The Journey So Far.
How a 1985 Chrysler Town & Country wagon found its way back into my life and started teaching me patience one repair at a time.
This one started with a Marketplace listing and a joke.
Most project car stories start with a plan. This one did not.
What follows is the story of how a 1985 Chrysler Town & Country wagon found its way back into my life and how it is slowly becoming the wagon I've always wanted it to be.
This page will continue to grow as the project grows.
Before The Wagon
When I was sixteen, I owned a Chrysler Town & Country wagon. It was not fancy. It was not fast. It was not cool by normal standards.
But it was mine.
In 2000, it was stolen from my driveway. It was never recovered. I never recovered.
I never stopped looking.
The Marketplace Listing
One day I spotted a 1985 Chrysler Town & Country wagon for sale on Facebook Marketplace.
The same year. The same body style. The same fake woodgrain. The same ridiculous charm.
I joked that if I had an extra $3,400 lying around, I'd buy it immediately.
My friends decided they wanted to help make that happen.
Norma
While learning about the wagon's history, I found out it had belonged to a woman named Norma.
That happens to be my grandmother's name.
Coincidence? Maybe. Still feels like the universe was saying something though.
The First Drive
I don't remember every detail of the first drive. I remember how it felt.
Excitement. Disbelief. A huge grin that probably looked ridiculous.
The paint was terrible. Parts were piled in the back. None of that mattered. I had my wagon back.
Settling In
The first few months were mostly fun. Cleaning. Exploring. Learning the car. Making plans. Driving whenever possible.
People waved. People smiled. People shared stories about wagons they used to own. So many awesome stories.
The Wagon Fights Back
A hard-starting issue appeared. Then stalling. Then cooling system concerns. Then overheating.
The wagon is currently taking a brief break from driving while I work through the next round of repairs.
I choose to think of this as an educational opportunity.