So, which of these came first? The answer may surprise you.
This isn't exactly the same challange as the previous two Chicken or Egg posts. The answer is surprising because there is none! And it has nothing to do with the Routan and Caravan being the same platform upon shared technology and co-ownership of the two companies.....
I'm not very good at determining if something is ironic or not, but it seems odd to me, the definition of the minivan is still not quite defined in my eyes, thus who started said minivans is questionable? Was it Chrysler as they claim with their 1983 Caravan/Voyager?
Or was it VW with their Type 2?
Now before you get your self all in a huff, "the type 2 was loooong before the caravan!!!!" let's consider, or atleast try to refine and define the definition of a minivan? From a literal stand point, it means small van.
Is it just the fact that is it a van in a manufacturers line up that is smaller than another one that they offer? It is the mini-me of the van world? So Chrysler had both their full size van, and mini van, thus they were the first in the world to offer a mini van for family use since VW didn't make a full size van to claim theirs as a mini van?
You'd be pretty wrong though, as VW, since 1975, has offered a full size van along side the sales of their T2. The VW LT is a commercial vehicle sold and used for basically everything, from dump trucks to camper vans. So maybe it's related to how the vehicle is constructed?
Perhaps it's because the Caravan was based on a car platform, making it more friendly to drive and less rugged for daily use? Well, that can't be it either....
Because the type 2, was based on a beetle platform.
Silly Chrysler
And I'm sure you've seen the others, click pictures for links!
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well technically the vw was a microbus right? no van more bus. The caravan was built on the k platform which made it a car. I think that means caravan wins? oh and for fun i will mention that the 88 caravans were available with a 154 horse turbo motor and optional 5 speed trans by getrag. So cool.
[…] known as the HY, was based on the ever so obscure Citroen TUB and TUC vans, which, much like our chicken and egg post was one of the very first Mini-vans to ever be produced, not only were the TUB and TUC FWD but they […]
Ehhh, the bus was based on a car platform as well. Plus there’s bolt in kits for porsche, subaru and mazda engines amoung others ;)