4/3/2023 0 Comments 1992 chevy lumina![]() ![]() So what did they come up with? A classic GM Motorama solution, and about as practical as the glass-bubbled turbine-engined Firebird II. ![]() This was the recipe and their styling was as utilitarian as their function.Īnd no major maker could afford to not compete in this explosive new segment most of all, GM. The combination of higher gas prices and a new generation of young baby boomer parents who didn’t want to drive the wagons they grew up in made these very compelling, and Chrysler struggled for years to keep up with demand.Ĭlearly the appeal of the Chrysler minivans was their unparalleled space utilization and flexibility combined with genuine passenger-car dynamics and economy. That all changed explosively, beginning in 1984, thanks to Chrysler’s new minivans. But during the 60s and 70s, if Americans wanted a big, roomy family hauler, they turned to station wagons. The Ford Econoline had the right idea, if not the right dynamic qualities. But it wasn’t what the van market was asking for, which was then focused on more utilitarian truck-like vans, rather than refined passenger-car like ones. It had many redeeming qualities, and we sang its praise here. What shall we make of the 1961 Corvair Greenbrier? It too was a commercial dud, but it’s story is a bit more complicated. It’s not like it ever had a chance to be tested… Its roof-mounted intakes for the inboard radiators was undoubtedly equally impractical. The L’Universelle’s lack of a working transaxle was just as well. Look America we already have two non-functioning FWD vehicles! Just wait until 1980 when we start building non-functional FWD cars by the millions! Just like GM’s other FWD concept in 1955, the LaSalle II roadster. Said transaxle was actually non-functioning, so the L’Universelle was a “pusher”, meaning it had to be pushed from its transporter into the Motorama exhibit hall, The L’Universelle had a front-mid mounted Pontiac V8 engine, which in theory drove the front wheels through a transaxle. As in: it couldn’t even move under its own power. Like so many GM concepts, it had lots of wow factor, but was intrinsically and profoundly flawed. It was shown in GM’s traveling three-ring circus, the 1955 Motorama. In fact GM pioneered the idea of the modern American FWD minivan, way back in 1955 with their GMC L’Universelle concept ( DKW had been building their FWD Schnellaster minivan since 1949). It’s not like minivans or compact vans were an alien concept to GM. What Americans really want is a minivan that looks like a space shuttle! Not. Or they were conceived in GM’s notorious bubble of hubris, where its product planners and designers were seemingly perpetually stuck in a Jetsons-Futurama mind set, convinced that they could wow Americans with more advanced design and technology. They either arrived with deadly flaws in their quality/reliability, like the Vega, Citation and quite a few other models. There are two primary reasons GM vehicles have failed. Given that this segment was expanding rapidly, had high transaction prices and healthy profit potential, GM’s utter failure to find any success in it is almost bizarre and inexplicable, but GM ended up walking away from the minivan market after consistently under-performing. ( first posted ) GM struggled in many market sectors during its decades-long decline, but none more than the minivan segment. ![]()
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