Needs Some TLC? 1969 Chrysler Town And Country
Yes, old station wagons are all the rage but a Chrysler Town & Country, such as today’s Orangeville, California find, courtesy of Mitchell G. is one that seldom surfaces – older Ford & GM models seem to hog most of the collector or resale space. Faded faux wood veneer aside, this big beast of a people hauler still shows pretty well and its outsized visual presence takes command – let’s see what’s here.
Chrysler produced about 260K cars of all stripes in ’69 and about 24K (9%) were T&C station wagons. Those 24K station wagons were all wood wrapped and came in six (two-seat) or nine (three-seat) passenger variations. Our subject car is a niner but as I recall you gotta be pretty good friends to squeeze three humans into that third, flip up seat. The seller refers to this wagon as being finishes in gold, or “Classic Gold Metallic”, but it looks more like “Burnished Bronze Metallic” (code L) to my eyes. The finish is faded and/or peeling but it’s not in terrible shape. As for the Di-Noc wood grain sides, they’re looking a bit petrified but at least they haven’t bubbled and fallen off, yet. The Ansen alloy wheels are a nice touch.
Power appears to originate from a 330 gross HP 383, CI V8, spinning the only gearbox available, a TorqueFlite, three-speed automatic. There is an included listing video of this bruiser pulling a hole shot (I couldn’t attach it) but the seller cautions, “The car does run and drive but I would recommend towing it. Carburetor needs a rebuild or replacement…Needs a alternator, might need a radiator. It doesn’t leak but it could be plugged up. Currently running on a 12 gallon fuel cell. Stock tank is clean and good to use but need a rubber line replaced to have the fuel pump pull from the tank.” OK, so not a clean bill of health but not a mechanical wreck either.
The interior is in fair shape. The tan vinyl upholstery presents well enough but the headliner is missing and the dash pad looks nibbled to death. Even the wayback of this T&C, the part of a station wagon that usually shoulders the most abuse, seems to be in reasonably good nick. This whammer-jammer is A/C equipped but is in non working order – the seller claims that all of the parts are present, however.
The mileage recording for this mega-Mopar is 37K miles but I imagine it’s just that a recording – no telling what the real mileage is but It’s likely that the odometer has been around once, at least. Here on Facebook Marketplace is where you’ll find this 55 year-old suburban family hauler and it’s available for $3,000. There are many directions one could take this car, what would be yours?
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Comments
That picture of smoking tires tells you all you need to know about how this car has been treated.
Then don’t buy a car of me then, lol.
Always driven easy.
Best buy I have seen here on BF in a longtime!
SMOKIN DEAL at $3K!
I am glad to see it SMOKE THE TIRES!
That way I know it runs GOOD!
But no title….it’s been for sale for awhile now…..
That’s a good deal. I hope someone cares for it and glad it escaped becoming demo derby fodder all these years.
Don’t be concerned that you need to find NOS wood grain if a freshening up is in mind – 3M still makes DiNoc in every woodgrain imaginable; we had an architectural rep in the office awhile ago pushing it.
This is a screaming good deal.
Engine alone is worth the price.
That is Bad @$$ ! Won’t go around a corner for $#!+ though. But it could with some work. A pickup conversion is in order. Yes new wood, but Plumb crazy paint. The Drifter.
A *”little”* TLC?
This is so close to me…15 miles at most…tempted, but really don’t like the front grill…like the flat/retractable setup from a year or 2 later…plus wtf would I do with this? Mpg would be too crappy to use for long camping trips…sigh…
I stay in in this heat!!!!
not necessarily, i have a car that if i get on it to much from a red light it spins the limited slip with 275s. I just gotta start off easy. If i want to, i can roast it. I take very good care of the car. Its a 69 wagon for 3k, your not trying to buy some gently used commuter. Ya, the wagons been worked, that it roasts a tire is a strength not a weakness. If it werent for that dent in rear quarter id buy it. ive been seeking one. Its a 69 TC with all the features including PWs :) sweet deal.
That may indeed be a badly faded Burnished Bronze (Color Code T5 or ET5) car, but I suspect that it’s a slightly less faded Bronze Mist (Color Code T3 or ET3), which tended to be more “orange” (actually closer to a copper than a bronze) than was Burnished Bronze, and in these pictures the paint definitely favors orange over tan/brown, and T3/ET3 was as close as one could get to orange on a Chrysler in 1969.
I love it, but then I love wagons. Nothing like sitting at a set of lights coping crap because you are in “Mum’s” grocery getter, lights go green, and nothing but tyre smoke to silence them. (I will admit my mum’s grocery getter topped out at 100mph, but all mine, well, you know,lol)
So do I. I’m rather old-school when it comes to cars, trucks and vans. Station wagons are my favourite cars.
My Parents had 1970 chrysler town and country station wagon, it had power windows, power seats, 383 engine 4 barrel carb. automatic, let me tell you that was one big tank of a car man, that was the car I learn to how to drive, that car was very fast for a station wagon.
lots of memories in a wagon, while in high school a friend totaled my 71 Celica. for temporary transportation i picked up a LTD wagon, in the end all my friends were jealous of the “wagon” and it’s cavernous cargo area…..so much fun after hours on the weekends