The Chrysler Town & Country is a minivan manufactured and marketed by Chrysler starting from the 1990 until the 2016 model year. It was the third Chrysler minivan model introduced in North America. The Town & Country adopted its nameplate from the flagship Chrysler station wagon line, adopting its exterior woodgrain trim as a design feature for several generations.
Marketed as the flagship of the Chrysler minivan line, five generations of the Town & Country were slotted above the extended-wheelbase Dodge Grand Caravan and Plymouth Grand Voyager. For 2017, Chrysler retired the nameplate, with sixth-generation Chrysler-division minivans becoming the Chrysler Pacifica. After the 2016 model year, Chrysler marked the sale of its 12 millionth minivan (under all three nameplates). Produced almost continuously for 75 years (except during World War II and 1989), the Town & Country nameplate is the longest-produced Chrysler; its longevity is second only to the Chevrolet Suburban in automotive history.
Chrysler assembled the first three generations of the model line at its Saint Louis Assembly facility in Fenton, Missouri. The fourth- and fifth-generation Town & Country models were produced by Chrysler Canada at Windsor Assembly in Windsor, Ontario.
First generation (1990)
The Chrysler Town & Country minivan was introduced as a minivan in the spring of 1989 as an early 1990 model. Initially slated for a 1989 model-year release,Early sales material for the model referring to it as a 1989 model, retrieved on 2014-12-13. the nameplate had been placed on hiatus for the first time since 1945 as Chrysler discontinued station wagon production after the 1988 model year. Having sold the line as one of its flagship vehicles (similar to the New Yorker and Imperial until the end of the 1970s), Chrysler sought to continue the name for a minivan (as the vehicles replaced full-size station wagons across multiple premium brands). Though its 1980s namesake was a station wagon counterpart of the Chrysler LeBaron sedan, a Town & Country minivan was benchmarked as the equivalent of the largest Chrysler sedans, including the 1989-1990 New Yorker Landau and Fifth Avenue."1990 Chrysler Showroom Brochure" pg. 20–21 , retrieved on 2011–06–18.
The 1990 Chrysler Town & Country used the Chrysler S platform, sharing its bodyshell with the Dodge Grand Caravan and Plymouth Grand Voyager. Alongside its role of securing higher-profit sales, another objective behind the development of the model line (introduced roughly 18 months before the release of its successor) was to repurpose pre-manufactured long-wheelbase bodies already slated to be sold by Dodge and Plymouth. To minimize potential tooling costs for developing a distinct model, the Town & Country was distinguished from its counterparts with relatively few changes.
Initially offered solely in white, black was added as an optional color in June 1989;"1990 Chrysler Showroom Brochure" pg. 30 , retrieved on 2011–06–18. all versions were produced with a tan interior. Retaining its traditional exterior (simulated) wood trim (from LE-trim Voyagers/Caravans), the model line was styled with a largely monochrome exterior (with body-color bumpers and side mirrors). While the grille was explicitly designed for the Town & Country (adopting the Chrysler lettering from the export Voyager), the 15-inch wheels were shared with the Voyager LX (painted white), with the lower body cladding shared with the Caravan ES (slightly extended to compensate for the longer wheelbase). Shared with the New Yorker and Fifth Avenue, the Town & Country received a crystal Chrysler Pentastar hood ornament.
The interior was trimmed with leather seats, door panels (adopting a more contemporary design than Chrysler sedans), along with upgraded wood trim. In contrast to LE-trim Dodge and Plymouth minivans, the Town & Country was equipped with effectively every feature, including power windows and locks, seven-passenger seating, roof luggage rack, and front and rear air conditioning; the Infinity sound system was shared with the Imperial.
In total, Chrysler produced 1,789 examples in 1989 and 3,615 in 1990.
Engines When launched, the Town & Country was originally fitted with the Mitsubishi-produced 6G72 3.0 L V6, producing ; these vehicles were certified as 1989 vehicles by the Environmental Protection Agency."Fuel Economy of the 1989 Chrysler Town and Country", retrieved on 2015-04-17. For 1990 production, the Chrysler-produced 3.3 L V6 replaced it, increasing output by ;"1990 – CHRYSLER MINIVAN – Magazine Ad – TOWN & COUNTRY", retrieved on 2021-02-16 this engine was shared with the Dodge Dynasty, Chrysler New Yorker, and Chrysler Imperial.
Both engines were paired solely with a 4-speed "Ultradrive" automatic transmission.Chrysler Sales Material "1990 Chrysler Sales Brochure", published by the Chrysler Motors Corporation 3.0 L Mitsubishi 6G72 V6, and of torque 3.3 L EGA V6, and of torque
Second generation (1990–1995)
Introduced in November 1990, the second-generation Town & Country minivan adopted the Chrysler AS platform, using the 119-inch wheelbase of the Grand Caravan/Grand Voyager. Sharing only the front doors and side door with its 1990 predecessor, the chassis underwent extensive upgrades. As with the previous generation, the Town & Country was structurally unrelated with the Chrysler K-Cars (discontinued for 1991), but shared powertrain commonality with its AC/AY-platform derivatives (Chrysler New Yorker/Fifth Avenue/Imperial and Dodge Dynasty).
In contrast to the Caravan and Voyager, the Town & Country was sold in a single trim level with few distinct options; no short-wheelbase version was offered. In addition to its waterfall grille and crystal Pentastar (similar to the New Yorker), the Town & Country shared its headlights and taillight clusters with the Voyager. In line with the previous generation, the exterior was styled with monochrome paint (including matching side mirrors and body cladding) and model-specific alloy wheels. Moving beyond the limited-production status of previous generation, Chrysler offered a variety of exterior of colors, keeping the woodgrain trim standard.
The interior was fitted with standard leather trim (similar to the Chrysler Imperial), woodgrain dashboard/door trim (replacing black trim) and a standard digital instrument cluster (including a tachometer). In a change from the previous generation, the dashboard was fitted with a glovebox. The second row of seats was offered in two configurations; a bench seat was standard, with "Quad Command" second-row bucket seats offered as an option for the Town & Country (and the highest-trim Voyager/Caravan); for 1992, the latter design was made standard. Though Chrysler introduced integrated child safety seats for 1992, the feature was designed only with bench seats, precluding its fitment with the Town & Country.
Introduced as an option when the model was launched, the Town & Country (and its Caravan/Voyager counterparts) was the first minivan sold with a driver-side airbag; for 1992, the driver airbag was made standard. Though technically a light truck, the model line adopted 3-point seatbelts for each outboard seating position.
Engines 1991–1993: 3.3 L EGA V6, , 1994–1995: 3.8 L EGH V6, ,
Year-to-year changes 1991: Second-generation Chrysler Town & Country minivan is introduced with improved aerodynamics, fit and finish, and upgraded interior controls. The 1991 vehicles are distinguished by door handle design (shared with the previous generation). Only year for optional airbag and standard second-row bench seat. 1992: Driver-side airbag and "quad command" rear seats made standard; all-wheel drive introduced as optional feature. Door handles redesigned (larger, better-integrated design). For the first time, Chrysler offers an exterior woodgrain trim delete option for the Town & Country, replaced by a monochrome exterior with a gold pinstripe; new gold-color alloy wheels were introduced. 1993: There were several interior revisions. On the exterior, a stainless steel exhaust system and new available wheel designs greeted buyers for 1993. 1994: For a mid-cycle revision, the dashboard underwent a design, introducing dual airbags; to meet 1998 side-impact standards, the front doors and sliding door were fitted with internal impact beams. Woodgrain-delete vans were fitted with body-color grilles (with some vehicles deleting all chrome). The 3.3 L V6 was replaced by a larger-displacement 3.8 L V6 (from the 5th Avenue/Imperial). 1995: Largely carryover in a shortened final year. The keyless-entry remote was revised for safety. To prevent an accidental opening of the rear liftgate, a user now had to press the release button within five seconds.
Third generation (1996–2000)
Introduced at the beginning of 1995, the third-generation Town & Country debuted the all-new Chrysler NS platform, marking the most extensive redesign of the Chrysler minivans since their 1984 release. Adopting cab-forward design to a minivan format, Chrysler sought a design that maximized interior space and visibility. Alongside its Dodge and Plymouth counterparts, the 1996 Town & Country introduced several features to the segment, including a driver-side sliding door, and rear seats mounted on deployable wheels (Easy Out Roller Seats). In a break from tradition, the 1996 Town & Country was no longer offered with simulated woodgrain exterior trim (offered either as an option or as standard since 1965). The hood ornament was deleted; in place of the crystal Pentastar, the model line debuted a grille-mounted Chrysler "blue ribbon" emblem (revived from the mid-1930s).
Sharing its bodyshell with the Caravan and Voyager, the Town & Country was styled with a largely monochrome appearance, with chrome limited to body moldings, wheels, and the grille (the only Chrysler NS minivan with a chrome grille). To match the Town & Country against smaller competitors, Chrysler introduced a version of the model line using the standard 113-inch wheelbase (non-"Grand") body. In a major change, the rear liftgate was fitted with an external release handle (unlatched separately from being unlocked).
Distinguished primarily by its woodgrain trim, the interior of the Town & Country shared its dashboard with both the Caravan and Voyager; the digital instrument cluster was retired in favor of analog instruments.
Car and Driver included the Town & Country on their Ten Best list for 1996 and 1997. In 1999, Chrysler unveiled the Pacifica, a concept minivan using the Town & Country's body shell and bearing resemblance to the Town & Country and the LHS.
Trim For the third generation of the model line, Chrysler expanded the Town & Country several distinct trim levels. To allow Chrysler to compete against smaller minivans (including the Oldsmobile Silhouette and Mercury Villager), the company introduced a shorter-length version (adopting the body of the Caravan/Voyager, not the Grand Caravan/Grand Voyager).
For 1996, the previous-generation Town & Country was designated as the LXi trim, again featuring leather and wood interior trim, 8-way adjustable front seats. A base-trim long-wheelbase was introduced; largely replacing the Plymouth Grand Voyager LE, the model was fitted with cloth trim and standard bench seats (allowing for integrated child safety seats as an option). The short-wheelbase LX trim replaced the Plymouth Voyager LX, featuring the same feature content as the base-trim model.
For 1997, the trim range was revised, with the base LWB model becoming the LX and the previous LX renamed the SX (denoting its shorter-wheelbase status). With the exception of engines (SX and LX used a 3.3 L V6; a 3.8 L V6 for LXi, optional on AWD LX vans), the LX and SX shared optional equipment standardized on the premium LXi.