis and powertrain, and only Town & Country had plastic woodgrain trim on the sides.

1982–1988

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 Country convertible 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 in 1984. All three vans were redesigned in 1991.

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]

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