1942 Chrysler Windsor Town and Country Barrelback Wagon

Chrysler's designer 'Buzz' Grisinger penned some drawings circa 1938 that later became the Chrysler Town and Country which was championed by Chrysler Corporation General Manager Dave Wallace. The vehicles were designed as a limited production meant to generate showroom traffic. The body style was a fastback sedan rather than a station wagon, with the first-series Town and country models commonly known as the 'Barrelback' due to their curved profile and clamshell rear doors. Chrysler offered both a six- and nine-passenger version.
In the 1970s, this nine-passenger model was in the care of Harold Mermel who bought it from a friend in New York City as a solid-running car with original woodwork. This Barrelback was complete with original items including the rear-fender skirts and a proper set of 12-inch unscripted hubcaps. During the early 1990s, Mr. Mermel sold it to Lloyd Mayes. Mr. Mayes treated the car to a complete, body-off restoration with new and correct woodwork fitted. The car's original color was Royal Maroon; the color was changed to St. Clair Blue, a factory-correct color with a red leather interior.

During the 1990s, the car was acquired from Mr. Mayes by Robert Brelsford of Palm Springs, California. Under Mr. Brelsford's ownership, the car was exhibited in the special Chrysler Town and Country class at the 2001 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

The current owner acquired the car in 2011.

The car has a roof-mounted luggage rack, a 4-speed 'Vacamatic' Vacuum-assisted semi-automatic transmission, hydraulic drum brakes, and a 250 CID 'Spitfire' L-Head 6-cylinder engine.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2014