Today, July 20, 2017 is the 69th birthday of "Katie" my 1948 Chrysler Town & Country.
I remember when Sandy and I bought her in 1969 thinking the original owner was a bit odd keeping a car 21 years. We now have owned her 48 years.
Shortly after purchase I took her to our local San Jacinto State Park and pictured her with BB-35...Battleship Texas. I think it is cool as Texas was berthed in 1948 the same year the Chrysler was made.
And how does she look today? I confess. A full restoration was required a few years back...of the Battleship...not the Chrysler. Guess BB-35 Texas was not built like a Chrysler. "Katie" looks just the same. And so does Sandy the 1948 babe sitting shotgun (actually she looks better). 1948 was good to me.
by George Taylor
Woodies on the Wharf - June 24, 2017 Chuck Bergtold of Santa Cruz, CA - 1950 Chrysler Royal
Don Barns (on right) of San Francisco, CA - 1946 Convertible
Woodworker Robert "Bob" Johnson of Novato, CA. Johnson Restorations 415.827.0524
Terry Neeley of Sausalito, CA - 1941 Barrelback
Couple of woodie toys @ Woodies on the Wharf 2017
Mike Grasso's & Stephen Warren's T&C Sedan which won the 2017 Dedman Award at the Pinehurst Concourse D'Elegance in NC
Larger Family 1942
John Ferrell of Sausalito, California recently became the proud owner of a 1947 that his dad ordered new from Chrysler when John was a boy.
46 for 47...
Paul Jenkins of Charlottentown, Prince Edward Island, Canada has been the proud owner of his 1946 Town and Country for 47 years. With a long Canadian winter just ahead, Paul is seen here storing his T&C in his basement. The model of Paul's T&C was hand crafted by a Canadian firherman during, you guessed it, a loooong Canadian winter.
What is rarer than a 1941 Town and Country? A 1941 towing a 1936 Airstream Clipper.
1936 was the first year Airstream built an alumimmin trailer and but a few are known to exist today. The Town and Country Chapter's Executive Vice President, Terry Neeley, is the proud "caretaker" of the 41 and Clipper.
Town and Country Gathering 2015
Greg Troy & Family in front of their beautiful, award winning1948.
Steve Grobl and Peter Heydon's and their 1941's.
Wow, look at the 1941's and 1942's! Have you ever seen a collection of T&C's like that before?
Scholten's, Tim Burton's and Richard Larger's 1942 T&C's. Tim and Richard in front of
T&C Chapter tent and Don Narus display.
Steve Grobl's 1941, Ed Wong's 1947 and Bob Porter's 1948 Sedan. T&C's were all driven to the show - Ed lives in Canada!
Dave Grobl and Ed Wong. Ed is a founding member of anything and everything Town and Country!
Jeff Larger, Bob Porter, Steve Grobl and Peter Heydon next to Peter's 1941.
Jack Boyle's 1946 and Bob Benedict's 1948. Two beautiful cars!
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Woodies on the Wharf
Santa Cruz, California, June 27, 2015
Jim Zanardi and his original 1948 convertible with 48,000 miles. Wow!
Don Barnes'(on the right) beautiful Regal Maroon 1946 convertible and the Town and Country Chapter's newest members Mike and Kathy Hodge. The Hodges are restoring thier first Town and Country, a 1948 convertible.
Chuck Bergtold and his 1950 Chrysler Royal Wagon. An outstanding original car!
T&C Chapter's Executive Vice President Terry Neeley with his 1941, which goes by the name "Louie".
Thank you Santa Cruz Woodies for another great show. See you in June 2016!
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John Nirenstein of Tiburon, California restoring his 1946.
It started in 1969 before there was a Town and Country Registry, or a Town and Country Chapter, long before there was any interest in the Town and Country. At the time I owned a 1948 Chrysler New Yorker Highlander Sedan. It was Gunmetal Gray, and I really liked that car, but what I really wanted was a Chrysler Town & Country Convertible. It was a pledge I made to myself while still in High School, back in 1947. I worked as a lot-boy for a local Chrysler Dealer and fondly remember the Town & Country when new. I purchased my first Town & Country Convertible in 1970 from a guy in Illinois. A 1947 Newport Blue. The car was banged up a bit, but is was complete and showed promise. A new front fender, some interior work, wood refinishing, new tires and I could make the car show circuit. The mechanics were great. It never happened. It's what they say about the best laid plans. It was during this time that I decided to write a book on the Town & Country. My research led to some awesome discoveries, and together with some great like minded friends started a Town & Country Club known as the Town and Country Registry. In 1972 my book was done and ready for publication. “Chrysler's Wonderful Woodie” was released in 1973.
The 1947 Newport Blue was on the back burner when my my second Town & Country Convertible came along a Regal Maroon 1948. I purchased it in 1972 from a Wisconsin State prison guard. At the time you would have called it a daily driver. It was in very good shape and with a little TLC I got it looking presentable enough to take to a number of local car shows, and won some awards along to way.
In 1973 I acquired my second Town & Country Convertible, a 1947 Newport Blue. It had been rescued from a chicken coop by my good friend and fellow enthusiast, Al Bridle. I traded Al a bunch of factory photos for the car. The car was a disaster, but it ran and I had plans to restore it as a daily driver that I would use every day. I planed to do a the wood work myself. Armed with a table saw, a jig saw, and portable belt sander I went to work. I fashioned the replacement wood out of pine because it was easier to work with (this was not going to be a show car). Things were progressing nicely when along came another opportunity.
After attending the Hershey Fall Meet and seeing John Lagorie's perfect Pepper Red 1949 Town & Country Convertible, I had to have one. A gentleman from Front Royal Virginia answered my ad with the perfect candidate. I sold the 1947 project car to Bob Carlson who did a ground up restoration, he got rid of all that Pine and changed the color to St. Clair Blue. It was beautiful and Bob won many awards with that car, including a Junior and Senior at Hershey. I sold the 1948 Maroon car to a enthusiast in Valley City, Ohio. The car is now owned by Paul Munyon of Port St. Lucie, Florida. It is undergoing a complete ground up restoration. Paul changed to color to St. Clair Blue. It should be finished in 2013.
I acquired the 1949 in November of 1973. Originally Dark Blue, I changed that to Pepper Red. Installed a new all red interior, and Hartz convertible top. The wood was refinished and di-noc panels added. It mimicked John Lagorie's car. I enjoyed that car for years but when our daughter entered medical school tuition became a priority, I sold the car to Dick Chastain, and on his passing it went to Town & Country Collector Lloyd Mayes of Las Vegas, Nevada. On Lloyds passing the car went to auction and I lost track. During the time I owned the 1949 I had also acquired another 1948 Town & Country convertible. Catalina Tan, which I sold to Al Bridle and to the best of my knowledge he still owns.
Also during this time 1970-1974 I came across and purchased a rare 1946 Mercury Sportsman. I became the third owner. As it turns out, to date, it is the the only authentic, documented '46 in existence. The story of how I acquired the car is told at great length in my book “The Ford Sportsman-1946-1948” Its an interesting story. The 1949 Pepper Red Town & Country was my last T&C and last woodie. My wife and I downsized in 2004 and there was no room for collector cars. I keep my interest through writing books and currently building pedal cars. Woodie Pedal Cars. So far I've built a 1941 Chrysler T&C , 1948 T&C, a 40 Ford , A 48 Packard, A 1948 Ford Sportsman, a 1946 Buick Estate Wagon and currently I'm working on a 1946 Mercury Sportsman. I guess Woodies are in my blood. (or I've got to much time on my hands).
So that's my story.
Don Narus
My first Town & Country convertible, a 1947 model. Purchased in 1970.
My second Town & Country convertible, a 1948 model, purchased in 1972.
My third Town & Country convertible, a 1947 model, rescued from a chicken coop.
My fourth Town & Country convertible, I was the second owner. Original color Newport Blue I changed to Pepper Red.
My fifth Town & Country convertible, a 1948 model, which I sold to Al Bridle, he still owns it.
My 1946 Mercury Sportsman, I purchased in 1973. I was the third owner. Pictured as I found it. I sold it to Tom Garrett SOS founder in 1975.
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Hilary Becker named Vice President of Website Development and Support for the AACA
Hilary Becker of the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance has been appointed to the National Board of the Antique Automobile Club America and will serve as Vice President of Website Development and Support for the AACA, North America's leading vintage and historic car collector and enthusiast club.
"Being appointed to the AACA Board is an honor," said Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance Founder and Chairman Bill Warner, "Hilary's personality, tireless work ethic, enthusiasm and knowledge have been important ingredients in the success of 'The Amelia'. This announcement makes us all proud of Hilary. She's been a vital part of 'The Amelia" from the beginning." (1996.)
Today, Hilary is the Hospitality Liaison for the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, directing and coordinating the activities of the volunteers who man the sponsor tents on the concours field. Hilary also organizes all the dinners and seminars and is in charge of all on-line ticket sales for the Concours.
An antique car aficionado since the early Nineties, Hilary's first collector car was a 1957 BMW Isetta. "It was my birthday present," she said. "We were at a BMW meet and I took one look at a row of BMW Isettas and said, 'I've got to have one of those!" Husband Mark took the hint and presented it to her for her birthday.
Today, the couple, who live in Jacksonville's Mandarin area, have three collector cars: two 1947 Chrysler Town & Countrys (a sedan and a convertible) and a 1939 Bantam "Woodie" station wagon.
"We wanted a 'woodie' we could tour in, and the Town & Country was the one Mark liked best," Hilary said. In April, 2013 their latest acquisition, the Chrysler Town & County Sedan, won the Best of Show at a Jacksonville area meet.
Dave and Shari Flick's 1948 Town and Country Sedan was originally owned by the Breyers Ice Cream Company in Pennsylvania and was used to transport the Breyer family and the company's executives. In 1956, the T&C was placed in storage where it was all but forgotten for the next twenty-four years.
Donald Rook, an avid car collector, purchased the T&C in 1980 and moved the car to Mena, Arkansas. The Rook collection, which had grown to over one-hundred cars by 2010, was auctioned off. Dave and Shari were not the auction high bidder for the T&C, but fortunately for them, the high bidder did not complete the purchase and the T&C was offered to the second high bidder. Naturally, the Flicks seized the opportunity to own the all original 72,000 mile T&C.
The car underwent a complete mechanical rebuild earlier this year. The exterior and interior restoration is still being debated, but has not prevented this fine example of an original car from being "showed" off!
From December 31, 1947, to May 5, 1948, Chrysler manufactured one-thousand one-hundred and seventy-six T&C sedans, only fifty-six are known to have survived.
Life Through A Gooseneck Mirror
By George Taylor
April 18, 2012
It seems T&C's never grew on trees...maybe a poor choice of words. T&C's were never a "common" sight. In many ways they seem more in abundance today than 40 years ago. Maybe the internet makes the world smaller and it just seems they are everywhere. Maybe the cars that were "dead" in the 1960's were reborn and are in more abundence today. Maybe it was they were my "thing". But the news of a T&C surfacing was sufficent to have me drive a day to just look....even at a junker. I probably "checked out" a hundred in the last 40 years. Memories fade and most of the T&C's are long forgotten. However, there is one T&C I will never forget...no matter how hard I try. It was in the early 1970's when a Catalina Tan C-39 1948 convertible T&C showed up in the Houston Chronicle. Today a collector would drool to find one that nice. The $5000 price was a bit high for the time. The wood was damaged from poor power sanding. It was weak mechanically and the paint was just so so. The most outstanding feature of the car was the stunning 25 year old blonde owner. I was only slightly younger...but the age difference between an early 20's guy and a 25 year old blonde is 100's in Chrysler years. One of the considerations I factor in evaluating a car is the honesty of the seller. If you catch them in a lie or two it makes them subject to disbelief on anything they say. The lady said she drove the car daily. I noticed the license plates and safety inspection sticker were expired by many years. I decided to call her on the issue. I asked..."how do you explain the expired license and inspection if you drive the car daily"? I just knew I had her. She gave me a smile. Kinda shook her head as to let me know I was way off base with the question. She was trying to be gentle understanding I was young. She replied "a good looking blonde with big boobs driving a 1948 Town and Country Chrysler convertible...just who is going to be looking at tags and stickers other than you"? It is tough to challenge someone when they are right. It was one of the few times in my life I could not respond. I just wanted to slither away from the woodwork. My manhood has never been the same since the day I became a "dumb blonde joke".
- GT
April 18, 2011
Jack Taylor...my father... had 12 kids and sold car polish out of the back of a 1948 Crown Imperial. Jack was a natural salesman. Nobody could tell him no. Guess that is how he got 12 kids. He would put 150 cases of polish in the back of the old C40 along with 3 or 4 kids and "hit the road". He always came home empty. There were times when he forgot a kid along the way, but to his credit he always went back and got them.
I learned to drive in the Crown in the early 1960's. Tho a typical "hot rodder" I had respect for pops pride and joy, but did get a giant trophy at the Houston Raceway Park in the mid 1960's. They had a challenge for the most people in a car through the gates. Contestants were to pull on the track and the announcer counted as the kids exited. Closest to the C40 were 7. I got 21 kids in the C40...then the trunk opened and 2 more came out. My record of 23 may well stand.
Every time pop returned from a trip the C40 was empty. I would encourage pop to stop at any old Mopar dealer so I could scrounge parts. I also combed the junk yards for 1946-1948 Chryslers for parts. My first experience with Town & Countries were the junk yard roaches. One was lucky to find a handful of useable parts. If one saw his 1st T&C on a showroom it must have been quite a memory. When your 1st T&C memories are of rotted parts cars it was hard to get excited.
My 1st real T&C find happened even prior to owning a car. It was mid 1969 and I acquired by chance a used 1968 Ford 302 engine needing a piston. Turned out it was a coveted "Mexican" 302 that was built on the order of a 289 Hi-Po. I searched in vain for a piston and decided to go to Mexico and see if I could find one. Seems gas was pushing 40 cents a gallon so I borrowed a VW Beetle for the trip and invited my friend Sam for the ride.
The piston eluded us...but in Port Lavica Tx I spotted an old Chrysler dealer named Coastal Chrysler and figured to do a bit of scrounging. There was no "upstairs"...just the area between the roof and ceiling. I asked the dealer if by chance there were any parts in the attic. He replied the best he could recall there was just a new wooden decklid and rear bumper for a 1948 Chrysler Town & Country convertible. A car had been freight damaged in 1948 and the insurance company paid for the parts but the buyer never returned. It had been over 20 years so he guessed they were not coming back.
Having never seen one of the cars I was only mildly interested but had to look. The parts were above the showroon which had 12 foot ceilings. I was stepping on the 2x4 joists. One 2x4 was not a joist..but rather an unsupported sheetrock butt joint. I came throught the ceiling. I was young and spry enough to grab the adjoining 2x4 joists and hung from the ceiling. One of the dealers turned to the other and said.."Bob get a stick...I think it is a pinata".
I was able to pull myself up unharmed. It was surreal from that point on. I was afraid they were going to holler sue sue my sheetrock. They were afraid I was going to say sue sue my back. NOTHING was said. It was as if it never happened. I bought a few things and left.
Several months later I got my T&C C39 convertible. I could not live without the parts. I returned to the dealer. I walked in the showroom and asked if they remembered me. They stared up to the freshly painted sheetrock and said...oh ya..we remember you.I asked if the parts were still there...oh ya...NOBODYS been up there since you. I would like to buy the parts. They replied....let me get my boys to get them down.
Fair enough...but before you go to that trouble...how much are they going to cost me?
The dealer squinted trying to remember. Best he could recall the decklid was $400 and the bumper $100 in 1948. I could see him doing math as he looked up to the ceiling. I could read his lips counting...sheetrock.hour/paint/boys. He turned and said...how about $12.50 for both pieces?
1969 was good to me.
GT
One Man's 1949 Chrysler Town and Country
By Bob Porter of Lakewood, Ohio.
My '49 T&C convertible, SN: 7410557, was sold new in Naperville, Illinois. It was black, with a beige fabric top, yellow full leather interior, and Di-Noc wood grain panels. A similar car was shown in the October 1949 T&C advertisement of Holiday Magazine, except that car had painted panels instead of Di-Noc.
The car in the ad was sitting in a field, top down, with a hunting dog on the back seat and hunters standing nearby, obviously pleased with their choice of transportation this fine Fall day.
According to T&C member Steve Grobl of Naperville, the car was first purchased by local resident Clyde Savage, then sold to his mechanic Len Overcash. The T&C stayed around Naperville for awhile, but was eventually sold to a collector in Des Moines, Iowa, Arlan Banning. He had the car until 1990, when he sold it to Charles Zimmerman of Hesperia, California. Charles had much mechanical work done on the car during his ownership.
I purchased the T&C from him in 2005, at which time the car still looked quite good, with the exception of the Di-Noc on the trunk. The top section had already been stripped and painted black. The back wood grained panel was in poor condition, but still had the dealer's name on it, Clyde C. Netzley Co., Naperville Chrysler-Plymouth.
Once home, I tried to bring out the Di-Noc on the back panel, but it was too far gone. I could not find a correct Di-Noc pattern, so I had the back panel stripped and painted black to match the top of the trunk. I like it! But I liked the wood grain on the sides, too, which also needed help.
So, I had the side panels stripped, and had real mahogany installed by Pat Kurilko, an accomplished woodworker in the Cleveland area. That looked great, but now the top looked dingy. Besides, its' color was fighting with the bright yellow interior. The solution? Put a black top on it, and while at it, use a small chrome and glass back window. Can't see as well, but I like the look. It's easily unzipped for better vision. The black top makes the car look longer and lower, too. Changing the gear ratio to 3.54 made it a cruiser.
Mark Becker of Jacksonville, FL Acquires T&C Convertible
It was during the recent restoration of a 1939 Bantam Woody Station Wagon that the infatuation with wooden cars began. My wife and I had decided that we wanted a large car that we could go touring in as well as show and I have always liked the styling of cars from the 1940's. A convertible was preferred and to me there is not another convertible from this era that compared to the styling and craftsmanship of the Chrysler Town and Country. And thus, the quest began.
After a few months of checking eBay and the listings on Hemmings on a daily basis it became apparent that my search needed to be broadened. As with any other antique car the best source of information for available candidates would come from the membership of a club that specialized in that particular vehicle. I joined the National Woodie Club and the Town and Country Chapter. I then made contact with a number of the officers who were more than willing to give advice and point me in the right direction. Robert Leher, Terry Neeley and Harold Mermel were especially helpful at the outset. One of the contact names I was given was Bob Porter who was kind enough to send a copy of an old club registry.
Even though the registry was several years old and I knew that some e-mail and physical addresses were likely no longer viable, an e-mail advising that I was in the market for a 1946 through 1948 Town and Country Convertible was sent to all available e-mail addresses. A letter with the same request was sent to those members who did not list an e-mail address or whose e-mail came back as undeliverable.
This method generated about a dozen e-mails and letters. I received a number of handwritten responses from older members either advising that their car was not for sale or was to be passed along to a child. At least one note came from a widow who advised that her husband had recently passed and the car had been sold.
My education process about these cars involved reading everything I could find. Terry Neeley suggested the series of books written by Don Narus and I acquired the entire library. I obtained several years worth of old newsletters from a Chapter member. I am still interested in obtaining old newsletters, so if you have any you no longer want or need please contact me.
The search also included following the major auction houses not only to see what was available but to get a better handle on market prices. I remain reluctant to buy a car I am unfamiliar with at auction in light of the limitation on the ability to inspect and test drive.
Over the course of time my internet circle of T & C contacts widened and a number of them became my informal vetting committee who, knowing my pricing and quality level parameters, assisted in evaluating the candidates. I was told to look at as many cars as possible so that I could begin to judge quality and discern the finer details. I was able to see and ride in a few cars that were within a reasonable distance of my home. Robert Leher’s mantra was "be patient". Admittedly, patience is not my strong suit. However, I learned long ago to buy the best example that you can afford and that it is much cheaper to purchase someone else&rsquos restoration than to do your own.
As the search continued a friend shared an internet search engine that searches other search engines. The internet address for this search engine is www.jaxed.com/cgi-bin-mash.cgi. This site allows you to tailor your search by car make, model and year. I entered 1946 through 1948 Chrysler Town and Country. For several weeks a periodic check of this website turned up vehicles that I had already found through other sources such as Ebay, Hemmings and advertised through national auction houses. Eventually it turned up a listing on Craigslist in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The owner felt that as both are affluent areas a viable buyer might come from these narrow listings. Without the search engine I would have never found a car advertised only on Craigslist in California.
After a number of conversations with the seller and dozens of photographs followed by requests for more pictures of specific items I determined to have the car inspected. While capable of judging condition I needed someone familiar with the minutia of the Town and Country and to test drive it in order to tell me that it was operating properly. At this point I had ridden in two Town and Country Convertibles and each of them felt very different. Terry Neeley lives only a few miles from the seller and graciously agreed to conduct the inspection. The inspection found a few items not readily discernable from the photographs but overall the car was given high marks and functioned properly. A deal was consummated and enclosed transportation arranged for the trip to Florida. The car is a 1947 and is Regal Maroon with maroon and taupe bedford cord and a taupe top.
Four weeks later the car arrived and I am pleased to say that it was accurately described and met my expectations. I was looking for an older restoration that still showed well. This car had been restored over the course of many years with that restoration not being truly completed until very recently. As a result, the paint, chrome interior and top while having been redone years ago have relatively few miles on them. My seller paid great attention to detail using NOS parts, professional painting of even the smallest of components and a dedication to using the proper fasteners and finishes. I will continue the process of making things right both mechanically and cosmetically as well as attending to details with an eye towards making the car as original looking and correct as possible.
A big thank you to Robert Leher, Terry Neeley, Harold Mermel, Bob Porter, Ed Wong, John Mesloh and others who have been more than willing to share information and advice during the course of my search. Now they get to answer all of my technical questions.
The car was on my radar for 8 years before I acquired it. The owner was an eccentric, ornery, general store owner in south Alabama who had bought the car new. Every gearhead in the Southeast had tried to buy it from him over the years but to no avail. When I began my odyssey in the mid 1980s, my wife and I would drive the 120 miles and bring him lunch and even champagne. We must have made 10 trips with zero success. Fortunately, I learned that his daughter lived in Montgomery and I had even met her husband when he closed the purchase of my first home in 1968. Over the years I would call her to check on her dad rather than keep driving to see him. One Sunday evening in Oct 1990 I got a call from her to tell me that her father had died in August and was I still interested in the Town and Country. I said I was, so she told me to call her brother who was handling the estate. He told me that he was taking bids and would let me know if mine was accepted. Less than 20 minutes later I got another call from the daughter informing me that they accepted my bid. I don't know how many other bids they got but it couldn't have been too many. I sweated all week imagining that someone else would come along and beat my bid. In fact, the following Saturday when we went to get the car the brother glared at me and said "you know you're stealing this car don't you?" However, he begrudgingly accepted my check and the deal was done.
Thus began my adventure with an original, one owner, 1948 Chrysler T&C convertible. It took me three years to restore the car which I have since learned wasn't all that long a time for such a project. The wood was in excellent condition albeit dried and cracked with rot having eaten away a large portion of the rear quarter panel on the drivers side. This was repaired beautifully by Larry Lotz in Washington Court House, OH. I had the 12 body panels veneered with mahogany that I picked from two book matched sheets which allows the grain to flow from front to back, panel to panel. This work was done by Pat Kurilko in Cleveland. Since the car had spent its entire life in Alabama rust was not a big issue and I found no bondo anywhere. Over these years I met many of the T&C guys, Bob Porter, Ed Wong and many other great people who offered advice and even a few parts. When my chrome plating guy told me that he had dissolved one of my trunk hinges a gentleman whose name escapes me (my apologies) called me and said he had what I needed, saving the day. Interestingly, the car never had spotlights which I assume had to do with state law.
I think the one lesson I learned from this experience is to never stop trying and to get to know the owners family if possible. In this case, it made all the difference. I had a second experience in 1996 when I was able to acquire a rather special '59 Jag XK150S roadster the same way, so persistence pays off.
There are 2 pictures with airplanes, the red plane is a 1939 Beechcraft Staggerwing, D Model and the polished plane is my 1952 Cessna 195. This plane I bought from a man in Riverside, CA in 2006. He had owned it for nearly 30 years and showed it at all the major airshores around the country winning over 70 trophy's in the last 15 years. Marketed as the Businessliner, they were built from 1948 until 1954, production totaled approximately 1100.
Around Town
TOWN & COUNTRY CHAPTER GATHERS AT WAVECREST
SEPTEMBER 20, 2013
THE TOWN & COUNTRY CHAPTER of the NWC gathered on the afternoon of Friday September 20 at the Wavecrest host hotel on the eve of the 2013 edition of the fabulous Wavecrest event. Since chapter founder Robert Leher was out of the country, member John Blachowski hosted the event where 22 enthusiastic members showed up to share T & C stories, enjoy the old car fellowship and partake of chapter provided refreshments.
Robert Leher started a chapter tradition of presenting 3 awards to chapter members who enter a T & C at Wavecrest. The awards this year were beautiful silver serving trays with the 2013 Wavecrest event commemorated on them. The chapter chooses recipients on whatever basis they find appropriate, and not necessarily on the basis of the 3 finest Town & Countries at the show. The 3 chapter judges this year were John Blachowski from Colorado, Harold Mermel from New Jersey and Steve Warren of Southern California.
The recipients this year were Bob Wark for his exceptional 1947 T & C Sedan ( it is just a gorgeous car), Russ Neher for his beautiful 1948 T & C Convertible for most extensive restoration (unbelieveable what he started with) and Helene and Philip Albright for their wonderful 1950 T & C Newport Hardtop for latest year of restoration.
While it’s difficult not to have a good time at Wavecrest, the T & C Chapter members certainly had a great time and eagerly look forward to the 2014 edition.
November 11, 2012:
Since Hershey, I had to go to a business trade show in Charlotte, NC and had to deal with no power for 2 weeks during and after Hurricane Sandy and a huge snow storm Nor'Easter afterwards........
I was happy to represent the leadership of our Town and Country Chapter of the NWC. This was my 47th year attending this unbelievable car event. While it is a record, there are some that have gone longer....
I donated my booth on the green vendor field, near the car (for sale) corral and in front of Giant Stadium. Thus, our Chapter was listed in the event directory, in the clubs section. Each day, I parked my newly acquired green, 1949 T&C conv. with 29,000 original miles in the booth space, with our club banner on it, listing our Chapter's wesite address for anyone to join or contact us. I parked the car at the Hershey lodge (where I stay) and enjoyed driving onto the field each day...
There were a couple of T&C cars for sale this year at Hershey...
I am happy to report that, I got to see some of our members there:
Dick Beckley
John White
Tom White
Terry Johnson
Bob Carnevale
Luke & Edna Tursi
Kim & Denny Harms
Gene Sebastian
Charles & Andrew Miles
Stephen Matlaga
George Kreissle
Gary Terwilliger
Ron Pack
Joe & Maria Camelio
Andy Birnbaum
I hope I didn't forget anyone........
I did see a few regular members of the Nation Woodie Club (NWC), too...
Please stay in touch and a have a good winter this year...
Thanks,
Harold Mermel of NJ
Wavecrest 2012 Brings T&C Chapter Members Together Again
The annual Wavecrest Car Show held in Encinitas, California on the weekend of September 14, 2012 gave the Town and Country Chapter members a chance to meet and share memories. On Friday at 4:00 p.m. the Chapter gathered at the Sand Castle room of the host hotel for Wavecrest, the Best Western at Moonlight Beach. Twenty-four members were at the informal get-together. Bob Brelsford(1st row, left) brought several photo albums of T&C pictures. Mike Grasso and Steve Warren (1st row, middle) were back again to show their T&C at the show. Russ Neher(1st row, right) also was back to show his convertible T&C. John Blachowski(2nd row, left), Robert Leher and Terry Johnson(group of three, yellow shirt) left their T&Cs back home in Aurora and Englewood, Colorado, apparently deciding that a plane flight to Wavecrest would be a lot easier than the long drive out to California.
Harold and Leslie Mermel(above, 2nd row, right) flew in from New Jersey with the T&C Chapter banner which was unfurled at the show the next day(top). Ed Wong came all the way from Canada with his friend Cathy Campbell(below, 1st row, left). Ed shared stories of his latest restoration project. Phil and Arlene Albright(1st row, middle) and Jim and Luanne Esposito(1st row, right) were all back again. Dennis and Kathy Bickford(2nd row, left), fresh from their move from Iola, Wisconsin to New Mexico, were on another cross-country summer trip. Denny and Kim Harms(2nd row, middle)were at the show, taking a break from their “Distinctive Restorations” business. Don Barnes(2nd row, right) was at the get-together and enjoyed the soft drinks and food trays.
Bob Stevens, the Treasurer of the National Woodie Club was there with his wife Linda (below).
Mike Grajcar, the President of the National Woodie Club, was kind enough to drop by (below).
And finally, Tom and Valerie Long were there. Tom (below, left) as Chairman of Wavecrest with a thousand details to worry about, still found the time to come to the Chapter gathering.
The following day at the Wavecrest show itself, the Town and Country Chapter, for the second year, gave out three awards. Robert Leher had explained earlier that, unlike typical CCCA standards for trophies, The T&C Chapter awards were more light hearted. So … Tom and Valerie Long took home one of the three engraved silver trays for “The Longest Ongoing T&C Restoration” - thirty-seven years and the work continues on(above, right)! Mike Grasso and Steve Warren won for “Best Reclamation” (below, right) after their car had been badly damaged in an accident, and Russ Neher was awarded the third silver tray (below, left) from the Wavecrest stage for his “Best Updated T&C” which featured, among other upgrades, power steering.
All in all, it was another great show, and Wavecrest 2013 will be here before we know it.
Robert C. Leher
Chryslers in Kalamazoo By: Bob Porter
The Walter P. Chrysler Club’s annual meet was held in Kalamazoo, Michigan from July 11-14. Thirty four members of the former Chrysler Town and Country Owners Registry met for a dinner and reunion at the Henderson Mansion, a late 19th century home turned into qa bed and breakfast. The evening was enhanced by the surprise entrance of a young violist who serenaded the group during dinner with two J.S. Bach selections. After dinner, he returned to kitchen duties.
From left to right: Bill Parfit's 1949 T&C Convertible, Bob Porter's 1949 T&C Convertible, Carole and Al Sholten's 1942 T&C Wagon
During the week, several people visited the Kellogg (cornflakes) Manor, the Off Brothers collection of fine Classics (including a ’48 T & C convertible), Lloyd Ver Hage’s Mopar collection, (including 3 T & Cs), Richard McFadden’s Mopar collection, and the new Air Museum.
From left to right: Ed Wong's 1948 T&C Convertible, Bob Porter's 1948 T&C sedan, and Paul Niles' 1949 T&C
The Saturday car show was held at the Red Barns in Hickory Corners. Several car clubs have barns with their cars on display, such as Cadillac, Lincoln, Pierce-Arrow, and Franklin, was well as other barns devoted to Brass era cars, Kalamazoo made cars (Checker, among others), 50s cars, and racers.
From left to right: Peter Heydon's Original 1947 T&C Wita, Steve Grobl's 1941 T&C 8 cylinder wagon, and Steve Grobl's 1948 T&C Sedan
The Classic Car Club of America has a barn devoted to its cars, as well as a reference library, shared with the WPC, and run by Dick Bowman.
TJ Lane's 1948 T&C
Eleven T & Cs were on display for Saturday’s car show, making an impressive group with their own class.
Dick Beckley a Winner at Gettysburg
T&C Chapter member Dick Beckley showed his ’49 T&C convertible at the Gettysburg Region AACA show. His T&C was chosen from over 300 cars in the show as the President’s Trophy winner, the shows equivalent to Best of Show. Dick confirms what we all know: his T&C “turns heads wherever we travel in it. Many people, young and old, say that they have never seen another one. Others recite stories of one they had in the family or one they remember from by-gone days.”
Congratulations Dick!
Richard Larger's 1942 original Barrel Back
Dick Beckley's 1949 Town and Country
The color is Gulf Green. The car was repainted 20 years ago in the original color. The Green Leather upholstery is original. It was purchased new at Mingle Motors in Port Arthur, Texas.
A Diamond in the Rough
Jack Boyle writes that recently he went to the boat shop closest to his house to get a price on a tarp for his recently inherited boat. They sent him down the street two blocks to a small three stall upholstery shop. He walked in and saw a T&C in one of the stalls, waiting for a new top. Here are the photos.
Hershey Meet
In the first week of October, I was proud to display our T&C Chapter's large banner all week........ On Friday morning of the meet, several T&C members stopped by for a short get-together on the vendor's orange field, at my booth in front of the large Giant Stadium. I handed out flyers with our website address for potential new members.
At Hershey we had the pleasure of seeing several T&C members:
Luke & Edna Tursi (NY)
Denny & Kim Harms (Illinois)
John White (MA & FL)
Gene Sebastian (MA)
Paul Jenkins (from Canada)
Dr. John Mitchell (MD & VA)
Charles Montano (NY)
Will Ruhland (MD)
and others..................
This was my 46th year coming to the Hershey show & meet, starting in my youth in 1965..........
Happy holidays to all,
Harold mermel
Vice Pres. of the T&C Chapter
T AND C CHAPTER "MEETS AND GREETS" AT WAVECREST
By Robert Leher
As most of you probably know, the Wavecrest Car Show in Encinitas, California is the largest wooden car show in the country. And this year, it was special for the Town and Country Chapter of the National Woodie Club because the San Diego Woodies Chapter gave special recognition to the Town and Country Chapter, in honor of the first anniversary of our founding. This recognition came on September 17 from the Wavecrest stage when the Town and Country Chapter presented its award. (More about this a little later.)
The activities for the Town and Country Chapter started at Wavecrest on Friday afternoon. The Chapter had a get-together in the Sandcastle Room of the Best Western Encinitas Inn and Suites. Members snacked on cheese and fruit and crackers and shared their T&C stories. Mike Grasso and Steve Warren of San Diego, California (above left), shared some details about their T&C sedan being hit by someone running a red light, resulting in a nine year restoration. Ron Scott of San Jose, California, was just getting ready to start on a restoration. John Blachowski had come to Wavecrest all the way from Aurora, Colorado. Helene and Philip Albright(above right) of Redondo Beach, California, talked about their 1950 Chrysler Royal which must have broken the record for shortest restoration in just three weekends. Darrel and Conchita Shea (right) of Moorpark, California, talked of how they purchased their '47 T&C on E-Bay. Jim and Luanne Esposito of San Diego, California, kept us all smiling as Luanne told the story of how she bought her ' 47 Trumpet Gold T&C without Jim even knowing about it. Russ Neher(left) of San Clemente, California, told us of the restoration of his ' 48 T&C convertible which added a 12 volt system, power steering, brakes, and an automatic transmission. Tom and Valerie Long of Fallbrook, California, had a great story about finding their ' 47 T&C Regal Maroon convertible in a barn in Troy, Pennsylvania, in 1976 for $1,200. That price included the chicken feathers and egg shells they found in the car. Mike and Peggy Loper(above right) of San Diego, California, purchased their 1950 T&C in 2002 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It is Juniper Green on the bottom and Tampa Beige on top. It has the original wood and interior. In 2007, they made the 1000 mile drive to Woodies on the Wharf in Santa Cruz, California.
Harold Mermel, the Vice-President of the T&C Chapter, and owner of several T&Cs, came all the way from Morganville, New Jersey, with his wife Leslie. And last, but not least, Robert and Carole Leher made the trip from Englewood, Colorado, but had to leave their ' 48 T&C alone down in Florida.
Robert Leher announced that we would continue to be working on the website: townandcountrywoodies.com Robert also encouraged everyone to share any T&C information,stories, photos, or anything else T&C related by simply emailing to Robert atRobleher@earthlink.net.
Robert also announced that the T&C Chapter would be giving a one time award from the Wavecrest stage at the show on Saturday in honor of the Chapter's first anniversary. There would also be two other T&C Chapter awards...these awards would be on the lighter side, rather than on the strict CCCA standard.
On Saturday, John Blachowski (right), Harold Mermel, and Robert Leher had the unenviable task of trying to decide who should get a trophy. Our eyes were blurred by the many beautiful cars and the great stories which went with each one.
In the end, the award from the Wavecrest stage went to new T&C Chapter member, Frank Leamy(Left) of San Diego, California, for "Best Story About Your Car". Frank's '47 T&C Polo Green convertible was purchased new by his grandmother. It was bought in Washington, D C. and registered in Virginia. Frank always hoped he could acquire it from his grandmother. It sat in her garage for twenty-two years when she called and told Frank to just come pick it up. He did, and he has had "Nana's car" ever since.
The second trophy went to Luanne and Jim Esposito(right; with Robert Leher and Harold Mermel) for "Best Husband and Wife Story." As mentioned earlier, Luanne was going the buy the car with or without Jim's consent after she saw it at Wavecrest several years ago. When Luanne tells her story, you really have to be there to see Jim disavow having anything to do with the car. Luanne named the car "MaryLou" after her grandmother. It is one of the very few Trumpet Gold cars around.
The final award went to Mike Grasso and Steve Warren for "Best Presentation of 'Stuff' on a Roof Rack." The wooden roof rack on their '47 T&C sedan is ornamented with numerous Scotch coolers and containers as well as vintage suitcases.
It was great getting to see everyone come together and share the good times at the show!
Also, a big thanks to the San Diego Woodies Chapter and Charles Furman and Tom Long(left) who extended the T&C Chapter every courtesy in welcoming us to the Wavecrest Show, 2011.
West Coast Meet, San Luis Obispo, California, July 15-17, 2011
By Steve Warren & Mike Grasso
Great Autos of Yesteryear had their annual West Coast Meet in SLO July 15-17. Two T and C's were in the show. The Leo Carrillo '48 convertible now owned by John White of Sacramento and our '47 sedan. The Leo Carrillo car won Best of show. Ours won favorite postwar '46-55. The theme this year was "Hooray for Hollywood". Someone in the club is a Hollywood publicist and managed to get Actresses Tippi Hedren ("The Birds, Marnie) and Julie Newmar (Catwoman on the 60's Batman show and many movie roles) to spend the entire weekend at the event. Here are a couple of photos of the '48 Steer Head car and us with the actresses next to our car. Julie Newmar got in the back seat of our sedan and visited for about a half hour while touching up her makeup. What fun.
Woodies on the Wharf, Santa Cruz, California, June 25, 2011
Longtime Town and Country enthusiast Chuck Bergtold of Santa Cruz and his all original 1950 Chrysler Royal Station Wagon.
Helene and Philip Albright of Redondo Beach, California, pose in front of their handsomely restored 1950 Chrysler Royal Station Wagon. (Incidentally, these two station wagons represent 10% of the 1950 Royals known to exist today.)
T.N. of Sausalito, California, standing tall by his 1947 Yellow Luster convertible.
Tom and Valerie Long of Fallbrook, California, were missing-in-action for the photo shoot, but their 1947 convertible's license plate, "FINE ASH", was not hard to find! Tom and Valerie purchased the T&C in 1977 in Troy, Pennsylvania. This is the first time they have shown the car, which until recently has been in pieces waiting Tom's restoration.
1941 T&C - Rides With Chuck
1947 T&C Sedan and Bear! - The Vintage Vehicle Show
The model of Paul's T&C was hand crafted by a Canadian firherman during, you guessed it, a loooong Canadian winter.
