Dodge Caravan & Grand Caravan
| Chrysler minivans (S) | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Chrysler Corporation |
| Also called | Dodge Caravan Plymouth Voyager Chrysler Voyager (Europe) Chrysler Town & Country Dodge Grand Caravan (LWB) Plymouth Grand Voyager (LWB) Chrysler Grand Voyager (LWB, Europe) |
| Production | November 2, 1983 – 1990 |
| Model years | 1984–1990 |
| Assembly | Windsor Assembly, Windsor, Ontario, Canada |
| Designer | Bob Hubbach (1980) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 3-door minivan |
| Layout | Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive |
| Platform | Chrysler S platform |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.2 L K I4 2.5 L K I4 2.5 L Turbo I4 TURBO 2.6 L Mitsubishi G54B I4 3.0 L Mitsubishi 6G72 V6 3.3 L EGA V6 |
| Transmission | 4-speed A460 manual 5-speed manual 3-speed A413 automatic 3-speed A470 automatic 3-speed A670 automatic 4-speed A604 automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 1984–1988 SWB: 112.1 in (2,847 mm) LWB: 119.1 in (3,025 mm) 1989–1990 SWB & C/V: 112 in (2,844.8 mm) |
| Length | SWB & C/V: 175.9 in (4,468 mm) LWB: 190.5 in (4,839 mm) 1989–1990 LE SWB: 177.3 in (4,503 mm) 1989–1990 LWB LE: 191.9 in (4,874 mm) C/V Extended: 190.6 in (4,841 mm) |
| Width | 1984–1988: 69.5 in (1,765 mm) 1989–1990: 72 in (1,829 mm) |
| Height | 1984–1988 SWB: 64.4 in (1,636 mm) 1987–1988 LWB: 65 in (1,651 mm) C/V: 64.2 in (1,631 mm) 1989–1990 SWB: 64.6 in (1,641 mm) 1989–1990 LWB : 64.8 in (1,646 mm) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Chrysler minivans (AS) |
The first-generation Chrysler minivans are a series of minivans produced and marketed by the Chrysler Corporation in North American and Europe from 1984 to 1990. Sold in both passenger and cargo configurations, the series is the first of six generations of Chrysler minivans.
At its November 1983 launch, Chrysler introduced the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager, with the extended-length Grand Caravan and Grand Voyager introduced in 1987. For 1990, the minivan was added to the Chrysler brand, adopting the Chrysler Town & Country nameplate. For export, Chrysler sold the Chrysler Voyager/Grand Voyager, competing against the Renault Espace (which began life as a Talbot, part of the former Chrysler Europe)
Though mechanically similar to the Chrysler K-Cars, the first-generation minivans are based on a distinct body architecture, designated the Chrysler S platform, after beginning life as the T-115 project during their development.
Launched ahead of chief competitors Chevrolet Astro/GMC Safari and Ford Aerostar, the first-generation Dodge Caravan/Plymouth Voyager effectively created the modern minivan segment in North America, with many later North American minivans adopting a similar body configuration.
The development of what became the Chrysler minivans began life in the early 1970s, as both Ford Motor Company and the truck division of Dodge began separate projects on "garageable vans". Intended as a more powerful, safer-handling alternative to the Volkswagen Microbus, both companies sought to create vehicles capable as a second car. The Dodge project ended with the creation of a clay model; Ford would create the 1972 Ford Carousel protoype, based on the Ford Econoline. Supported by both Lee Iaccoca and Henry Ford II, the Carousel prototype did not reach production, facing internal opposition from other Ford executives.
At the end of 1977, development of Chrysler minivans restarted with four main goals, with a planned 1982 model year launch.
Although both the front-wheel drive K-Cars and L-body (Omni/Horizon) were being considered as donor platforms, Chrysler also allowed consideration of rear-wheel drive. Ultimately, the L-body was ruled out, as it was considered too light-duty for either the size of the vehicle or its planned six-cylinder engine.
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Wikipedia