EXCLUSIVE: 1947 Chrysler Town & Country Convertible

The combination of metal and wood might add a considerable amount of complication to the restoration of a woody like this Chrysler Convertible, but it also makes it a far more rewarding experience once completed. When done, this car will not only be rare and valuable, but it will be absolutely exquisite! Reader Jeff L needs to find a good home for it where it can be properly finished. It already runs and drives, with some recent work to get it going again. The wood is said to be in great shape, so hopefully, all it needs is sanding and a new coat of varnish. If you have been on the hunt for a solid Town & Country Convertible, be sure to contact Jeff via the form below.

Asking Price: $48,975
Location: Dublin, Ohio
Mileage: 66,737
Title Status: Clean
VIN: 7404128

Seller’s Description: A mostly original car from same family ownership since the mid-1950s. All original exterior paint finish, all original -solid- white ash and mahogany wood. Only 66k miles since new. One of only 8,368 T&Cs convertibles and sedans produced during 1946 – 1948. This is a full Classic CCCA car. All numbers matching, never damaged, never painted, never apart!

Body Condition: This T&C is finished in its original “Seacrest Green” exterior paint finish as applied by Chrysler in 1947. Some minor exterior surface rust in places where the paint has been broken, overall paint is wonderfully preserved with great patina. The all original white ash and mahogany wood is in exceptional condition showing a dry, unmolested, surface that has no rot or structurally unsound pieces.

Mechanical Condition: Beautifully running 323 straight eight mounted to a very solid frame that has only surface corrosion. Recent carb and radiator service add to the mahogany driving.

While not cheap to buy or restore, this car will be amazing to have. Blue books put low values around $59,000 and high values up to $200k, so this one seems reasonably priced. And given that it already runs and drives, you could enjoy it for a little while before starting the restoration, but this seems like the kind of car that deserves a proper restoration to bring it back to its former glory. So, what do you think of this T&C Convertible?

If you have a rare survivor that needs a good home, please consider listing it for sale here on Barn Finds!

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Comments

  1. Avatar canadainmarkseh

    Like I said in the previous post on the woody wagon I really like woody’s, I also really like Mopars. I’ve looked closely at the pictures and I believe that although this car looks pretty good there will be some rot in the joints. A lot of the wood will be saveable but it will still need to come apart to address the rot and decay. Like the Ford woody there will be hunderds of hour in this restoration to get it done right and when completed you will have a true beauty. You have to understand that with a car like this way more attention has to be payed to body maintenance then you would spend on a steel body and storage indoors is an absolute must or these wood bodied car go to crap fast. If I had to choose between the to cars I’d take this one just because it’s a Mopar.

    Like 0
  2. Avatar Vance

    Simply a gorgeous automobile, it would be an honor to own it.

    Like 0
  3. Avatar Al

    I have had the opportunity to drive two Woodies in my life.
    My ex-father-in-law won a 48 T&C at an Exhibition somewhere.
    I drove it about 4 or 5 times before he sold it in the late 70’s. A real head turner. A truly beautiful car, but the maintenance of just the wood itself made me NOT want to buy it from him.
    I used to think he placed more value in this car than his own daughter, and I’m probably right. If I remember it had about 30,000 miles on it when he sold it. The man definitely liked his cars, his daily driver was a 4-door Lincoln convertible, which he sold 2 weeks prior to my marriage to his daughter. Apparently, the guy he bought it from wanted to buy it back about 6 years after he sold it.
    The second Woody I drove was a ’48 Packard convertible. This car was was superior to the T&C and the unbelievable thing about it was the A/C contraption that hung out of the passenger window. That A/C thing (whatever it was), is the only thing that made this truly magnificent car look like an ugly duckling.

    Like 8
    • Avatar Al

      Correction, it was a Packard Woodie station wagon and not a rag-top.

      Like 7
    • Avatar Craig M Bryda

      Possibly a “Desert Cooler” , put water in the tank & the wind from driving spins a fan inside of it, hence a cool breeze.

      Like 1
  4. Avatar Mountainwoodie

    Alright now we’re in my wheelhouse. I implore all of you to spell Woodie……W O O D I E …..

    When the National Woodie Club was begun in the 1970’s it was spelled w o o d i e….as you can see here:

    https://woodies.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?sl=1056109670

    The Town and Country Woodie folks have their own website and organization:

    http://www.townandcountrywoodies.com/

    Personally I think this is a reasonable price even if the wood needs some work. Unfortunately restored or modded Woodies are now the cars of fairly affluent folks or those (like me) who have owned them for a long time, in my case going on twenty nine years.

    If you can afford one of these, or any Woodie, I have to say owning one borders, for me, on a spiritual experience. When I get in my wagon……………………..

    I’d love to have a ’42 Barrelback, you can see one on the front page of the Town & Country.in person one of the coolest Chryslers you’ll ever see.

    Like 1
  5. Avatar Del

    Nice car.

    I suggest getting a professional appraisal before consider buying

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Maestro1

    Absolutely lovely cars, graceful and slow, a joy to own. Someone buy this and do what is necessary. Read the Barn Finder’s advice above. You won’t regret it.

    Like 1
  7. Avatar John Sanders

    They are only original once, I would maintain and preserve it just the way it is. You can buy restored ones, where you going to find an original!

    Stunning Car!

    Like 0
  8. Avatar John Sanders

    I wouldn’t restore this excellent original example. You can buy restored cars in the market, try to find one this original. It runs, drives and can be enjoyed as is.

    Once restored it takes really enjoying it off the table, wouldn’t want to get a stone chip now would we…..

    As the auctioneers say, you can restore them 100 times but their only original once!

    Awesome and elegant ride to take you back in time..

    Like 0
    • Avatar canadainmarkseh

      Some truth to that but I seriously doubt that it came off the assemble line with a worn out finish and some rot in the wood or rust in the various nooks and crannies. It would not have come off the line with a half worn out engine and chassie either. So In my opinion it’s not original any more that ship sailed years ago. Again just my opinion, I also think there is way to much hype over this only original once stuff. Right know this car needs maintenance on that wood before the rot has a chance to really take hold so knows the time to save as much of that original wood as you can before it goes to crap. One way is to coat the afflicted areas in expoxy resins and that will mean to do it right at least some carefull disassemble is required so the resin can properly seal in the rot and strengthen the wood pieces in question. Secondly the rest of the wood surfaces need to be sanded and sealed with in my opinion expoxy resin followed by automotive clear coat to keep the resin from yellowing. I have a custom side car that I’ve built with a wood body covered in weave fabric and epoxy resin and clear coat, its been on the road for 5 years now with no evidence of rot or decay encroachment. The clear is as shiney as the day it went on. I daily drive this bike from March to October and the resin has stood up very well. Again nows the time to rescue this car I wish I had the mean to be the one to do it.

      Like 1

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