Dragon Wagon
John Lennon and Yoko Ono owned this green 1972 Chrysler Town & Country station wagon when they lived at the Dakota in New York City, using it as their primary form of transportation during the 70s.
Before moving to the States, Lennon had owned a famous psychedelic, multicolored Rolls-Royce Phantom, an Austin Princess, an Austin Maxi, a Mini Cooper S, a Mercedes Benz 230 SL and a bright blue Ferrari 330 GT, but this Chrysler was said to be his favorite because of its modesty and practicality, allowing him to travel through life virtually unrecognized.
John and Yoko spent a lot of time riding in this car, affectionately naming it “The Dragon Wagon” and “The Green Dragon”. Lennon and his lover May Pang also used this wagon often during their 18 month “Lost Weekend” from 1973-1975.
Custom Built
Apple Records ordered the Town & Country for the couple directly from Chrysler, custom optioned with faux wood trim delete, a 400 cubic inch V8, automatic transmission, air suspension and Lennon selected Amber Sherwood Metallic paint, the same green hue it wears today. After rolling off the assembly line the wagon was unbelievably flown to New York in a privately chartered jet.
Daily Life
The Lennon family relied on the wagon for grocery runs and everyday travel, including bringing John’s many guitars back and forth to NYC recording sessions and rides between their Manhattan apartment, Long Island house and Pennsylvania farm. More often than not, the Town & Country was driven by one of the couple’s assistants including May Pang, Peter Bendry, Nishi and Frederic Seaman.
The West Coast and Back
John and Yoko often took the Chrysler cross-country, including documented road trips to Los Angeles and San Francisco.
''John told me that he and Yoko had once gone cross-country to visit a Chinese acupuncturist who lived in San Francisco. John explained that this doctor had helped him and Yoko withdraw from heroin, turning them on to a healthy macrobiotic diet and making it possible for Yoko to get pregnant.''
— Frederic Seaman, Former Assistant
Another Wagon
By 1978, the Town & Country was so worn from daily use that the Lennon’s personal assistant recommended they purchase a new car. Yoko selected a1979 Mercedes Benz W123 300 Turbo Diesel Estate Wagon.
When the Mercedes arrived the Chrysler was still used, but not as often. Yoko put the wagon into storage shortly after John’s death. She then sold it at a Sotheby's auction in 1984 for $7,700 with the buyer remaining anonymous.
Seances and Taxes
In 1996 the anonymous owner no wanted to pay storage fees so they listed the car with Sotheby's again, it was purchased at auction by a well known New York clairvoyant and medium for $20,700, more than twice the presale estimate.
The car was subsequently parked indoors for 15 years and used in seances attempting to channel lyrics for a posthumous Lennon album through the spirits of deceased husbands of rich, elderly, New York widows.
Unforeseen tax issues forced a sale of the wagon.
Third Act
The current owners purchased the Chrysler at auction at Braswell Galleries in Norwalk, Connecticut on January 1st, 2011.
They haven’t managed to channel Lennon yet, but the car has an endearing way of playing his music on the FM radio almost every time it’s taken out.
Jonathan Moore from Speedhunters traveled thousands of miles to write an article about the wagon. As he made the final turn off of the highway, “Imagine” started randomly playing on his 2000+ song iPod… Coincidence?
Time Capsule
Unbelievably, the car was preserved exactly as it was when the Lennon’s parked it for the last time back in 1980. Items found inside include their Mayfair Garage parking sticker, vintage 8-tracks, and their original New York State registration, keys, key chains, and owners manuals.
The wagon’s multiple ashtrays were packed matchbooks and L&M cigarette butts. Other personal items were found wedged under the seats.
A set four original bald tires were stored in the back, along with the can of fix-a-flat Frederic Seaman mentioned in his memoirs.
The wagon now presents as it was during the Lennon’s eight years of use, from 1972 to 1980, complete with dents, rust, scratches and imperfections. All mechanical and cosmetic work has been performed with care, and an eye towards originality and preservation as well as honoring Lennon’s memory.
When you climb into the back seat, it feels like you’re about to take a ride with John Lennon. Imagine the song ideas that ran through his mind and the inspiration he found traveling through life in this unassuming Chrysler wagon.
Lost and Found
John and Yoko’s Town & Country, along with their 1980 Mercedes wagon, was featured in Episode 53 of History Channel’s “Lost and Found”. You can view the clip here.
“The Chrysler was from a period when Lennon was trying to live a simpler life, relatively speaking. He owned the T&C longer than any other car, which definitely says something.”
— Jonathan Moore, Speedhunters
