Chrysler Town & Country

In an age of cell phones, disposable appliances, laptops thinner and smaller than LIFE magazine, it’s hard to remember that we once drove large, slow, hand-crafted automobiles built with beauty in mind, excellence in every leather stitch and pride in final assembly. And while every one of the major manufacturers built luxury cars for a wide range of buyers, Chrysler built some of the most elegant and affordable luxury-minded recreational cars. Indeed, for those seeking a vehicle as an appropriate enhancement to their sophisticated country lifestyle, nothing could compete with the stature and adventure offered in the Town & Country.

Exposed woodwork has been a part of automotive coachwork dating back to the earliest automobile designs. The crafting traditions of wood, both as a structural material and cosmetic delight found its origins in elegant sailing vessels and motorized luxury yachts. The first automobiles were hand-built with wood frames and stretched materials over wooden framework. Over time, as steel production stampings improved and hydraulic presses allowed for larger body stampings, wood became more of a decorative treatment, but in the late 1940s, wood still offered a mass manufacturer a way to extend model variety using minimal tooling and artisanal hand labor. For wagons, coupes and convertibles, using wood as both a decorative and structural component was both financially viable and market-savvy.