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Dodge Caravan
Catalog #: 2003.0287.01,
Accession #: 2003.0287
Currently on display
From the Smithsonian Collection
This minivan was owned by a Michigan family. They bought the minivan because their family car was too small for family vacations. They used the minivan to travel, run errands, transport their children to and from sporting events, and move their children back and forth to college. |
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Physical Description |
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Artifact. A first generation mini-van. Approximate dimension: 190.5"L x 69.6"W x 65"H. Approximate weight: 3304 lbs. Occupancy: 7 passengers. Engine: 4 cylinder, 2.6 Liter (156 cubic inches) 2BBL carburator. Horsepower: 104. Transmission: 3-speed automatic. Color: gunmetal-pearl coat (dark blue gray) with imitation wood side panels. It also has a luggage roof rack and sunscreened coated back windows.
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Details |
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Dates Used: |
1986 - about 2001
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Credit: | Gift of Daimler Chrysler Corporation |
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History |
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The minivan is the product of a long, evolutionary process that turned trucks into automobiles for the suburban market. By the 1950s, the station wagon had changed from a truck to a car, and even pickup trucks were designed with some automotive features. In the 1960s, some vans were fitted with sedan-type amenities. In the late 1970s, the Chrysler Corporation designed a small affordable van that looked and handled more like a car. Strong sales helped Chrysler Corporation recover from its financial difficulties and were a striking countertrend to the inroads made by Japanese imports in the American automotive market.
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Related People, Places, and Events |
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Manufacturer
Dodge Division, Chrysler Corporation
Place of Use
Warren, Michigan (1986 - about 2001)
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