Woodie Drop-Top: 1984 Chrysler LeBaron
The 1980s Chrysler LeBaron was based on the company’s new K-Car platform. And the lineup included a convertible, the first U.S. production drop-top since the Cadillac Eldorado in 1976. A special “woodie” version called the Town & Country was offered, with simulated woodgrain appliques on the sides like some of the Detroit station wagons of the day. This 1984 example is considered a project needing mechanical and cosmetic attention. You can find it in Tacoma, Washington, where it’s offered here on Facebook Marketplace at the cheap wheels price of $1,900.
By moving the LeBaron nameplate to the K-Car platform, it became a mid-size “executive car” with front-wheel drive and a transversely mounted engine (inline-4). We don’t know which is in the seller’s car, but it’s no smaller than 2.2 liters in displacement. The Town & Country convertible arrived in 1983 and was in the mix through 1986 when only 3,721 copies were built, and just 1,105 in 1984 when this LeBaron was assembled. The car was a throwback to the Town & Country “woodies” of the 1940s.
Details are few about this Chrysler. It’s said to be a one-owner vehicle with 95,000 miles and they look to have been well-used. The listing was placed about two months ago, so we assume no takers have come forward or it’s been sold and the seller neglected to take down the ad. It has an automatic transmission, and we’re told the engine and tranny are in working order. The assumption is with a new carburetor you could take this canvas top out on the road.
We don’t see any signs of rust, though the paint is faded, and the convertible top may be okay. However, the seller isn’t high on the interior and tells us it will need work. The seller must need the car to be gone, so he/she is willing to entertain offers and work a “deal.” There can’t be many of these rides left (remember the one in the 1987 movie Planes, Trains, and Automobiles and it was pretty well used up by the end of the Steve Martin/John Candy flick. Maybe you could paint it green and turn it into a tribute?
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Comments
I refuse to reference you-know-who.
Lol good one Rex. I remember watching Letterman late nite one time, and he did a skit where he drove to the beach in one of these, had a bunch of babes in the car with him lol.
Great one Rex! 😅 🤣 . Woodie even consider a Le Baron? While not my favorite version of the LEBARON, at least it carried the name before being renamed SEBRING. Another round around the track to a sad finish 😞.
It’s possible.
Planes, trains, and automobiles.
john candy the legend
It’s said that the one in the Planes, Trains, and Automobiles was a modified Dodge ES600 tarted up to look like a LeBaron. Apparently, Chrysler wouldn’t supply a LeBaron, so the movie crew bought a Dodge ES600 and modified it. The dash and wheel do look more like Dodge and I think there’s a shot of the owner’s manual saying Dodge when Steve Martin puts his wallet in the glove box.
I’m putting my wallet in the glove compartment, don’t let me forget it!!
I grew up in a small costal town in Massachusetts in the preppy 80s. There were always a few of these parked at the yacht club. I think they have the same camp charm as say a sad clown painting or talking wall mounted fish. I don’t mean that in a bad way.
Where’s Steve Martin?
I like it. For that price I would consider it if I knew what kind of work it needed. BF doesn’t say and I don’t FB. But it is on the west coast so that’s a deal breaker.
West Coast is a deal breaker?
I look at these cars and all that comes to mind is WHY would anyone make a convertible into a woodie.
Maybe a station wagon but not a convertible.
Sold a few of these during my almost 39 years in sales at our local, family owned (still is to this day}, Tom Ahl Chrysler in Lima, Ohio. This shade of brown and Gunmetal Blue were the best sellers. I think this one has the 2.6 liter Mitsubishi built 4 cylinder.
Yes, it seems to have the Mitsubishi 2.6l engine which, in my case, has been very dependable, except….the bad reputation the carb has is deserved.
It’s possible.