It’s been said many times: the ’80’s were a wild decade for fashion, music, and of course, automobile design.  Enter the 1984 Chrysler LeBaron Town & Country “Woody,” the result of Lee Iaccoca’s directive to his company to make the dull but ever-popular K-Car exciting.  Slap some faux wood applique on the side, add wire spoke hubcaps, and offer up the option of a convertible model and voila…sit back and watch as sales surge!  Believe it or not the idea actually worked.  Chrysler would hold the top sales spot in the four-seat convertible category for decades after the introduction of the LeBaron convertible and continuing with the Sebring line.  This LeBaron, for sale here on craigslist for $2,200, is the wagon model.  And unfortunately the teeth marks on the pencil in the glove box are not from Jon Voight.

The seller provides lots of facts and details in the ad which is refreshing on one hand, but perhaps excessive on the other.  For example, the list of recent work done to the car is extensive and definitely useful information, but explaining how the “mirror fell off when I was prying my EZ Pass off the window” is probably TMI.  And the tips on how to make repairs are a nice gesture, but not always necessary.  Isn’t it funny how Craigslist sellers often point out how easy and cheap it is to repair something?  If it’s so easy then why haven’t you gone ahead and “re-glued the mirror,” “soldered the wires,” and bought and replaced those rockers that you can get “for $74?”

The seller says the car is “running and driving now” and offers potential buyers to “come take it for a spin.”  Pictures show a decently clean engine bay and everything looks to be intact.  It comes with  a 2.6 liter, 4 cylinder Mitsubishi motor that could hit 60 mph in a blink under 12 seconds.  Chrysler offered a turbocharged version for the LeBaron as well or, like a high school buddy of mine did with his K-Car, you could just put a fake plastic switch on the dash that says “Warp Speed.”  K-Cars weren’t known for proficient handling, and those of us having had the opportunity to drive one can attest to the fact that they steered like a flat bottom skiff with one oar.  The column-shift on the automatic provided some trepidation when putting the car in gear.  I remember having to be alert and keeping my foot firmly on the brake pedal because after what seemed like a 2 second delay, the little beast would give a giant lurch forward much like my lawn tractor does when I press down too hard on the hydrostatic foot pedal.

Pictures of the car’s interior are not so great but do allow for an appreciation of its signature K-Car square lines from the inside as well.  I can’t resist loving the presentation of the instrument cluster fitting perfectly beneath the flat-top dash and surrounded by fake wood trim accents.  It looks like those are bench seats and that lush maroon upholstery is inviting too, but the over-filled ashtray in one of the pictures is a turn off to anyone who doesn’t prefer cigarette stench velour.  Selling tip #12: clean the interior!  Can anyone identify what that thing is clamped to the steering wheel?  Overall this car is all there minus the original “wire spoke fancy hubcaps,” but the seller points out that rust is a problem and “34 years have taken a toll.”  $2,200 might be a bit steep for this “Woody” but love for the K-Car is undying and many will argue that the ’84 LeBaron Town & Country is a legitimate collector.  Is there a George Costanza out there willing to shell out some cash (“NO CASHIERS CHECKS”) for this jewel of the Iaccoca Chrysler era?