While Chrysler’s K Car platform has earned various types of both praise and disdain, there is no denying that it helped rejuvenate the company during the 1980s. This 1985 Chrysler LeBaron Town and Country that’s available here on eBay checks all the boxes for a quintessential K Car, especially with its turbo engine and wood exterior paneling.
This woody wagon is available in Tampa, Florida, where it has survived in unrestored and original condition without ever seeing road salt. The seller claims this example has less than normal amounts of wear, and the pictures seem to back this statement up.
The interior seems to be in very good shape, with the wood theme carrying over. All of the tan leather looks blemish and rip free, while the seller notes that everything is seemingly working and nothing is missing.
This model uses Chrysler’s turbocharged 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine, which has traveled 108,595 miles during its lifetime. While this LeBaron does run, drive and stop, it could need a tune-up after sitting unused for a few years.
At the time of writing this article, bidding is at $4,000, and before you make a joke about no one wanting a K Car in this day and age, there are currently 42 bidders! Do you think this Town and Country wagon would make a neat and nostalgic ride, or would you pass it up?
Only time I’ll ever say the interior on a K-car is beautiful. The exterior, not so much. Clearly led an easy life. If these had 5-digit odometers, the seller should get an extra grand for not claiming it was an 8,000 mile car. Lord knows people have sworn such with much rougher vehicles.
I’m not afraid to say, I would buy this beauty over the million dollar Jeep. A very cool car, plus having the ability to work “I have a turbo woodie” into any conversation, is priceless.
Nice condition but a k-car is a k-car is a k-car is a k-car, just like a low mileage pinto…..its a throw away car, don’t be fooled by the condition. Just being honest….
Keith, these are “throw away” cars, if you treat them like a throw away car. Save for the Vega, which was plagued with an early attempt at an all aluminum engine, But K cars are really nice cars. This one especially. Properly maintained, you should get 200K out of it. Just like a Pinto, Chevette, etc. The 2.2 engine is very robust, especially with the turbo option.
ummmm chevy built an all aluminum engine in 1960 for the corvair which runs forever . then forgot everything they learned in casting and designing that engine because those were old guy engineers and we are new young hot shots so lets not use anything they learned . yep ignorance and arrogance lead to the vega self destructive engine . My dad had several k cars , lebarons ,and acclaims , they ran fine and lasted as well as any car .I would love a woody turbo wagon .
Wheres the engine pics??? A Chrysler four banger with over 100k on it??? Buy it at your own risk……just saying.
Rooney!
I love it. My mom had one when I was a boy just like it, except it was brown.
If it has not had the timing belt replaced it needs it done immediately. The turbo option is a good/bad thing. Good for the extra ponies, bad if it fails. This was really the early day of mass produced gas passenger car turbo’s (yes I know turbo’s were around decades before this but not on any everyday car that was driven a lot of miles in a year). I think the current bidding is the upper end of what it is worth.
Saab had been using turbos on nearly everything they produced for many years prior to this on daily drivers. Chrysler was among the very first of the American manufacturers to utilize this bit of kit though.
Maybe it was owned by Jon Voight?
Two too many doors and one too many hard top.
I’d lke to bid on it however all my assets are currently tied up on a bid a for a once-in -a-lifetine chance at owning a certain super-rare, million- dollar Jeep. It seems that I can’t have my cake and eat it too.
Sounds like an estate car to me. A lot of
old folks here often keep a car registered
in Florida so they don’t have to pay impact fees to temporilarily tag a car here
when they only stay here maybe 6 months out of the year. Beware of the
turbos on these. They have a design flaw
that causes them to suddenly catch fire.
My MIL had an ’86 LeBaron ragtop that
burned to the ground when too much gas
collected in the lower part of the turbo and was ignited by a hot manifold. If you
must have a turbo, get an aftermarket unit instead–they’re safer!
It doesn’t matter how nice these K cars are, they don’t sell for very much.
I was always impressed with how luxurious the interior were on these.
I guess if you can’t improve anything else, at least make it a nice place to be while driving.
I wish my Dodge spirit had been that nice inside!
Engine pics? Its a K car motor. Just check the oil once in a while. Here in the northeast the only thing that stopped that motor was when the car rotted away from it. We couldn’t kill these back in high school.
And unless I am mistaken, aren’t all 2.2/2.5’s non interference engines?
It would be worth it for me just to be able to proclaim that I have a Turbo Woody!
Take it to Red Green.
Keep your stick on the ice, and remember, we’re all in this together.
Beware of the air freshener on the turn signal stalk. This interior might not smell as good as it looks.
Sold for $4150.