1949 Chrysler Town & Country Convertible

In 1941, Chrysler came out with the first all steel roof woodie wagon, called the Town & Country 4-door sedan. Less than 1,000 of this luxury vehicle were built, in 9 passenger and 6 passenger versions, for city or estate transportation.

Chrysler wrote: “The celebrated 1941 Chrysler Town & Country would become the first luxury station wagon, appealing to affluent buyers with attractive design and interior fittings coupled to a larger and more refined cargo area than that found on competitor’s vehicles. Significantly, it was the industry’s first steel-roofed wagon. But to many this first Town & Country wasn’t a wagon at all, but rather a fastback sedan, a glamorous and soon-popular new type of car whose production run would sadly be limited to just 17 months by world events. After World War II, the Chrysler Town & Country name graced a line of elegant convertibles, sedans and hardtops – but no wagons (Plymouth was the only Chrysler division to produce station wagons in the immediate postwar period, again featuring wood bodies supplied by an outside vendor).”

In 1942, the sheet metal was changed and the woodie design was similar. Again, less than 1,000 were built, due to Pearl Harbor stopping production in December, 1941. After WWII, the 1946 to early 1949 Town & Country woodies were made in much larger numbers, as sedans, convertibles and seven 2-door hardtops (the first production hardtops ever made by any manufacturer). In later design 1949 models, only convertible versions were made. In the last year of Chrysler woodie production, the T & C were 2-door hardtops only.

The T & C woodies were only built from 1941 thru 1950, with none made during WWII (1942 thru most of 1946). These cars are highly respected and sought after.

This unusual example has had just 4 owners from new, and boasts a striking but very rare color combination of Black with Bright Yellow Leather interior and Black Stayfast Top. One of 1000 built in 1949, it is a Second Series car and came originally with Di Noc faux mahogany inserts. The wood has been freshly redone and real Honduras Mahogany inserts were used as in the earlier Pre 49 Town and Country's. The car runs and drives beautifully and has been successfully toured. Very stable and surefooted at highway speeds, this is an excellent highway car and will cruise all day long at 65-70. A think portfolio of records, documentation, and receipts accompany the car.