A rare 1941 Chrysler Town & Country ‘Barrelback’ Station Wagon, once owned by the Louis Vuitton family, heads to auction.
In the world of classic American automobiles, few vehicles capture the imagination quite like the 1941 Chrysler Town & Country ‘Barrelback’ Station Wagon. This rare and luxurious wood-bodied station wagon, a true icon of pre-war American craftsmanship, is now set to cross the auction block, offering collectors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own one of the most sought-after vehicles from this era.
The ‘Barrelback’ is a masterpiece of design and engineering, born from the vision of David A. Wallace, who was appointed President of Chrysler in 1937. Wallace, a true car enthusiast and inventor with over 70 patents to his name, envisioned a long-wheelbase vehicle that could carry up to nine passengers along with their luggage, making it the perfect vehicle for the active American lifestyle of the time. With the help of Chrysler's talented designer Arnolt "Buzz" Grisinger, Wallace's concept was transformed into the stunning Town & Country Wagon, renowned for its distinctive clamshell rear doors, which earned it the nickname "Barrelback."
Crafted with white ash framing and beautifully grained Honduran mahogany panels, the Town & Country’s woodwork exemplifies the high level of craftsmanship that went into its creation. This particular example, one of only 200 six-passenger ‘Barrelbacks’ built in 1941, is even more special—out of the 996 ‘Barrelbacks’ produced in total, only 24 are known to survive today, with just four being six-passenger models.
The history of this particular Town & Country is as fascinating as the car itself. Built on May 16, 1941, it was initially delivered to an owner in Syracuse, New York. Over the years, the vehicle made its way to Europe and was eventually acquired by a Belgian broker, who sold it to the current owner in 2010. This owner, a former Executive Vice President of the Town & Country Chapter of the National Woodie Club, discovered that the car had once belonged to the Louis Vuitton family, a detail that has only added to its allure and historical significance. Affectionately nicknamed "Louie," the car underwent an extensive refurbishment between 2014 and 2015, with the white ash and mahogany wood panels being painstakingly restored to their original glory. The maroon leather upholstery and carpeting were also renewed, ensuring that the interior matched the car’s stunning exterior.
Under the hood, the ‘Barrelback’ is powered by a well-maintained 241-cid L-head inline six-cylinder engine, paired with a column-shifted fluid drive four-speed semi-automatic transmission. The current owner has ensured that the car remains in excellent mechanical condition, including a rebuild of the carburetor and generator, and various other maintenance tasks, making it ready for spirited driving.
This 1941 Chrysler Town & Country ‘Barrelback’ is not just a car; it is a piece of American history. With its stunning woodwork, rich provenance, and impeccable restoration, it stands as one of the most attractive and rare wood-bodied station wagons ever produced. Collectors and enthusiasts will not want to miss the opportunity to acquire this exceptional vehicle when it goes up for auction.
Starting Thursday, August 29, enthusiasts can look forward to a dynamic three-day sale with a curated offering of outstanding sports, supercars and hypercars, celebrity owned vehicles, pioneering race cars, exceptional pre-war automobiles, state-of-the-art cybertrucks, muscle cars, classics and vintage trucks, as well as an extensive selection of the best memorabilia to be found. 400 cars are slated to cross the block from August 29-31. Join us for this Labor Day weekend tradition!
Readers can receive complimentary bidder registration ($150 value) and auction passes using promo code “motorious” during bidder registration. Visit http://WorldwideAuctioneers.com to see the catalogue and register to bid.
