1947 Chrysler Town & Country
1947 Chrysler Town & Country
After WWII, automobile manufacturers had shifted to all-steel construction methods. The T&C, however, showcased exceptional workmanship in the wood structure that makes up most of the body. What you see on the outside is white ash framing with mahogany paneling. In 1947, the convertible outsold the hardtop versions of the T&C, but by 1951, structural wood had been abandoned in favor of decorative vinyl appliqués. For a great history of the model, complete with construction techniques and materials, see this great piece by the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide.
- YEAR & MAKE - 1947 Chrysler
- MODEL NAME - Town & Country
- SERIES - New Yorker
- MODEL/BODY/STYLE NUMBER - C39N
- BODY TYPE - 2 Door, 2 Passenger Convertible
- BODY BY -
- # CYLS. - Inline 8
- TRANSMISSION TYPE & NUMBER - Final Drive and Hydraulically Operated M5 Transmission
- WEIGHT - 4,332
- ESTIMATED PRODUCTION - 8,368
- HP - 135
- C.I.D. - 323.5
- WHEELBASE - 127.5″
- PRICE NEW - $2,998
Understandably, the Town & Country was Chrysler’s top-of-the-line vehicle and the pinnacle of postwar glamour. Produced from 1946 through 1950, the model was based on a New Yorker chassis and built in limited numbers due to its complexity and high exterior maintenance. The Chrysler Shop Manual perhaps, best describes the car - “The Chrysler Town and Country car is designed and built for those who recognize and appreciate fine things. It has the grace and elegance of a yacht. In fact, the wood is quite similar to the planking of a ship both in construction and treatment. Care of the finish should be thought of in terms of boating rather than motoring. The typical Town and Country owner desires his car to be the outstanding one in his community by virtue of its exceptional beauty maintained by proper care.”
A unique rear deck and taillights were constructed and its wooden parts were provided by Pekin Wood Products in Helena, Arkansas. From there, they were shipped to Chrysler’s Jefferson Avenue plant in Detroit for assembly. The wood framing was assembled prior to being fitted to the body which required extensive hand-formed contouring of the compound curved frames so they mated to the metal body parts correctly. A total of 3,136 Town & Country Convertibles were built for 1947.