posted
In the 1980's Chrysler Corporation "invented" the minivan. Prior to this, nearly all vans were based upon truck chassis (the VW Microbus was an exception, but it was underpowered for American driving needs and had quirky handling). They were heavy, not very maneuverable, got poor gas mileage, hard to park, and rode and handled "like a truck".
Although Chrysler generally is credited for creating the minivan in America, The concept has been around for quite a while.
the 1936 Stout Scarab
It was powered by a rear-mounted flathead Ford V-8. While undeniably ugly, it was a very roomy, powerful, yet economical design that took up no more space in a garage than any other car of the times. It was ahead of it's time, however, and only five were built.
posted
Now I think of it, the above car may have been inspired by an even earlier concept: Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion car!
Also powered by a flathead Ford engine (the same engine that powers the ford pictured next to it), the Dymaxion had front wheel drive and rear wheel steering! The Dymaxion had shatterproof glass and was the first car with air conditioning.
The bulge in the roof over the driver's position (left front -- this is an American car ) is a periscope (there is no rear window). The scoop in the roof near the rear end is the air intake (cooling and engine induction) for the motor.
Although 20 feet long and capable of carrying eleven passengers (including the driver) the dymaxion was quite maneuverable, able to turn on a dime and give you 9 cent's change. It was made mostly of aluminum and weighed about half a ton. It averaged 30 MPG at a time when 15 MPG was considered good.
The First One
A lovely little thinker, but a bugger when he's pissed
Member # 35
posted
A periscope? How odd. I think I saw an episode of Seinfeld the other day where someone suggested a periscope to be able to see what raffic was like ahead. Mind you, you couldn't drive while using it. . .
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
Cars generally didn't have periscopes. However, from time to time, the periscope has been proposed in some car designs, as an alternative to the rear-view mirror.
As you can see (by the lack of them), periscopes haven't been a particularly popular solution to automotive rear-view needs.
posted
RW: Are there any websites about the microbus that tells the story? If not, can you provide details? It sounds interesting, and I have never heard that about the Microbus. As a matter of fact, it never occurred to my wonder why they ever created the thing in the first place.
posted
Well, it's something my father used to say, and I vaguely remember a documentary about it, but I could be wrong. I'll have a look.
Registered: Mar 1999
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) is a periscope (there is no rear window). The scoop in the roof near the rear end is the air intake (cooling and engine induction) for the motor.
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