Think of what the automotive landscape looked like nigh on 25 years ago. Mentioning "family car" in 1983 would have conjured a station wagon. Some of us dig wagons, while others think we're daft because of the stigma they still carry. There's no denying that a wagon is an excellent way to transport kids and stuff, but those beasts of yesteryear often led to yearnings for an alternative. We all remember getting carsick while sitting in the rear-facing third row torture chamber, cut off from the rest of the family and their future-looking vantage point. The tailgunner position was a great way to test out new hand gestures on following motorists, though.
When the Chrysler minivans were revealed to the world in 1983 as 1984 models, they were a revelation. The Caravan and Voyager were not the first vans based on compact chassis, but they were such a successful combination of the elements that sales took off and imitators sprang up only after Chrysler had firmly established its status as the segment trendsetter. Continued after the jump.
When the Chrysler minivans were revealed to the world in 1983 as 1984 models, they were a revelation. The Caravan and Voyager were not the first vans based on compact chassis, but they were such a successful combination of the elements that sales took off and imitators sprang up only after Chrysler had firmly established its status as the segment trendsetter. Continued after the jump.
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It's taken 25 years for cracks in the armor to appear; Chrysler's newly redone vans are fighting for their lives against the formidably excellent Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey after years of dominance. While they may not have originated the idea, Chrysler's minis certainly moved the segment from niche vehicle to the pinnacle of the mainstream. Chrysler was selling a lot of full size vans in the 1970s, and many to families because they'd equipped them with carlike features. An A-series van equipped with such luxuries as full carpeting, power windows, air conditioning, and 8-track stereos (matchbook optional) was a comfortable way to cover long stretches in the 1970s.
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At a time when the Volkswagen Vanagon was about the only vehicle that might be considered a direct competitor, Chrysler's minivans were a revelation. Interiors were filled with innovative ideas, and every successive generation saw further refinement, ensuring that Chrysler minis maintained their position as the bogey to beat. Novel thinking continues to manifest itself in Chrysler's vans, and the arrival of the minivan also accomplished something else - it shifted the stigma off station wagons, giving the shooting brake a little breathing room to learn how to be cool.
We have yet to see a concours-quality first-generation minivan. For that matter, it's getting hard to find one that hasn't been attacked by the tinworm, but the fact remains that the minivans are going to be old enough to actually show up at a "classic car" event with credibility. They may have been the scourge of the road before attention was redirected to SUVs, but they were the vehicle that kicked off a paradigm shift in the marketplace, and they continue to get better with every revision. When GM and Ford have bowed out after receiving a considerable drubbing, Chrysler remains the sole domestic brand in the fight.
Allpar's excellent history was immensely helpful in researching this post.
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