1950 Chrysler New Yorker Town & Country Newport

The wood-bodied Chrysler Town & Country model was launched in 1941. They had luxury, quality, and a sporty persona. They were a vast departure from the utilitarian depot hacks that were eventually followed by the Spartan yet elegant 'Woodies' of the 1930s and 1940s. The Town & Country had a design penned by Chrysler designer 'Buzz' Grisinger around 1938. Chrysler Corporation General Manager Dave Wallace then championed the idea as a limited-production showroom-traffic generator.

The Town & Country model sales begin in 1941 and 1942, then paused during World War II, and returned for 1946 through 1948 with a convertible and low-production sedan. For 1949, only a Town & Country convertible was available. The following year, a Chrysler Newport 2-door pillarless hardtop was added to the model lineup.

The Newport-based Town & Country had Ash hardwood overlays which were assembled separately prior to being fitted to each vehicle's body. Unlike prior Town & Country models, the only wood used for the 1950 Newport-based cars was the Ash body framing, and the space between the frames was body color.

The 1950 Town & Country was one of the last Chryslers powered by the same basic inline-8 cylinder engine first used on the Series CD-8 in 1931. The 323.5 cubic-inch engine delivered 135 brake horsepower and was mated to a Fluid-Drive transmission as standard equipment on the Town & Country Newport. Inside was an unusual steering wheel, wooden trim, and top-quality upholstery.

The Town & Country Newport was launched on May 23, 1950, as a late-year addition to the Chrysler lineup. They had a price of $4,0003 and were the most expensive American-built coupe when new. Approximately 700 examples were built.

This particular example is finished in black with green leather and Bedford Cord upholstery. It has bell-crank windows instead of the notoriously troublesome factory-optional power window setup, and a four-wheel disc-brake system derived from the contemporary Lockheed aircraft design. Operated by twin servos and discs per wheel and only available on the Town & Country Newport and Chrysler's long-wheelbase Limousine and Sedan, this system was one of the first all-disc systems in America and cost a stratospheric $400 in 1950 dollars.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2015