The Ford Aerostar debuted in 1986, after having been under design for 2 years. Learn more about Ford’s $300 million dollar gamble on the Aerostar, and why it was so successful against Chrysler’s Grand Caravan in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
reports, Ford’s minivan was first available in 1986. Looking at the vehicle now, the Ford Aerostar certainly doesn’t win any style points—and that was Ford’s goal. In an attempt to keep up with Chrysler, Ford engineers were determined to make a rear-wheel drive, family-oriented vehicle that could offer the interior space and luxury of a high-end sedan, with the towing capacity of the
The company started working on the Aerostar in 1984 and spent $300 million brainstorming how to create the perfect minivan. That money went into designing a unibody construction that helped it stay fuel-efficient, while its 170 cubic feet of interior storage helped families cram as many grocery bags or kids into the back as humanly possible. The Ford Aerostar also had an impressive 2000-cubic-inch cargo capacity and a 5,000-lb towing capacity.
, the Ford Aerostar was quite literally dropped into the laps of many Americans across the country. Ford used cargo planes to spread the word about their new van, and it must’ve worked. The American carmaker was selling 200,000 units a year by 1988. Then Ford collaborated with Eddie Bauer to create the industry’s first-ever luxury minivan—the Aerostar Eddie Bauer Edition.
By 1990, Ford realized that many customers weren’t using their minivans to tow trailers, boats, or RVs, so they adopted a new front-wheel-drive platform. This helped the vans find traction in icy or rainy conditions, and also helped the automaker save money by adopting the chassis off of their popular Ford Taurus, another front-wheel-drive vehicle.
Why isn’t the Ford Aerostar a collector’s vehicle?
With over 2 million units having been produced, the Ford Aerostar is anything but rare. And despite being a practical, family-oriented workhorse, it’s also a uniquely ugly vehicle. Plus, most Aerostars have racked up some significant miles, meaning that their value will deteriorate significantly. Even though the Ford Aerostar won’t go down as a collector car, it should be noted as one of history’s best minivans.
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