Why the endless questions and arguments about the origins of the Chrysler minivans? It’s the old story: “success has a thousand fathers”. You don’t see designers and execs fighting about the paternity of the Aztek. We stepped on some toes regarding the origins of the Espace, and heard from its father. And we took a wild (and disputed) stab at finding the maternal lineage of European minivans, but the American minivan paternity wars go on. Its origins clearly go back to the early seventies, when both Chrysler and Ford developers claim to have been working on “garageable vans”. Meanwhile, the commonly held story is that Hal Sperlich and Lee Iaccocca’s Minimax concept was spurned by Henry Ford II, and they took it with them to bring to fruition at Chrysler. And as usual, its not quite as simple as that. (Read More…)
Tagged as Chrysler, dick nesbitt, dodge caravan, father of the minivan, Ford, ford carousel, hal sperlich, lee iacocca, minimax, Minivan, origins of the minivan
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Murilee Martin - I also shot that Metro-amino. It is amazing. Look for it in a future Junkyard Find.
jeffzekas - I once felt the same way- not anymore, not since the loss of my oldest son… http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/z ekasfamily/
vanwestcoaster - +1
krhodes1 - The wiring issue is pretty much an early ’90s thing. It is not THAT big a deal to replace the engine harness. Volvo and Saab had the same issue...
Bluto - Is being a legit racist still working out for you, Ronnie?
jeffzekas - Is it true that Porsche was involved in the development of the Chevrolet Corvair motor? To what extent?
nrd515 - Not to me. I thought the Colonnade (How appropriate that Colon is part of the name. cars and the Cordoba and it’s siblings were the...
racer-esq. - I’m not the first to say this, but Weekend at Bernie’s immediately comes to mind.
nrd515 - A friend of mine who has seen it has one word to say about it…”Uggh!!!” . This is just a totally clueless move on Ford’s...
Bluto - This is hysterically, laughably childish. BS, you are a tremendous joke.