Did Chrysler really invent the minivan?

**beefers1** · 03-14-2008, 10:52 PM

It seems many people think so, but I recall there has been many similar vehicles before the Caravan/Voyager. One of the better-known ones was the Nissan Prairie (known as the Multi in Canada and the Stanza in the US), introduced in 1981, and though considerable smaller than the Chrysler vans, had all the characteristics of one, including dual sliding doors (something Chrysler vans didn't have until 1996!), seating for 6/7, and folding rear seat. So shouldn't that, or even some vehicles before that one that had similar characteristics, be considered the first minivans?

**oldmn** · 03-14-2008, 10:56 PM

That should be the first American Mini van.
There have been mini and micro vans in other countries for years.

**beefers1** · 03-14-2008, 11:39 PM

yes, but chrysler claims it has INVENTED the minivan. weird...

suprafly · 03-15-2008, 06:49 AM

I would give them credit. They still obviously filled a hell of a nitch and that was one of the things that brought them out of the huge slump they were in at the time. I would consider the stanza to be more of a wagon type car. We had a plymouth voyager while I was growing up and loved it, except for the horrible head gasket problems.

**beefers1** · 03-15-2008, 01:14 PM

yes, but the stanza has all the properties of a van (dual sliding doors, seating for 7, folding rear seats, like I said above), it's just smaller.

dai · 03-15-2008, 02:17 PM

the minivan was a model of the morris mini minor from the late 50's early 60's

03-14-2008, 10:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
beefers1 Below is my avatar Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Greater Vancouver area, BC, Canada Posts: 4,007 OS: Win XP Pro SP2 My System Blog Entries: 13	Did Chrysler really invent the minivan? It seems many people think so, but I recall there has been many similar vehicles before the Caravan/Voyager. One of the better-known ones was the Nissan Prairie (known as the Multi in Canada and the Stanza in the US), introduced in 1981, and though considerable smaller than the Chrysler vans, had all the characteristics of one, including dual sliding doors (something Chrysler vans didn't have until 1996!), seating for 6/7, and folding rear seat. So shouldn't that, or even some vehicles before that one that had similar characteristics, be considered the first minivans? __________________

03-14-2008, 10:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
oldmn TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gig Harbor Wa Posts: 2,150 OS: XP Pro SP3 X 3 My System	Re: Did Chrysler really invent the minivan? That should be the first American Mini van. There have been mini and micro vans in other countries for years. __________________ AVG \| MEMTEST86 \| Zone Alarm \| XXCLONE \| Adaware \| Beyond Compare \| Everest If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Sorry no PM's for problems.[/center]

03-14-2008, 11:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
beefers1 Below is my avatar Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Greater Vancouver area, BC, Canada Posts: 4,007 OS: Win XP Pro SP2 My System Blog Entries: 13	Re: Did Chrysler really invent the minivan? yes, but chrysler claims it has INVENTED the minivan. weird... __________________

03-15-2008, 06:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
suprafly Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 66 OS: WinXP	Re: Did Chrysler really invent the minivan? I would give them credit. They still obviously filled a hell of a nitch and that was one of the things that brought them out of the huge slump they were in at the time. I would consider the stanza to be more of a wagon type car. We had a plymouth voyager while I was growing up and loved it, except for the horrible head gasket problems.

03-15-2008, 01:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
beefers1 Below is my avatar Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Greater Vancouver area, BC, Canada Posts: 4,007 OS: Win XP Pro SP2 My System Blog Entries: 13	Re: Did Chrysler really invent the minivan? yes, but the stanza has all the properties of a van (dual sliding doors, seating for 7, folding rear seats, like I said above), it's just smaller. __________________

03-15-2008, 02:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,168 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Did Chrysler really invent the minivan? the minivan was a model of the morris mini minor from the late 50's early 60's __________________