1976 Chrysler Town & Country

https://www.ebay.com/itm/273614016401

 

We’re these non wood TC’s very popular? Can’t remember if I’ve seen many wood delete models.

 

This one originally had wood - now removed. You can tell from the chrome surround moldings on the sides and tailgate.

 

That’s what I thought, but I’m just not familiar enough with these Chrysler wagons to know. I didn’t think these were wood delete, but really didn’t know. Did they make a big Chrysler w/o wood?

 

It appears you could delete the wood grain, but I don't think many left the factory that way.

 

The very few cars I've seen -- mostly on ebay and this forum -- that purported to be wood delete T&Cs of this era had the surround rails. This car may be authentic.

 

I have a non-grain 77 and it has all the trim. I know it is a non grain because i talked to the original owner.

 

Makes sense. I cannot find any pics of 1974-77 Town & Countrys without the trim whether with wood or not.

 

The mid 70's Town & Country is unique in that respect then, still having the surround trim W/O the wood grain. Other makes delete the unnecessary trim.

 

From a production point of view it actually makes some sense to do it that way, yes it adds cost to the finished product parts and Labor wise. But it reduces complexity by keeping the parts the same for all the T&C's Made (sheet metal for example, I don't know if the trim was exactly the same or not) Also you only have to make 1 set of T&C 1/4 panels, predrilled with the retaining clip holes. Saves on complexity on the line and parts.
And on the production line you did not have to construct a separate program for the operators deleting certain tasks for a low production version. It could save quite a bit of engineering time at the plant to do it that way. And it still adds a visual clue that it is a T&C version of the wagon.

 

That makes total sense. The early LTD wagons had the extra moldings along the rocker on the front fender and rear fender. Plus the LTD fender emblem. The ‘76 and later just had the fender emble, so other than the LTD interior they were very similar to the Country Sedan, which was dropped in ‘75