The History of Minivans
The minivan can trace its roots to 1935 in Detroit when the small, futuristic Stout Scarab was produced by a small company in limited numbers. But it was the Volkswagen Type 2 Transporter that set the stage for the modern minivan. After losing considerable ground to full-size truck-based vans in the 1970s, the minivan re-emerged in 1984 when Chrysler introduced new version of the minivan.
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Stout Scarab
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Perhaps the most novel automobile to emerge from Detroit was the Stout Scarab. Manufactured by Stout Engineering Laboratories, the Scarab reflected Art Deco body styling in the extreme. Creator William Stout developed an "office on wheels" using an aluminum aircraft fuselage and a unitized body that accommodated a low, flat floor to maximize interior space. The rear featured a bench seat and worktable. Its Ford V-8 engine was rear-mounted. But the price was too high at $5,000 for the average buyer. Only 100 were produced.
Microbus
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While the Scarab was an interesting experiment, the Volkswagen Transporter established the template for all future minivans. Launched in 1950 in Wolfsburg, Germany, the Transporter, also known as the microbus, held nine occupants depending on the seating configurations offered. It was powered by an air-cooled rear-mounted four-cylinder engine. Early models generated only 36 horsepower.
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Corvair Greenbrier
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Chevrolet attempted to capitalize on the VW microbus' success with its own version that was produced from 1961-65. Also using a rear-engine version based on the Corvair passenger car, the Greenbrier was powered by an 80-horsepower 146-cubic-inch six-cylinder powerplant. It seated seven passengers.
Changing Market
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By the mid-1970s the only true minivan still produced for the North American market was the VW bus. But it was losing steam rapidly as buyers became weary of the underpowered, noisy and inefficient air-cooled engine and turned to larger truck-based vans. Baby boomers, once the primary consumer of the VW microbus, were having families by the early 1980s. They eschewed their once beloved VW and Dad's Detroit-made station wagons. They wanted a car that was safe but fuel-efficient and with modern styling.
Detroit Response
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The first to recognize the marketing potential of a modern minivan was Chrysler. The automaker introduced simultaneously its Dodge Caravan and rebadged Plymouth Voyager for the 1984 model year. Longer versions followed in 2007. The Chevrolet Astro followed in 1985 and the Ford Aerostar in 1986. The high-end Chrysler Town and Country debuted in 1990. Chrysler's minivans since their inception outstripped all competitors with more than 12 million sold.
Dimensions
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Unlike today's truck-based sport utility vehicles, the minivan was based on a passenger car frame and embodied all passenger car characteristics. The early Chrysler-produced minivans, for example, sat on a 112.3-inch wheelbase and measured 178.1.3 inches long and 65.9 inches tall. Most were powered by inline four-cylinder or V-6 engines. Three bench seats accommodated seven passengers.
Today
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The minivan has since been supplanted by sport utility vehicles as the multiple-passenger car of choice for families. Further, Detroit automakers have ceded the market to Japan. Nissan, Toyota and Korean automaker Hyundai are now the primary makers of minivans. Ford, Dodge and Plymouth have discontinued their models, although Chrysler remains with its Town and Country.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Chrysler LLC, General Motors, Volkswagen AG, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai
