1941 Chrysler Town and Country--SOLD (Florida) - $0
1941 Chrysler Town and Country "Barrel Back" Station Wagon For Sale or Trade
Chrysler introduced America's most luxurious and expensive station wagon in 1941 with the Town and Country. The "Barrel Back" Town and County Estate Wagon is one of the most coveted of all wood-bodied cars, and for good reason. Exceptionally rare woody station wagon, this outstanding motorcar features 3rd row seating, sun visor, and fender skirts rarely seen on other examples.
This first incarnation featured "barrel back", or "clam shell" rear doors, opening to a storage area behind the rear passenger seats. The rearmost seats could be stowed in a forward position, to enlarge the storage area, or in a rear position, to enhance passenger leg room. Two models were offered, a 6-passenger and a 9-passenger. The larger car had limo type folding seats, located between the standard front and rear seats. The brainchild of Chrysler designer A. B. Buzz Grisinger *, the 1941 Town & Country was a clear departure from conventional thought as to how a station wagon should look and engineered. Station wagons offered by other manufacturers of the era had bodies made almost completely out of wood from the cowl back and were boxy in appearance. By comparison, the Town and Country was sleek and modern, more like a fastback sedan. The rear cargo doors opened like a clamshell, as opposed to the traditional and more utilitarian tailgate design. It was also the first woody to have an all steel roof, which added structural integrity and enhanced the streamlined look of the car. Priced at $1475 when new, they were marketed to an upscale clientele looking for a vehicle that would be at home at the country club or in front of a luxury hotel, plus have the utility of carrying up to nine passengers and luggage.
Both six-passenger and nine-passenger models were offered, and two different engines were available. One could choose either the standard straight six L-head engine, or the optional straight eight L-head, backed up by Chrysler’s famous fluid-drive transmission. Less than 1,000 of these Barrel Back beauties were produced each year, with production totaling just 1996 units for the 1941 and 1942 model years
