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Details
Photo Credit: Dave Gooley
The ex-Lloyd Mayes
1947 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY FOUR DOOR SEDAN
Chassis No. 7403004
Engine No. C39-23876
Catalina tan and white ash with plaid cloth and red leather interior
Engine: straight eight, 323.5ci, 135bhp at 3,200rpm; Gearbox: fluid drive semi-automatic; Suspension: front, independent, rear, semi-elliptic leaf springs; Brakes: four wheel hydraulic drum. Left hand drive.
In the pre-war era, there was a great love in America for quality products made of wood; the finest boats were wood hulled and the best homes were often known for their ornate woodwork. So it is not unusual that Detroit eventually offered cars with exposed wood sided coachwork. The Chrysler Town & Country model was introduced in 1946 and the saleroom catalogue stated that it "had the grace and elegance of a yacht". The wood that was selected was white ash, and Chrysler was so quality conscious that supposedly only one out of every five truck loads of ash was good enough to use.
The Town and Country name evolved because someone noted that the front half of the car looked "town" and the rear "country". The largely hand built bodies rode on the New Yorker's chassis powered by the straight eight "spitfire" engine. At $3,970 the Town & Country Convertible was far more expensive than a Cadillac.
This rare straight eight model, the 98th of just 102 produced, is one of only four of its kind still known to exist. During 1946-1948, nearly 4,000 other Sedans were built with six-cylinder engines on a shorter one hundred and twenty one and a half inch wheelbase. The six-inch difference is all in the hood, this one measuring a full six feet in length. Nearly eight thousand convertibles, seven hardtops and one two-door sedan accounted for the remainder of the '46-'48 Town & Country production. A roadster model was also proposed, but never built.
This 38,000 mile car was discovered and purchased in Columbus, Ohio in 1987 by noted enthusiast John Slusar. Every effort was made to correctly restore, rather than replace, the parts in this low mileage car. All of the wood is original, excepting two veneer panels and a small piece behind the rear passenger door. The interior leather is original, re-stitched with new Bedford cord inserts. The color under the hood and inside the fenders is blue-gray, as original. Real whitewalls were not available when this car was built, but white painted steel trim rings did the trick. The wood is protected by 10 to 30 coats of Dolphinite Spar varnish wet sanded between coats. The tan paint was applied by Tom Knurr of Big Bend, Wisconsin. The engine was rebuilt by Dude Auto of South Milwaukee and this included new pistons, rings, main and rod bearings and valves. New door glass was fitted and all the chromium was replated. Additionally the car is complete with all the correct and desirable options including dual heaters, dual spotlights, dual mirrors, Fulton sunvisor, Fulton stoplight finder, chrome roofrack, pushbutton radio and exhaust tip. Having been well maintained by both John Slusar and its next owner, Mr. Lloyd Mayes, whose famous collection consisted of every single year and body style of the Town & Country that Chrysler ever produced, this car is offered in impressive, cared for condition. Recently featured in the 'Woody' exhibition at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles, this four door sedan version is one of the last of its type and one of perhaps just four remaining.
The ex-Lloyd Mayes
1947 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY FOUR DOOR SEDAN
Chassis No. 7403004
Engine No. C39-23876
Catalina tan and white ash with plaid cloth and red leather interior
Engine: straight eight, 323.5ci, 135bhp at 3,200rpm; Gearbox: fluid drive semi-automatic; Suspension: front, independent, rear, semi-elliptic leaf springs; Brakes: four wheel hydraulic drum. Left hand drive.
In the pre-war era, there was a great love in America for quality products made of wood; the finest boats were wood hulled and the best homes were often known for their ornate woodwork. So it is not unusual that Detroit eventually offered cars with exposed wood sided coachwork. The Chrysler Town & Country model was introduced in 1946 and the saleroom catalogue stated that it "had the grace and elegance of a yacht". The wood that was selected was white ash, and Chrysler was so quality conscious that supposedly only one out of every five truck loads of ash was good enough to use.
The Town and Country name evolved because someone noted that the front half of the car looked "town" and the rear "country". The largely hand built bodies rode on the New Yorker's chassis powered by the straight eight "spitfire" engine. At $3,970 the Town & Country Convertible was far more expensive than a Cadillac.
This rare straight eight model, the 98th of just 102 produced, is one of only four of its kind still known to exist. During 1946-1948, nearly 4,000 other Sedans were built with six-cylinder engines on a shorter one hundred and twenty one and a half inch wheelbase. The six-inch difference is all in the hood, this one measuring a full six feet in length. Nearly eight thousand convertibles, seven hardtops and one two-door sedan accounted for the remainder of the '46-'48 Town & Country production. A roadster model was also proposed, but never built.
This 38,000 mile car was discovered and purchased in Columbus, Ohio in 1987 by noted enthusiast John Slusar. Every effort was made to correctly restore, rather than replace, the parts in this low mileage car. All of the wood is original, excepting two veneer panels and a small piece behind the rear passenger door. The interior leather is original, re-stitched with new Bedford cord inserts. The color under the hood and inside the fenders is blue-gray, as original. Real whitewalls were not available when this car was built, but white painted steel trim rings did the trick. The wood is protected by 10 to 30 coats of Dolphinite Spar varnish wet sanded between coats. The tan paint was applied by Tom Knurr of Big Bend, Wisconsin. The engine was rebuilt by Dude Auto of South Milwaukee and this included new pistons, rings, main and rod bearings and valves. New door glass was fitted and all the chromium was replated. Additionally the car is complete with all the correct and desirable options including dual heaters, dual spotlights, dual mirrors, Fulton sunvisor, Fulton stoplight finder, chrome roofrack, pushbutton radio and exhaust tip. Having been well maintained by both John Slusar and its next owner, Mr. Lloyd Mayes, whose famous collection consisted of every single year and body style of the Town & Country that Chrysler ever produced, this car is offered in impressive, cared for condition. Recently featured in the 'Woody' exhibition at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles, this four door sedan version is one of the last of its type and one of perhaps just four remaining.