Small family fans were only a blip on the auto industry’s radar in the mid 1980’s. And, as consumers, we were just trying to figure out specifically what they were. Genetic analysis revealed they were part bus, part contractor and part limousine. They retained strong echoes of a work ethic attributed by the full sized vans from which they descended.
Measuring 173 in bumper to bumper, the Astro was almost 2.5 inches shorter than ChryCo’s T-115. but parked next to the Chrysler, the Chevy’s 71.1 overall height was readily apparent, as the Astro was more than a half foot taller than the T-115. The result of this sizing yields a small van proportioned just like the standard one.
The Astro’s conventional vanesque profile was more the result of basic product philosophy rather than any lack of imagination on GM’s part. While the T-115 was developed from a passenger platform, primarily as a people hauler, the Astro was conceived as a substitution for the king size Chevy Van. And the Astro was always considered first and foremost a truck. This was apparent even at production level, where the first Astro s off the line were all configured as panel vans.
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