Lot 108

Amelia Island 2014

1948 Chrysler Town and Country Convertible

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$110,000 USD | Sold

United States | Amelia Island, Florida

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Chassis No.
7406544
  • Offered from the collection of Richard and Linda Kughn
  • An excellent, well-known example with long-term Ontario history
  • Formerly owned by Joseph Cassini
  • Wonderful older restoration with a desirable Highlander interior

Series C-39. 135 bhp, 323.5 cu. in. L-head inline eight-cylinder engine, Fluid Drive transmission, front and rear coil-spring suspension with shock absorbers, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 127.5 in.

In 1963, Stewart Kennedy and his wife, Catherine Baker, acquired this Town and Country Convertible from an owner on the east coast of the United States. Mr. Kennedy, an enthusiast ahead of his time, appreciated the Chrysler’s unique beauty, and he would enjoy it on the roads around his home in Sarnia, Ontario, for over a quarter century, while planning all the while to eventually return it to its original glamour.

Finally, in 1989, the Kennedys set out to restore the Chrysler. Sadly, Stewart Kennedy passed away in 1991, before the work could be completed. Undeterred, his wife Catherine, with the help of some supportive and knowledgeable friends, began the restoration anew the following year, and they were able to complete it in 1994. That year, it was shown competitively for the first time at the Willistead Concours d’Elegance, where it earned Best in Class—a very satisfying and memorable moment for Catherine and all her friends.

In 1997, the Chrysler was acquired from the Kennedy family by well-known collector and two-time Pebble Beach Concours Best of Show winner Joseph Cassini. It remained in the Cassini stable for a decade, until it was purchased by Richard and Linda Kughn. It has since resided in their own renowned collection, where it has been well maintained by their professional staff.

The car features a factory-correct Highlander cloth interior, which is a wonderful counterpoint to the subtle Dove Gray bodywork. It remains in excellent overall condition, and its brightwork, engine and bay, underbody, and paintwork all belie the age of their restoration and display the consistency found in a high-quality labor of love. The interior, in particular, appears scarcely used, and the wood is wonderfully finished, without too much gloss, just as the factory would have done it. Equipment on the car includes power spotlights, amber driving lights, and a power top.

In 1963, when most every other car built in 1948 was still “just a used car,” this was already something special to Stewart and Catherine Kennedy, and it has been considered something special by every owner since, which is a testament to the Town and Country’s lasting appeal among enthusiasts who recognize post-war elegance at its best.