Chrysler Town and Country (pre-1990)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chrysler Town & Country | |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Chrysler Corporation |
Production | 1941-1989 |
Successor | Chrysler Town and Country (Minivan Version) |
Class | Full-size (1941-1976) Mid-size (1977-1981) Compact (1982-89) |
First generation | |
---|---|
Production | 1941-1950 |
Body style(s) | 4-door station wagon |
Layout | FR layout |
Second generation | |
---|---|
Production | 1947-1950 |
Body style(s) | 4-door sedan 2-door coupe 2-door convertible |
Layout | FR layout |
Related | Chrysler Newport |
Third generation | |
---|---|
Production | 1951-1960 |
Body style(s) | 4-door station wagon |
Layout | FR layout |
Related | Chrysler Windsor Chrysler Saratoga Chrysler New Yorker |
Fourth generation | |
---|---|
Production | 1961-1964 |
Body style(s) | 4-door station wagon |
Layout | FR layout |
Related | Chrysler 300 Chrysler Newport Chrysler New Yorker |
Fifth generation | |
---|---|
Production | 1965-1968 |
Assembly | Detroit, Michigan |
Body style(s) | 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 |
Sixth generation | |
---|---|
Production | 1969-1977 |
Body style(s) | 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 |
Seventh generation | |
---|---|
Production | 1978-1981 |
Body style(s) | 4-door station wagon |
Layout | FR layout |
Platform | M-body F-body |
Wheelbase | 112.7 in (2863 mm) |
Length | 205.5 in (5220 mm) |
Width | 74.2 in (1885 mm) |
Height | 55.5 in (1410 mm) |
Related | Chrysler New Yorker Dodge Diplomat Plymouth Caravelle Dodge Aspen Plymouth Volare |
Eighth generation | |
---|---|
Production | 1982-1989 |
Assembly | Newark, Delaware |
Body style(s) | 4-door station wagon 2-door convertible |
Layout | FF layout |
Platform | K-body |
Engine(s) | 2.5L 96 hp I4 |
Transmission(s) | 3-speed automatic |
Wheelbase | 100.4 in (2550 mm) |
Length | 179.0 in (4547 mm) |
Width | 68.0 in (1727 mm) |
Height | 53.2 in (1351 mm) |
Related | Chrysler LeBaron Dodge 400 Plymouth Reliant Dodge Aries |
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.
Contents |
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 1990-present
When the Town and Country was introduced in 1990 as a companion to the Plymouth Voyager and Dodge Caravan; it was essentially a more luxurious version of the Plymouth Grand Voyager.
- See the Chrysler Town and Country article for information on this version.
[edit] References
- ^ The Chrysler Town & Country woodie wagons, station wagons, and cars. Allpar, LLC. Retrieved on 2007-11-21.
- Encyclopedia of American Cars by Publications International, Ltd. ISBN 0-7853-6275-4
[edit] External links
- The original Town & Country Woodie
- Chrysler LeBaron and Town & Country
- Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country
- 1969 - 1973 Chrysler Town & Country Station Wagons at Fuselage.de site
- AutoGuideWiki.com
[edit] Related content
|