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Drop Top Woody: 1946 Chrysler Town and Country

What could be better than finding an original condition woody? How about a convertible woody?! Last registered in 1960, this Town and Country is a very reasonable condition restoration project that would be the best of both worlds. Very complete, and with a ton of potential, this Chrysler is offered for $39,000! Take a look at it here on craigslist out of Los Angeles, California.

Slightly dirty, the flat head inline 6 looks remarkably untouched like a perfect time capsule. The car has survived rather well, so hopefully the engine isn’t seized up from its long term storage. The seller seems confident that the engine would most likely be a runner with a bit of elbow grease and some fresh fuel. You will need to be careful moving this one as the brake system is not operational, neither are the electrics according to the seller.

Certainly not the best, the interior is still in place and at least offers an idea of what this car would have looked like brand new.  The carpet is still in place but there is a small fear that it may be hiding some rust. Despite the typically short life of a convertible top, this top has managed to hang on for over half a century, although I think this top would only be good for a pattern to create a replacement top.

Miraculously all of the wood work is still in place with little wood rot to report. The metal body work is complete and relatively straight minus a very slight dent in the passenger side front fender. Although appearing like the perfect woody restoration, there is some rot on the underside that needs to be addressed. The seller has added a picture of a heavily rotted area, but the size and location are unknown. Heavy surface rust can be found throughout the trunk floor surface with some minor holes sprinkled about. While I enjoy the seller’s optimism about the car, I think that Bondo and any other unnecessary fillers need to stay far away from this drop top woody. Certainly an anomaly, this woody convertible is a great find with an incredible amount of potential. Do you think this Chrysler is worth the sellers asking price?

Comments

  1. Avatar canadainmarkseh

    These IMO are one of the coolest cars ever made. I think the seller is high on his price based on the enormous amount of work needed to restore it. I’d say 20k to 25k would leave you more room to restore. This will be no ordinary restoration and under all that wood will lurk the tin worm. If this gets restored by a professional resto shop it will cost 60k+

    Like 6
    • Avatar Don Diego

      The little + sign could be followed by 40k .

      Like 4
      • Avatar Beatnik Bedouin

        Something like that, Don. I’ve always dug these and their Ford counterparts.

        Like 1
  2. Avatar Andrew
    • Avatar Dirk

      I was just gonna say that Andrew, you beat me to it. What’s up with that? Alzheimer’s? A case of CRS? A shortage of new barn finds?

      Like 0
  3. Avatar Andrew

    Also, for the record, it’s Barnfinds’ David Frank who’s correct, and Barnfinds’ Brian Birkner who’s wrong, regarding the engine in this Chrysler (323.5-cubic inch straight-eight). :p

    Like 2
  4. Avatar Kenneth Carney

    My comment on this car still stands–I still have faith that someone out there
    will buy this car, restore it, and then enjoy
    it for what it is–an awesome classic that
    needs to be driven and not just locked
    away in a musty museum somewhere.
    By driving this car, you show today’s
    young drivers what motoring was like
    some 70+ years ago when getting there
    was half the fun.

    Like 4
  5. Avatar Madmatt

    These have been heavily collectable… For 40 years…. amazing
    To see one so original….,not restored…,and in pretty good shape..
    All things considered…🤔. This is a real flashy car…when restored,
    But it will take a lot of patience and hard work….and money too.., but it would be totally awesome to have the only one at the local car show… lol
    What an elegant timepiece….and magnificent classic…..
    Yes….I’m getting a Woody..!!…….just thinking about it….😁

    Like 2
  6. Avatar Joe Haska

    I love these cars, but definitely not for anyone with limited funds. I think the nicest one I ever saw belonged to the late Gary Meadors, it was a modified car which would only make sense for Gary. Hot Rods and Hobbies built it and it was amazing in every way. For you nay-sayer’s against modified cars look this one up and if you don’t get it, you never will. T o the best of my knowledge it still belongs to the family. If it was for sale and you would have to ask what it cost, you can’t afford it

    Like 0
  7. Avatar BOP_GUY Member

    I love these cars, but I agree with the others. The seller is asking too much (IMHO), needing the extensive specialized work it does, and probably why he hasn’t been able to sell it. Better off buying one already done, if you’ve got the dough. Could be a real beauty when done !

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Maestro1

    It’s a $20-25,000. car with lots of potential, restoration North of $50,000.00

    Like 0
  9. Avatar JimmyinTEXAS
  10. Avatar mikestuff1949

    My late father-in-law bought one of these in 1948 or 1949, long before I knew him of course. He had been in the Marines technically at the end of WWII but never left San Diego. He had one solitary picture of it when he was still around and I’m sure his wife, soon to be 89 years old, probably still has it.
    He found out it was too expensive for his pocketbook and when they got married in 1950, he sold it. He always regretted doing it, but his wife said either/or!!
    One year my oldest son who went into the Marines bought his grandpa a model of the car, in an olive green where his was black. But he still loved that 1/24 scale model that was in a display box proudly on his bookshelf

    Like 0

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