Dodge Caravan
The Dodge Caravan and Dodge Grand Caravan are minivans manufactured by DaimlerChrysler (they were sold by the Chrysler Corporation until 1998). They were introduced in 1983 for the 1984 model year along with sister model the Plymouth Voyager (now Chrysler Voyager). The first modern minivans, the Chrysler company minivans are credited with creating the entire market segment for these vehicles. The Chrysler twins were launched a few months ahead of the Renault Espace (the first MPV/minivan in Europe, first pitched to executives as a Talbot in 1979, but not launched until 1984), making them the first of their kind, however they did not offer the interior versatility (individual, folding seats that could be used as tables or removed completely) of the first generation Espace until subsequent generations.
Since their introduction, the Chrysler minivans have been the best-selling minivans in the United States.
Introduced in November 1983 for the 1984 model year, the first minivan of all time, the Dodge Caravan was based on the Chrysler S platform, an extended derivative of the Chrysler K platform. For the 1987 model year, a longer wheelbase was introduced, which was called the Grand Caravan. It was still based on the Chrysler S platform.
The first generation Caravans used the Chrysler S platform, which was closely related to the K-cars (Plymouth Reliant and Dodge Aries. There were three trim levels on the first generation Caravan: base, mainstream SE and upscale LE. The Caravan was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1985. Both a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission and a five-speed manual were available with the four-cylinder engines, including the turbocharged 2.5 L (this was a rare combination). A cargo version of the Caravan, called the Mini Ram Van, was also introduced in 1984. It was renamed as the Caravan C/V for 1989, and was discontinued after 1995. 1989-1990 turbocharged models are highly sought after by collectors.
The Dodge Caravan and Dodge Grand Caravan are minivans manufactured by DaimlerChrysler (they were sold by the Chrysler Corporation until 1998). They were introduced in 1983 for the 1984 model year along with sister model the Plymouth Voyager (now Chrysler Voyager). The first modern minivans, the Chrysler company minivans are credited with creating the entire market segment for these vehicles. The Chrysler twins were launched a few months ahead of the Renault Espace (the first MPV/minivan in Europe, first pitched to executives as a Talbot in 1979, but not launched until 1984), making them the first of their kind, however they did not offer the interior versatility (individual, folding seats that could be used as tables or removed completely) of the first generation Espace until subsequent generations.
Since their introduction, the Chrysler minivans have been the best-selling minivans in the United States.
Introduced in November 1983 for the 1984 model year, the first minivan of all time, the Dodge Caravan was based on the Chrysler S platform, an extended derivative of the Chrysler K platform. For the 1987 model year, a longer wheelbase was introduced, which was called the Grand Caravan. It was still based on the Chrysler S platform.
The first generation Caravans used the Chrysler S platform, which was closely related to the K-cars (Plymouth Reliant and Dodge Aries. There were three trim levels on the first generation Caravan: base, mainstream SE and upscale LE. The Caravan was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1985. Both a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission and a five-speed manual were available with the four-cylinder engines, including the turbocharged 2.5 L (this was a rare combination). A cargo version of the Caravan, called the Mini Ram Van, was also introduced in 1984. It was renamed as the Caravan C/V for 1989, and was discontinued after 1995. 1989-1990 turbocharged models are highly sought after by collectors.