Chr ysler Town & Countr y

his “woody” wagon may seem like a bit of an outlier

among the other cars in this book. I would argue that,

when looked at in a certain way, it is a bridge between

the past and the present.

First, it is the latest car built within these pages,

from 1941, before the United States entered World

War II. It is not a coachbuilt, one-of-a-kind car, nor is it a run-of-

the-mill production car, given its extensive and beautiful wood

body. Once upon a time wood was a common material to use in

cars, even as structural pieces. Today you’d have trouble finding

something other than a Morgan using wood in such a way.

The Town & Country was also hand-built—another common

attribute in the classic era that is quite uncommon today.

The Town & Country’s shape was a departure from other

wagons—with its stylish fastback roof (a.k.a., barrel back),

and the low-mounted, dual side-hinged rear doors, one might

T