1947 Chrysler Town & Country

While the iconic American Woody may not have been invented by Chrysler it can certainly be argued that it was Chrysler that perfected the concept with their luxurious Town & Country series. Born out of necessity the earliest woodies were basic utilitarian bodies that were sold in the aftermarket to adapt to existing chassis such as the Model T. Wood bodied station wagons and depot hacks proved popular enough to convince Henry Ford to buy his own forest and offer the bodies himself. As styling became an ever more crucial factor in selling automobiles the structural and functional woodwork grew into a point of style and by the mid 1930s many manufacturers (led by Ford) began to offer station wagons with nicely finished wood bodies and room for seven or more passengers. But it was Chrysler who set a new standard for the woody with their new Town & Country of 1941. The Town & Country was a top-of-the-line luxury machine that combined the best of the New Yorker series from the windscreen forward in combination with an artfully crafted and opulent wooden country home feel from the windscreen back. The name is credited to Paul Hafer of the Boyertown Body Works in Pennsylvania who suggested the car looked Town from the front and Country from the rear. The Town & Country was the first of its kind to be fitted with an all-steel roof which was cleverly adapted from a limousine. It was expensive to build expensive to buy and required specialized maintenance but it proved to be enough of a success for Chrysler to continue production into the post-war era. Chryslers success quickly became apparent and other manufacturers jumped on the bandwagon. Ford and Mercury offered the Sportsman Chevrolet offered Fleetline wagons and Buicks Roadmaster wagons came closest to Chrysler in terms of luxury and style. But few could match Chryslers commercial success and no others offered the same diversity of body styles. Staying one step ahead of the competition Chrysler eschewed the traditional wood station wagon roots in the Post War era in exchange for pure style points in the form of wood-bodied coupe convertible and sedan models.The traditional wood-bodied Town & Country remained in production through 1950 before the expense of hand-building the wood bodies in Alabama and shipping them to Michigan for fitment and finishing proved far too costly. Pre-War and Post-War examples remain highly prized for their impeccable style and beautiful road manners and all models through 1948 have earned their place on the all-important list of CCCA Approved Full Classics.Restoring a Chrysler Town & Country is both costly and complex requiring expert care to ensure proper body fitment and accurate wood presentation. This 1947 model features an older restoration that displays some patina but remains respectable for a car that has been driven and enjoyed. The wood has been restored and is presented in good condition with only minor imperfections at certain joints. The steel body panels are finished in the original shade of Sumac Red which combined with the tan canvas top creates a striking appearance. The paint is well presented throughout with very minute blemishes. Both wood and steel body fitment are exceptional and the chrome and stainless trim have been restored however the intricate chrome grille does show some typical pitting common for pot metal of this era. The car sits proudly on correct wide whitewall bias-ply tires with restored chrome hubcaps complemented by dual cowl-mounted spot lamps for an lovely presentation.The interior features beautiful red leather with tartan Highlander cloth inserts with the same pattern extending onto the door panels for a cohesive look. Minor wear marks are present on the driver and rear passenger seat cushions. The Chryslers library chairs offer supremely comfortable three-abreast seating in both the front and rear. The cabin is a lovely display of late Art Deco style and early post-war luxury featuring red carpets and a two-tone red and maroon dash. The dashboard houses the original radio while the Fluid Drive transmission is capped with the signature clear Lucite shift knob. The tan canvas convertible top is superb and a matching boot cover is included for when the top is folded. The trunk is fully lined with upholstered color-matching carpeting and includes a spare wheel and jack.Lifting the large hood reveals Chryslers tried-and-true 323.5 cubic-inch flathead inline-eight engine. It has been thoroughly detailed and properly dressed with period-correct fittings hardware finishes and hose clamps. Generally only convertibles received the eight-cylinder engine while sedans were equipped with the smaller six-cylinder unit. The additional horsepower of the eight (135 hp vs. 114 hp) compensates for the cars hefty weight delivering respectable performance and effortless cruising.Of course the Town & Country is not about speed; rather it is about sumptuous luxury and impeccable style. Thanks to the Fluid Drive transmission power delivery is smooth quiet and relaxed. Town & Country convertibles require a special passion and commitment to restore properly and this example has clearly been treated with the utmost care. Desirably equipped and brimming with character this is a Chrysler icon and a genre-defining Town & Country Woody. Offers welcome and trades considered. For additional details please view this listing directly on our website https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7790-1947-chrysler-town-country/