1973 Chrysler Town & Country Wagon

It may have been thirsty for gas but this 440 big block powered Town & Country was the perfect machine for growing American families on the move. Watch and wonder as Steve examines it’s novel “dual action” tailgate.

[@jmj18462]

One of Chrysler's best designs! Love those fuselage wagons! In it's day, was the epitome of luxury, performance, and style!

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Love the old wagons!!! 👍🙂

[@billywatson118]

Back in the early 70s every summer you would see all the families taking off for summer vacations with one of these.

[@jimjames8660]

I was born in 1966. My Dad got rid of his 1957 Caddy Coupe deVille and bought a family car....a 1966 NewYorker 4 door hardtop. Our Mopar family had begun! When my sister was born 2 years later he gave that one to his mother and bought a 1969 Town and Country wagon with the rear facing seat. That one turned out to be a real lemon , so he got the 66 back and we used that until his next new car, a 1981 Newport sedan with a slant six(!) That one got hit and the body shop said to get rid of it because it had hidden terrible rot. It's replacement ? A 1979 LeBaron 360 coupe! After that was a steady diet of Neons and Avengers. My first car (still have it 40 years later) was a 1969 Roadrunner. First new car was a Omni GLH Turbo....have that one too. And my 1973 Imperial coupe....the 83 Cordoba, the pair of 300M's...etc

[@Carl09of09]

My Dad owned 2 of these a 72 & a 73 rode in the very back of it as a child watching Semis coming up close to us, was definitely a memory I'll never forget!

[@TomTom-qm4mq]

We had a Malibu wagon. I kept throwing my little brothers shoes out the back window. Next stop my dad had to buy shoes. After 3 times he didn't put the window down anymore.

[@MichaelandCathy1999]

My dad bought a new 1970 Plymouth Sport Suburban wagon and what a bomb it was!! Fake wood paneling on the sides, chrome roof rack, 2 way rear door, backward facing 3rd bench in the back and a glorious 383 ci Magnum under the huge hood. Even at 14 I knew this car was a fantastic vehicle, with all the power you needed. 👍🇨🇦

[@Mattisgarage]

Cool find. I have similar T&C 9 passenger wagon here in Finland. Still has original 440 with most of options available.

[@TomTom-qm4mq]

How hard is it to get parts for that over there

[@abeneufeld9690]

How easy is it to get parts for the big 3 in Finland ? (Ford Chrysler GM) What is the most popular car being driven around in Finland I don’t think it’s an American domestic is it.?

[@muckle8]

@Mattif I can hear the mope lope from my flat in the Uk - pure muscle music! 🎶

[@Mattisgarage]

@@TomTom-qm4mq Locally, pretty much nothing. Order inside Finland, most parts are available. And of course Rockauto, Summit etc. Shipping is expensive...

[@dubiousf00d]

Finland has some of the better examples of these old Chrysler's left. Germany has some sweet C body cars as well. We Americans destroyed most of our share with our salty roads, bad drivers and demolition derbys.

[@larryfromwisconsin9970]

I bought one of these in 1980 for $200. Before I could take it home the seller siphoned two 5 gallon gas cans out of it. It would cruise all day comfortably at 90 mph but needed to stop often for gas. Mine had two air conditioning compressors, one for the front and one for the back passengers.

[@frankjablonski9403]

Thanks Steve. Fond memories. My father had this same 73' car in green. You could fold down the rear seats, put 4' x 8' sheets of plywood in the back, then close the gate. A real boat.

[@googleusergp]

My uncle had a 1979 LTD wagon and when we redid the paneling in our house in the early 1980s, that was the car that went to the lumber yard to haul it back to the house. It was my uncle's wagon though, he only lived (and still does) six blocks or so away. Our phone numbers were the same except the first two digits of the last four of the numbers were reversed. This lead to many missed called to both houses. As kids, we'd answer the phone and say, "No you want my uncle. The number is.....". Of course the answer was "wrong number" when asked who it was. LOL.

[@debbiebermudez5890]

Mr. B. Here ! As a young man I work on most of these vehicles , road test was the best it was like driving your living room to the Deli ! L O L !

[@samcraig3924]

Thanks Steve for another awesome wake up story for me and boys

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

I agree Sam!

[@williamstachour4019]

Love that huge wagon! I really appreciate this automotive archeology.

[@leebarker539]

"...plenty to get this car out of its own way." Another gem.

[@wlogue]

We had a '72 3/4 ton big block GMC Suburban as a kid, she would pass anything but a gas station! Cheers!

[@rightlanehog3151]

Was it RWD or 4WD?

[@charlesgambrel7058]

Just wanted to say thank you for all the work you put into your videos really do enjoy

[@johnquinn7643]

I had a 1971 T&C with the 440 and 323 posi rear. It was loaded - power steering, power brakes, power windows, power door locks, power antenna, cruise control, am / 8 Track, (changed to am / fm 8 Track), 60/40 power seats (driver & passenger) air conditioning, power rear window washer, roof rack (added step bumper and rear side grips from a ‘70 T&C), tilt/ telescopic with rim blow, wood grain (car was green). I still have a factory radio with the cassette tape player that I was going to add (was planning on converting to an Imperial dash with full instrumentation); the Imperial had the am/fm option. I was also going to convert to dual exhaust (from a 70 T&C donor with a 383 (4 bbl). This, in my mind, would have been one of the ultimate optioned cars in its day (~1976). I really miss this car!!!

[@TheHelado36]

Love station wagons !!! Bring them back !!!!

[@nitromyke]

Wish I still had my '75 Chevelle wagon! And these big Mopars are just awesome!!

[@lilmike2710]

I bet you do. I wish I had your old Chevelle Wagon too. 😁

[@jaysmith179]

Someone needs to restore this car. Looks to be in good shape.

[@madmike2624]

Great video Steve and Shane! I'm 57 and I remember oh so well, sitting in the "way back" in that rear facing third row. Those are great memories. My dad always had Buicks and Chevrolet station wagons and we took many, many road trips and a family. Very fond memories!! Thanks for the trip down memory lane!! Keep these videos coming! Always brings back my, and I'm sure many of yall's memories of days gone by!!

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

I found this episode very interesting as I first thought, "a wagon...boring." But you proved me wrong again, Steve! Thanks for not passing this car by.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Aahh the land yacht’s of the 70s! Boy I remember those so well! The family vacation cruiser’s! Load them up and go! Great video Steve!👌😎👍

[@therepairshop6629]

I spent many, many miles staring out the back of station wagons in the 70's.

[@johnhedglin9144]

Someone needs to bring that thing back to life.

[@mikerowland1701]

In the 80’s my dad picked up a 1976 Oldsmobile clam shell from a funeral home. It had the 455 Rocket.

[@scottboyer8450]

My all time favorite car my family had when I was a kid was a 1971 Ford Country Squire, green inside and out with the faux wood paneling on the sides. Why? Because of the fold up rumble seats in the back. The cargo area was perfectly flat and huge, but it had these seats that folded up and faced each other and you would sit down in the floor a bit. We always made faces at the cars behind us on the freeway. She smoked like an old Ford too. What a great car.

[@williammitchell4417]

The Country Squire was almost like the original Woodie

[@bradroberts6447]

My mom had one of these wagons. It was mine to drive until I would go get her from work. We had some great times with this wagon.

[@frankb.1546]

My eyes cant help but be drawn to that bright red dodge pickup right next to this wagon. 👍

[@martyniner8893]

So cool! My Dad bought a brand new Plymouth Fury wagon in 1974. 360 4 barrel with the rear facing back seat. Yes you nailed it, my brother and I would make faces at people following us! 😄

[@ericwhitehead6451]

Chrysler always made the best wagons.

[@pmafterdark]

Those cars were massive. Sure miss those station wagon days.

[@stephentruscott200]

My Dad bought a 1971 Plymouth Fury wagon new, Loved it, I have 6 brothers, drove it till it was dead, Got my D/L in it, I had it up on 2 wheels going around a shape curve once.

[@nonamesplease6288]

A family friend of my parents had a Chevy Impala wagon of the same vintage when I was in elementary school. The thing was ginormous, with the third row seat in the back. We used to walk to school, but on rainy days all of the neighborhood kids would pile into this thing. In the days before overbearing safety consciousness set in, we probably got more than a dozen 8 to 12 year olds in that car fairly comfortably and without seat belts. Try that nowadays.

[@marauder600]

My buddy’s mom drove a Chevy Kingswood Estate wagon. What a barge!

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

Those were the days! Yep, I remember piling in way more kids than the cars were suppose to hold! Of course, now a lot more people on the road with more chances for accident and the like. (You must be from Steve and my area since you mention "walking to school.") You don't hear of that happening much anymore!

[@MikeBrown-ii3pt]

I spent many miles of my childhood riding around in my parents 1972 Chevy Brookwood wagon. I had to chuckle a little when Steve said wagons of that era were used to haul kids to soccer practice. In my area, we didn't know what soccer was until the late 1980s, we played baseball back then!

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

@@MikeBrown-ii3pt we had the big Chryslers back from this era but never a station wagon. Coming from a big family, not sure why we didn't get a wagon. Probably because you could get away with a couple kids on your lap!

[@MrZdvy]

180 hp? More like 230 or so.

[@TheopolisQSmith]

Steve in 1973 very few of us knew anything about Soccer except is was played by “furreners”

[@warfivevy0ne454]

Masterpiece Presentation

[@darwinmichel2087]

My high School science and chemist teacher had this car. The Town & country wagon.

[@americarsqueensland1667]

Wagons were and still are the best way to move your family in high comfort.

[@Sjutern]

Love the 73’, My favorite year for the T&C.. I have a 74’ 68.000 original miles. Bone stock survivor.. 1 of 4 of that generation T&C in Norway :)

[@marccaruso9789]

Growing up we had a Ford County Squire with the simulated wood sides....great car

[@rcnelson]

Station wagons have a special place in my heart. My parents bought new a 1971 Plymouth nine passenger wagon with the 440 and the Tor Red paint. What a machine. And in fact we kids in the rear-facing rear seat did thumb our noses at cars we passed.

[@chiefbobdavis99]

We had a T&C in 76. Mom n dad traded our Torino for it. We folded both back seats down and slid around from side to side n front to back. IDK who had more fun, us 4 kids or dad at the wheel quick turns, brakes n gas! Fun times!!

[@paulb4uk]

What a great looking car .

[@foxiedogitchypaws7141]

I hàd a 1982 Oldsmobile custom cruiser wagon. 3 seats, brown wood look side panel. 2 trips out west , 3 kids and no fighting . The best way to travel.

[@jaybredeken8983]

I may be mistaken, but that position on the build tag that displays “A16” is the production date. October 16, 1972. 1 - 9 = January through September. A - C = October through December.

[@feelinfine1973]

My morning is complete!! Thanks Steve!! ✌️ from Iowa

[@chrisdreyer1406]

My second new car was a 73 Dodge Polara station wagon… my kids called it the brown bomber… it had a 440 V8… I once got a speeding ticket with my foot off the gas pedal… 36 in a 25… we had the 3rd row seat facing the back that the fought over… I really loved that car!

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

We're all pulling for you Steve. Hope to see you back in the Junkyard soon

[@zairomolino4074]

We all need more station wagon video!

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

We're all pulling for you Steve. Hope to see you soon

[@roccoelleto9900]

My parents had a blue model with wood trim, 440 4bbl. We used to pull a trailer up I95 with it every summer. I had to use this to pass my driver's test. Definitely a land yacht. The wagon before this was a 1969 Polara Wagon with a 383 4bbl, dual exhaust. Remember as a kid loving the sound from the back seat as my dad floored it to get onto the interstates in South Flroida.

[@zzzoo2]

Thanks Steve! We had a giant Fury wagon and remember Dad being able to take half the neighborhood with us anywhere we wanted to go, and being able to load it full of building supplies-they were fantastic cars!

[@jonathangehman4005]

My brother and I spent a lot of miles riding in the "way back" of our '73 Fury III in S. Texas in the 70s. Hot summer days, my folks and 4 sisters up front in the air conditioned zone, sun beating in, staring backwards from the tailgunners position sipping exhaust from the tiny gaps in the tailgate weatherseal. Good times. If we got sick(we always got sick) my Dad would lift the hammer and ease onto the shoulder doing about 40, lower the rear window and remind us to lean out far enough to "keep it off the paint". I hate wagons

[@googleusergp]

They had optional rear AC units, but they were rarely ordered.

[@schnutchie]

Love this colorful story !

[@marauder600]

😂😂😂😂 I can relate! 😂😂😂😂

[@rightlanehog3151]

Steve, I am impressed that they managed to keep it on the road until 1992.

[@Welcometofacsistube]

Why? My 2 79 300's, 76 powerwagon and 82 cordoba are still on the road

[@BillLaBrie]

@@Welcometofacsistube maybe you should call a few friends to get them moved before they are impounded….just saying…

[@SonnyGTA]

You are??? It was only 20 years old!

[@seed_drill7135]

They tended to rot out in less than 10 up there. We sold a 72 Chrysler out of VA in 1983 in Upstate NY. The guy who bought it was replacing his 71 Imperial due to rust.

[@Welcometofacsistube]

@@seed_drill7135 I live in Saskatchewan. None of mine are rusted out. It's called maintained and cleaned

[@danfay4860]

My Dad had a 73 Plymouth Fury wagon when I was a kid with a 360 9 passenger with many of the same options as this Chrysler T&C

[@keithlibner9259]

My dad bought one when I was a teen. Now, imagine having to take your driving test in one of these before your 16th birthday.

[@warrenw8294]

Thanks Steve. 🙏🏻😎

[@LSnium]

Imagine all the memories some family had in this car, and the kids that grew up in it.

[@pete540Z]

Growing up, we first had a 1962 Newport wagon with the 361, bought from my father's boss. Years later, we got the boss's 1970 Town and Country Wagon, beige, with the 3 row seating and a 383. Yes, I flipped the air cleaner lid at 14 years old.

[@wmryan9646]

I sure miss those wagons.

[@finscreenname]

Used to love riding in the back seat of Gram's station wagon. No clue how dangerous it was. Life was so much better back then.

[@gregorycaloregon3667]

I would Love to have one in my Driveway!! Awesome ride!!

[@robertclevenger697]

Get well soon Steve.

[@jamespetersen3933]

This is the good stuff. Keep on crawling!

[@Ian-of9oi]

My grandmother abandoned her 73 New Yorker 2 door hardtop on the farm. Had wiring issues and was missing parts when I got it. Never got it running good enough to put it on the road but had fun working on it. The 72 grills were so much nicer. If it was a 72 I might have kept working on it.

[@googleusergp]

How long was it on the road before it was parked?

[@Ian-of9oi]

@@googleusergp she replaced it with a 83 fifth avenue. I don’t ever remember her driving it and I’m 40.

[@googleusergp]

@@Ian-of9oi Probably parked it in 1983 if she bought an '83 5th Avenue to replace it.

[@BigMikesHooptyBarn]

We had the Ford LTD Wagon when I was a kid. Great memories!

[@77yogurt]

We had a fairly new at the time 1986 Caprice wagon and ALL of grandma's 8 grandchildren fought for the seats in the "back back" because we sat backwards. The car was the ugliest brown and was bought from Avis rental.

[@nathanielwaters6730]

I like to have one of those Big C-Body Mopar Wagons, to match my '72 Plymouth Fury III!!! I remember as a kid in the '70s, a childhood friend invited me to go to the Jersey Shore, his Mom and Dad had a '71 Chrysler Town and Country Wagon, she was Beautiful, Sea Foam Turquoise with simulated wood on the sides, big 440, road wheels!!! DAMMIT, it was a fast wagon to be so huge!!! I gotta find one, Mopar Nate Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

[@danasmith1899]

One of the great demolition Derby cars, we had the 59 brockwood station wagon, 69 monoco wagon (383 Magnum), and a Pontiac Grand Safari with a 400 and posi with wood-grain sides in 78,

[@fooledman]

Really love the wagons.

[@willstikken5619]

Whenever I come across an old wagon like this it reminds me of the late 70's mercury wagons my grandmother preferred when i was a kid.

[@filthylucreonyoutube]

I had the 72 Dodge Coronet version with the legendary 318 and a 4 bbl carb, stock. Bought it in '83 at an estate sale for $500. Was a 9 passenger model. Towed my boat, got me through snow storms and hauled tons of stuff. And yes, she was a very thirsty girl, but I do miss her.

[@auteurfiddler8706]

1972 was not a year that the 318 came with a four barrel standard or optional. The whole 1970's for that matter.

[@JonathanWhoever]

I once saw a the giant late 60s Ford wagon. On a crappy little trailer being pulled by a very overloaded CJ5.

[@chilee6994]

good looking car/ wagon

[@TheJstewart2010]

The sheer size of that wagon is amazing to see with 2022 eyes, but many of the families in our neighborhood had them back then. A friend posted a church pictorial directory from about the time this car was sold and what was really striking was that most of my friends grew up in families of 3, 4, 5 or even 6 kids. A nine-passenger car was really needed in 1973.

[@jaysmith179]

Someone needs to restore this car. Looks to be in good shape.

[@JasonBoydston]

My grandparents bought a brand new 1969 Plymouth Fury Suburban Wagon, we inherited the car and it kept going until the early 90's when my parents sold it. It had the 383 v8 and I remember the distinct sound of the "Hamtramck Hummingbird" starter.

[@kellyscars]

Hey Steve, "A16" next to the VON isn't Fury III, that would be in the upper row of the tag. A16 in this case denotes October 16 scheduled production date.

[@bumstead1383]

I remember my friend’s parents had a country squire??.. huge wagon we used to ride in the back

[@louisaloi9178]

@ the time I thought was the nicest,best looking family wagon on the road.

[@karl.weaver]

The brochure image without the rubber bouncers on the front bumper show the design perfection of this beautiful car.

[@bjr2379]

Hope you’re well Steve! 💪🇺🇸

[@williammitchell4417]

Can you imagine these big boats hauling newspapers?? My little Taurus wagon delivered a million of them before his transmission gave up the ghost 😁

[@battletrak4392]

Great video, Steve! Keep on bringing the Vans, Station Wagons and other oddities!

[@williammitchell4417]

A terrific demolition derby car!!

[@Justacogg]

Thanks for another fantastic video Steve!

[@Donny.C.wlWilliams]

enjoy the history thank u!

[@selenelacaze9883]

Wow. If this car has a title it would be so great to get it back on the road. they are so rare and awesome.

[@cjhatescomputers]

ive got a 72 Fury wagon sitting in my garage right now with a 360 2bbl

[@Piggypongtheavgeek]

My parents had a 72 Olds Vista Cruiser with the 3rd seat. My sister and I were fighting in the back seat and my mom stopped the car to “adjust our attitude “ so we jumped in the 3rd seat. After that the seat was gone. My dad said he took it out but I found out it was just folded down into the floor! Lol. Memories.

[@saturnfivehynrgrc581]

Cool car!!! Morning Steve.

[@Mercmad]

I was just looking at another channel where Scott from Cold War motors was searching for a tail gunner set of rear seats for town and Country wagon. They should have been called Town in the country...As big as small town out in the country.

[@carlbentley80]

That is super cool. Would love to drive coast to coast And all over America in something like that.

[@jeffclark2725]

Wouldn't miss any,looks like the wagon from Brady Bunch, the woodgrain decal kit was popular also

[@UberLummox]

D 31. You Sunk My Battleship! Even the rear qtr. panels looked maybe rust free on that.

[@chadbarber3760]

Total trip down memory lane Steve! My dad bought a Buick Estate Wagon brand new in1978. I was 7 years old and still remember sitting in that back row gagging on the fumes when the window was down. But we kids didnt care and insisted on sitting back there. This Chrysler, though different model and year still shared similar characteristics with all wagons....Thanks for the informative and entertaining channel!

[@rescuedandrestoredgarage]

Such a wonderful land yacht.

[@edwardpate6128]

Surprised that 727 Torqueflite not picked!

[@jimpatnode4445]

Love the long roofs

[@84GordonShumway]

This episode has me hankering for a 1979 Ford LTD Country Squire wagon (aka NL Vacation Truckster) video!

[@googleusergp]

My uncle had one of those. What a heap. It was made on 12/22/78, which was a Friday, and it showed. It was a 302 V8 and ran like crap until my dad tuned it up. It blew the engine by 40K and my uncle had a used engine in it that also ran like crap until my dad straightened it out. The spark plugs were put in by some very angry worker or someone who took a little Christmas cheer too early at Ford's Dearborn, MI plant. It was code 6P Cream exterior paint as I recall and no one shed a tear when it was sold to my neighbor as a taxi cab in 1983 for $4,200. I remember my uncle changing the oil and calling my dad to help him as he "couldn't get the dang thing off", referring to the oil filter. My dad said, "C'mon, let's walk over there". My uncle who lives six blocks away was all dirty, his glasses askew and told my dad, "I've been trying for an hour now". My father went under there with the oil filter wrench (which my uncle borrowed from my dad) and in ten seconds he had it off. He said to my uncle, "Which way were you turning it?" Turns out he was disoriented being on the ground and was tightening it. I still joke him to this day about it.

[@Thomas-ul3uy]

And just think, an original Chrysler wagon with a big block would be collectable. The fuselage cars are still a beautiful car even today.

[@joemazzola7387]

A co worker had a 73 fury with those rubber block bumper guards In addition to being a shin buster when walking close to them they worked He told me that he was stopped at a light and a Datsun rear ended him no damage to the fury but the Datsun folded up like cardboard

[@lonniem9728]

That would be very cool to restore