Chrysler Town and Country (pre-1990)

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Chrysler Town & Country
File:1972 Chrysler Town & Country.jpg
ManufacturerChrysler Corporation
Production1941-1989
SuccessorChrysler Town & Country Minivan
ClassFull-size (1941-1976)
Mid-size (1977-1981)
Compact (1982-89)
ManualsService Manual
First generation
Production1941-1950
Body style(s)4-door station wagon
LayoutFR layout
Second generation
1950 Chrysler Newport Town & Country coupe
Production1947-1950
Body style(s)4-door sedan
2-door coupe
2-door convertible
LayoutFR layout
RelatedChrysler Newport
Third generation
File:1952 Chrysler Windsor Town & Country.jpg
Production1951-1960
Body style(s)4-door station wagon
LayoutFR layout
RelatedChrysler Windsor
Chrysler Saratoga
Chrysler New Yorker
Fourth generation
File:1961 Chrysler Newport Town & Country.jpg
Production1961-1964
Body style(s)4-door station wagon
LayoutFR layout
RelatedChrysler 300
Chrysler Newport
Chrysler New Yorker
Fifth generation
File:1968 Chrysler Town & Country.jpg
Production1965-1968
AssemblyDetroit, Michigan
Body style(s)4-door station wagon
LayoutFR layout
PlatformC-body
RelatedChrysler New Yorker
Dodge Polara
Plymouth Fury
Dodge Monaco
Plymouth VIP
Chrysler 300
Chrysler Newport
Dodge Custom 880
Chrysler 300L
Sixth generation
File:1977 Chrysler Town & Country.jpg
Production1969-1977
Body style(s)4-door station wagon
LayoutFR layout
PlatformC-body
RelatedChrysler New Yorker
Dodge Polara
Plymouth Fury
Dodge Monaco
Plymouth VIP
Chrysler 300
Chrysler Newport
Plymouth Gran Fury
Seventh generation
1980 Chrysler LeBaron wagon, similar to the Town & Country
Production1978-1981
Body style(s)4-door station wagon
LayoutFR layout
PlatformM-body
F-body
Wheelbase112.7 in (2863 mm)
Length205.5 in (5220 mm)
Width74.2 in (1885 mm)
Height55.5 in (1410 mm)
RelatedChrysler New Yorker
Dodge Diplomat
Plymouth Caravelle
Dodge Aspen
Plymouth Volare
Eighth generation
File:'82-'84 Chrysler Town & Country.jpg
Production1982-1989
AssemblyNewark, Delaware
Body style(s)4-door station wagon
2-door convertible
LayoutFF layout
PlatformK-body
Engine(s)2.5L 96 hp I4
Transmission(s)3-speed automatic
Wheelbase100.4 in (2550 mm)
Length179.0 in (4547 mm)
Width68.0 in (1727 mm)
Height53.2 in (1351 mm)
RelatedChrysler LeBaron
Dodge 400
Plymouth Reliant
Dodge Aries
This article is about Chrysler models carrying the Town and Country nameplate before 1990. To see the article about the Minivan, see Chrysler Town and Country.

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.[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.

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.

File:1957 Chrysler Windsor Town & Country.jpg

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

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