[Chrysler300] 1946 Chrysler Town and Country--predecessor to the 300's

["Terry and Andree Hoeman" <tehoema@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The Town and Country hardtop was in fact built in 1946.  Not exactly mass
production but 6 are reported to have been built.  Only one is still known
to exist.

The existing one was specially modified for David Wallace who was president
of Chrysler division from the late 30's through most of our 300 model years
and he retired in 1964 I believe.  Interestingly he had a ranch here in
Nebraska and the 46 left his ownership while here in Nebraska.  I first saw
it while living in Ohio and it was owned by Al Bridle who bought it sight
unseen in the early 70s or late 60's and flew into Omaha and took possession
of the car and drove it back to Ohio where it resided for many years.
After we moved back to Nebraska we had the pleasure of knowing George
Boehlert  who sold it to him for many years.  I also met the man who had
bought it originally but have lost his name of course.

It is shown in all of the original 1946 sales literature and was shown again
in 1949 but only one was built and it appears to be lost.  In 1950 it was
the only body style available and some 701 were built.  We had the privilege
of having three of them here till earlier this year when one went to the
left coast.

Terry--with 5 T&C's left and 3 300's plus a few others.




-----Original Message-----
From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of C Bilter
Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2011 5:56 PM
To: 'Don Warnaar'; Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; Lettercars@xxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [Chrysler300] 50's Car Test

On the topic of hardtops (the weak link to 300 related material), I believe
it is generally considered that the 1946 Chrysler Town & Country was the
first American car designed as a 2-door hardtop (it didn't actually make
production until 1950, but was used in advertising I think).  Some AACA guys
try to claim that "hardtops" go all the way back to a customized 1915
Packard, but I'm not buying that argument.

 

And the last American hardtop was the Chrysler New Yorker in 1978 (4 door
model; the 2-dr model wasn't really a hardtop anymore).  That sound right?
Some might argue it was the 1983 Imperial (or Cordoba & Mirada) as they were
described as "two door specialty hardtops" by Chrysler, but they weren't
really 2-dr hardtops in the traditional sense as the rear windows were
fixed.

 

Little known factoid- the 1974 and 1975 Imperial 2-dr with the rare "Crown
Coupe" option (later called St. Regis on the New Yorkers) were actually 2-dr
hardtops of sorts because it was a post-assembly line conversion.  If you
removed the rear trim panels on these cars, you'd find "virgin" power window
motors on the rear windows and if you hooked up a pw switch, the rear
windows would raise and lower within the "crown coupe" roof.  Something only
a lunatic Mopar guy would do.  Been there, did that.

 

Carl Bilter

  _____  

From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Don Warnaar
Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2011 4:47 PM
To: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; Lettercars@xxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] 50's Car Test

 

  

Gil and all,

Actually we both spelled it wrong. Yours was probably a typo. Belvedere, no
extra e.

Most makes of cars used special names for their hardtop models in the '40s
and '50s. Chevrolet brought out its first hardtop in 1950 and named it the
Bel Air.

Other GM makes: Pontiac Catalina, Olds Holiday, Buick Riviera, Cadillac
Coupe de Ville.

Chrysler Corp. - Dodge Diplomat, DeSoto Sportsman, Chrysler Newport,
Plymouth Belevedere

Ford - Ford Victoria, Mercury Monterey. Lincoln used the Capri name but it
appears that it was used for "non hardtop coupe" models in the line also.

Others: Packard Mayfair, Hudson Hollywood, Nash Country Club, Studebaker
Starliner, Willys Bermuda

Several of those hardtop names were extended to a full line later on, such
as Bel Air, Belvedere, Newport and Monterey. Ford later used the Crown
Victoria name for sedans, but not Victoria alone..

Anyone have anything to add or correct?

Actually this subject relates to 300 Letter Cars quite well. All the Letter
Series coupes during the '50s and '60s were pillar-less hardtops.

Don Warnaar 

----- Original Message -----
From: Lettercars@xxxxxxx <mailto:Lettercars%40aol.com>
<mailto:Lettercars@xxxxxxx <mailto:Lettercars%40aol.com> >
To: 300country@xxxxxxx <mailto:300country%40msn.com>
<mailto:300country@xxxxxxx <mailto:300country%40msn.com> > ;
Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com>
<mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> >

Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2011 2:45 PM
Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] 50's Car Test

Don and All:
I think the Bel Air in 1952 was Chevy's name for their hardtop. (Like
Victoria for Ford and Newport for Chrysler.) Yes, the "Savoy" was a
Belevedere---correct spelling Don??? Got it out of my old Motor Trend. Yes,
this old guy got them all right too. Don't want to try my hand at any other
decade, though. If they had both the '52 and '53 Mercs, I might have been in
deep do-do. Well, enough of this illegal list server talk!
300ly, Gil Cunningham
Absolutely beautiful day in Tally, FL

In a message dated 11/9/2011 8:23:41 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
300country@xxxxxxx <mailto:300country%40msn.com>  writes:
I got all of them also. There were a few models that were identified with
the wrong series - such as the Savoy vs. Belvidere. 1953 wasn't one of the
choices given for that Mercury quiz, thus making it much easier.

Don Warnaar

----- Original Message -----
From: Rob Kern<mailto:robkern@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:robkern%40sbcglobal.net>
> 
To: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com>
<mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> >
; Larry Jabin<mailto:larry@xxxxxxxxxx <mailto:larry%40pwbsfo.com> >
Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2011 9:32 PM
Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] 50's Car Test

I scored 100% The '52 and '54 Mercury's almost got me! Rob Kern

From: Larry Jabin
Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2011 12:41 PM
To: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com>
<mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> >

Subject: [Chrysler300] 50's Car Test

Sorry 300s but thought everyone would enjoy this 

Larry Jabin 

I missed one
50's Car Test 

All right you young & older whipper-snappers, let's see how you do. Be
honest with yourself..no cheating. See how you do. 

The average score is 73% 

This will really rattle the cobwebs in the 'ol brain. 

http://www.americantorque.com/game/car-show-50s/<http://www.americantorque.c
om/game/car-show-50s/> 

-- = 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

------------------------------------

To send a message to this group, send an email to:
Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> 

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:bob%40simplexco.com>  or go to
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/join and select the "Leave
Group" button

For list server instructions, go to
http://www.chrysler300club.com/yahoolist/inst.htm

For archives go to
http://www.forwardlook.net/300-archive/search.htm#querylangYahoo! Groups
Links

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------

To send a message to this group, send an email to:
Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx or go to
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/join and select the "Leave
Group" button

For list server instructions, go to
http://www.chrysler300club.com/yahoolist/inst.htm

For archives go to
http://www.forwardlook.net/300-archive/search.htm#querylangYahoo! Groups
Links





------------------------------------

To send a message to this group, send an email to:
Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx or
go to http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/join and select the "Leave Group" button

For list server instructions, go to http://www.chrysler300club.com/yahoolist/inst.htm

For archives go to http://www.forwardlook.net/300-archive/search.htm#querylangYahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    Chrysler300-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    Chrysler300-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    Chrysler300-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/