Chrysler Minivan Thursday CC Outtake 1: Vintage Vans On Parade

by Paul Niedermeyer

Published: March 18th, 2010

chrysler minivan thursday cc outtake 1 vintage vans on parade

It’s easy to forget how small the early Caravans were, unless you see them with their van cohorts.

Paul Niedermeyer

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BuzzDog on Mar 19, 2010

Imagine...efficient use of space, garage-able AND able to hold a 4x8 sheet of plywood - flat - between the rear wheelwells? Make it reliable, and I may have to have one!

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- Jack Denver on Mar 19, 2010
  
  The SWB models could hold a sheet of plywood flat (there was 4' between the wheelwells) but you couldn't close the liftgate. Only the LWB ones can hold one with the gate closed.
  
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Starbird80 on Mar 19, 2010

Fun fact: the first Chrysler minivan I saw in the wild (i.e. outside of the auto show) had a personalized plate that read 'TOY VAN'. Nowadays, I keep repeating, "the minivan ain't so mini anymore."

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Recent Comments

ToolGuy First picture: I realize that opinions vary on the height of modern trucks, but that entry door on the building is 80 inches tall and hits just below the headlights. Does anyone really believe this is reasonable?Second picture: I do not believe that is a good parking spot to be able to access the bed storage. More specifically, how do you plan to unload topsoil with the truck parked like that? Maybe you kids are taller than me.
ToolGuy The other day I attempted to check the engine oil in one of my old embarrassing vehicles and I guess the red shop towel I used wasn't genuine Snap-on (lots of counterfeits floating around) plus my driveway isn't completely level and long story short, the engine seized 3 minutes later.No more used cars for me, and nothing but dealer service from here on in (the journalists were right).
Doughboy Wow, Merc knocks it out of the park with their naming convention… again. /s
Doughboy I’ve seen car bras before, but never car beards. ZZ Top would be proud.
Bkojote Allright, actual person who knows trucks here, the article gets it a bit wrong.First off, the Maverick is not at all comparable to a Tacoma just because they're both Hybrids. Or lemme be blunt, the butch-est non-hybrid Maverick Tremor is suitable for 2/10 difficulty trails, a Trailhunter is for about 5/10 or maybe 6/10, just about the upper end of any stock vehicle you're buying from the factory. Aside from a Sasquatch Bronco or Rubicon Jeep Wrangler you're looking at something you're towing back if you want more capability (or perhaps something you /wish/ you were towing back.)Now, where the real world difference should play out is on the trail, where a lot of low speed crawling usually saps efficiency, especially when loaded to the gills. Real world MPG from a 4Runner is about 12-13mpg, So if this loaded-with-overlander-catalog Trailhunter is still pulling in the 20's - or even 18-19, that's a massive improvement.