{"id":10933,"date":"2019-08-15T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-08-15T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/studebaker.priemerhosting.com\/why-the-chrysler-minivan-changed-the-world\/"},"modified":"2019-08-15T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2019-08-15T00:00:00","slug":"why-the-chrysler-minivan-changed-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/studebakermuseum.org\/why-the-chrysler-minivan-changed-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Why the Chrysler Minivan Changed the World"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-6942 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.studebakermuseum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Chrysler-Caravan.jpg-for-website-1024x684.jpg\" alt=\"Chrysler Minivan\" width=\"495\" height=\"331\" srcset=\"https:\/\/studebakermuseum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Chrysler-Caravan.jpg-for-website-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/studebakermuseum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Chrysler-Caravan.jpg-for-website-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/studebakermuseum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Chrysler-Caravan.jpg-for-website-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/studebakermuseum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Chrysler-Caravan.jpg-for-website-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/studebakermuseum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Chrysler-Caravan.jpg-for-website.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px\" \/>Of all the automobiles that changed the world, the Chrysler line of minivans is likely to win the award of \u201cleast exciting\u201d by most automotive enthusiasts. \u00a0But that was never the point; the minivan was not intended to be flashy, instead it was a car with a purpose that fulfilled the needs of millions of Americans.<\/p>\n<p>Lee Iococca and Hal Sperlich, of Ford Mustang fame, were the main masterminds behind the Chrysler minivan. They had originally started the project at Ford and thanks to extensive market research, they knew that they had a great opportunity for a new car. \u00a0Henry Ford II disagreed, however, and had Sperlich fired; Iococca left the following year and they both joined Chrysler.<\/p>\n<p>At the time, Chrysler was failing and close to collapse. \u00a0Through a stroke of good fortune, Iococca was permitted to take the customer research with him to Chrysler. \u00a0First released in 1983 for the 1984 model year, the Plymouth Voyager and Dodge Caravan (and later the upscale 1990 Chrysler Town &amp; Country) created an entirely new type of vehicle. The success of the minivan and Chrysler\u2019s prominent lead in the new field ultimately saved Chrysler and even helped the company turn a profit a few years after the minivan\u2019s release.<\/p>\n<p>But what made it so successful? \u00a0There were numerous aspects that came together to make it so revolutionary. With similarities to the station wagon and commercial van, the minivan was the ultimate large, family car. It was comfortable thanks to the higher roofline but still low enough to comfortably enter and exit.\u00a0\u00a0 Chrysler\u2019s K-car chassis gave a better ride than the truck chassis of traditional vans. \u00a0The hood was visible to the driver making it more comfortable to drive, especially for women who are shorter on average. \u00a0The front engine created a safer crush zone. Sliding doors derived from commercial vans were convenient and safer for families and the rear hatch and folding third-row seats created even more flexible space for cargo.<\/p>\n<p>The legacy of the minivan cannot be ignored. \u00a0While it may be a decidedly unsexy vehicle, it is the vehicle that saved Chrysler. This new range of vehicles also became a cultural icon of suburban families. Unfortunately, the minivan also took on an association with \u201csoccer moms.\u201d \u00a0The demeaning caricature identified the minivan as a matronly car and men and women alike began to shun the revolutionary vehicle.<\/p>\n<p>As an alternative to the minivan, SUVs and crossovers have gained increasing success since the 2000s, largely due to how the minivan changed the way cars were designed. SUVs became less rugged and more like a minivan with comfortable and family-friendly design.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you personally like them or not, the Chrysler minivan changed the American automotive landscape forever and deserves respect. \u00a0And if we are lucky, the signs of a come-back from the minivan might just hold true.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>About the Author<br \/>\n<\/strong><em>Carly Starr is the Curator of the California Automobile\u00a0Museum in Sacramento, California.\u00a0 She is a native or Rocklin, California, and a graduate of the University\u00a0of California, Los Angeles.\u00a0 Her previous experience included\u00a0the California\u00a0State\u00a0Railroad Museum and the Otis House Museum.\u00a0 Carly is active in the national Association\u00a0of Automobile\u00a0Museum and a member of the Society of Automotive\u00a0Historians.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>About the Series<br \/>\n<\/strong><em>This series of essays explores the vehicles that made up our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.studebakermuseum.org\/?exhibition=ten-cars-that-changed-the-world\">Ten Cars that Changed the World<\/a> exhibition.\u00a0 The exhibition was a partnership with the <a href=\"https:\/\/autohistory.org\/\">Society of Automotive Historians<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Image courtesy of <a href=\"https:\/\/visitsouthbend.com\/\">Visit South Bend<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Of all the automobiles that changed the world, the Chrysler line of minivans is likely to win the award of \u201cleast exciting\u201d by most automotive enthusiasts. \u00a0But that was never [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":10934,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10933","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-special-exhibitions","category-ten-cars-that-changed-the-world"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.3 - 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