The 1985-1995 first generation Astro Van (and GMC badged Safari vans) proved to be dependable and economical workhorses. Larger than a minivan but smaller than a full-sized van, the Astro hauled 8 people easily. Photos from wikipedia.org

Most of the car buying world has looked down their nose at the first generation Astro van, there are very few families where at least one member of the family owned an Astro Van at some point. For cost, these vans filled a need and did it at a rock bottom price.

The Astro van competed against front wheel drive minivans, like the Dodge Caravan/Plymouth Voyger, Toyota and Mitsubishi vans and the like, but it was not really a minivan. With larger interior passenger space, with huge hauling capabilities and even provisions for eight passengers, the Astro Van fit between the full-size vans and the minivans.

It’s larger engine, the 4.3L V6 or the  200 hp “W” engine, and rear wheel drive layout, made it a favorite with traditional van/truck drivers. The middle and rear seats were removable, allowing use of the 170 cubic-feet of cargo room.

GM offered a five-speed manual transmission but almost all of the Astro Vans were sold with a four-speed automatic trans, which became the standard. The early vans were rear-wheel drive only but Chevy offered an all-wheel drive version starting in 1990.

The Astro Van was available in Passenger and Commercial Van body styles, and an extended-length version, called Astro EXT, was introduced in 1989. Astro was an excellent choice for large families, for towing and for commercial use.

Although the Chevrolet Astro is no longer in production, used Astro models are readily available. You may want to check with your local Chevrolet dealer, as well as automotive websites and classified ads in area newspapers.