by A rare 1981 Chrysler LeBaron Town And Country has been listed on the Bring a Trailer auction.
This unique car with imitation wood paneling on the body has had only one owner since the purchase.
Under the hood of this model lies a 5.2-liter V8 producing 165 horsepower, which was the mid-power option at the time.
Each of us, looking at old photos, is often surprised by our former looks or style. However, the first owner of this impressive LeBaron Town & Country, purchased in 1981, probably felt nothing of the sort, as they are parting with their beige station wagon only after 44 years.
The Town & Country name first appeared back in 1941 on large station wagons with real wood paneling. After a temporary disappearance, this design returned as an imitation in the 1960s, and by 1978-1981 it had become a true caricature of the original concept.
A Living Artifact of a Bygone Era
The artificial wood, which even covers the roof, makes this car resemble the Griswold family’s “family truckster” from the movie “National Lampoon’s Vacation.” From a modern perspective, this design looks comical, but perhaps our descendants will laugh just as much at contemporary automotive design trends.
Previous Carscoops publications about the Town & Country concerned newer front-wheel-drive models. However, this 1981 specimen belongs to the last representatives of the previous generation, created during the crisis of the American auto industry when the tastes and power of cars significantly deteriorated.
Not a Very Powerful “Muscle Car”
The auction specimen is equipped with a 5.2-liter V8 producing only 165 hp. Estimates suggest a 0-100 km/h time of over 15 seconds—and this was the mid-power engine in the lineup! The base variant with a 3.7-liter inline six-cylinder engine produced a mere 85 hp.
The engine is paired with a three-speed automatic transmission with a column shifter. The car’s mileage is only 111,000 km—whether due to the owner’s limited needs or the shame of driving such a car.
Such specimens remind us of the strange times in automotive history and explain why Japanese manufacturers were able to conquer the American market.
If you’ve suddenly decided that your life will be incomplete without a Chrysler with artificial wood, as if created for a joint project between Studio 54 and Home Depot, the auction details are available on Bring a Trailer. Just don’t be surprised when the neighbors ask if you’re filming a remake of “National Lampoon’s Vacation.”
