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Happy belated birthday to the Chrysler minivan.
On November 2nd, 1983, the chariot of the traveling family was born. Chrysler at this point (in a weird way of history repeating itself) was teetering on dire financial straits. They took a gamble and saw an unrealized market.
As Gizmodo points out, that market was the family. In the late 70’s and early 80’s, there really wasn’t any vehicles that were great for big families to travel in. Recent oil crises have dealt a heavy blow to the gas hog station wagons and sedans. And full sized-vans were more designed to be more similar to trucks and not like a normal car.
“What was missing from the market was a family vehicle that drove like a car, got good fuel economy, and had room enough for a family. Chrysler’s minivan was the first vehicle designed from the ground up to fit that need, and it was a revelation.”
The article continues to point out that the minivans that Chrysler produced, the Chrysler Town & Country and the Dodge Caravan, have continued to see their initial contributions in use today. While the visual designed has changed drastically from the 80’s, the core features are still there.
An interesting fact of note is how hard the competitors tried to get a grasp of Chrysler’s new-found success. Even in 2008, with Chrysler back on the verge of collapse, the auto company still had 41 percent of the minivan market.
What impacted the minivan the most was the introduction of the SUV class in the 90’s. As writer Robert Sorokanich points out, however, is that the SUV is still entirely similar in design and purpose to the minivan, even if it took some time for the cars to come around. The SUV’s were given more favor thanks to cheaper gas prices in the 90’s and the more rugged and less “manly” feel of the minivan. Yet, as the years have gone on, it’s clear to see that the SUV is simply the newest evolution of what Chrysler stated with the first Town & Country.
Happy 30 years Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan. Thanks for all the memories of going to visit relatives while in the back seat.
If you’re looking for a new or used car, contact us at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge. It doesn’t matter if you have bad credit, we’ll work with you to find the right vehicle for your lifestyle. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more news and monthly specials.
The minivan is a staple of American roadways all over. The class have come to represent many things, but chief among them is the chariot of the family. The styling has come a long way and Chrysler is looking to celebrate just how far the class has come in such a short time.
The first Chrysler Town & Country minivan was made in November of 1983. That means it’s the 30th anniversary not only for the Town & Country itself, but for the minivan class. What better way to commemorate the achievement than by moving forward with a special 30th anniversary edition of the Town & Country?
“The Chrysler Group is well-known as the creator of the minivan, and these 30th Anniversary Editions are the perfect way to celebrate their leadership and longevity in the marketplace,” said Ben Winter, vice president of Vehicle Engineering.
The 30th Anniversary Edition of the Town & Country will be based on the Touring-L model. To make sure people who take a look will recognize it as a special edition Town & Country, there will be unique markings inside and out. The 30th Anniversary Edition will also come equipped with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine with a six-speed automatic transmission.
For more information on the Chrysler Town & Country minivan or any Chrysler product, contact a sales rep at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge. We will work with you to find the perfect match of a new or used car for your lifestyle. We love to say yes!