Minivan: Who knew?

This prototype's grille/headlight styling looks rather severe...almost Russian design; otherwise it shows nicely.  A major WHOOPS moment for Henry Le Deux.

@jack-dodds I agree but honestly, I'm not sure there was a Minivan market in the early 1970's, so I'm inclined to agree with "Henry the 2nd."   The interesting thing (well, to me anyway ) is that this proposal, minus the "face,"  is remarkably similar to what Chrysler actually debuted in 1984.

I've said it before, 3 of the most popular American cars in history: The Ford Mustang, '69 Lincoln Continental Mark III, and Chrysler Minivans are all a result of Iacocca's business savoy & marketing genius.   

Posted by: @chris

 

I've said it before, 3 of the most popular American cars in history: The Ford Mustang, '69 Lincoln Continental Mark III, and Chrysler Minivans are all a result of Iacocca's business savoy & marketing genius.   

So was the Omni/Horizon and the K-car, the biggest lemon I ever owned.

@chris 

Was the 69 Continental that popular? I do not remember that many of them. Maybe I was spending too much time looking at pony cars and muscle cars back then.

Posted by: @brush

Omni/Horizon and the K-car, the biggest lemon I ever owned.

Really?  I'm surprised to hear that.  Those vehicles left MUCH to be desired and were dramatically underpowered but ultimately quite reliable. Also, there was that famous "7/70" factory warrantee.... So, who cared about anything?... just drive it (or tow it ) back to the dealership. 

I actually had both.... a new Plymouth Horizon and Reliant K-car.  The K-car I bought in while in college and was teased relentlessly about it. 🙄 🙄 

... I finally traded it in on a Pontiac T/A H.O and was NEVER teased again! 😏 😏 

Posted by: @ed-davis

Was the 69 Continental that popular?

It's not so much about the popularity (although they sold well but nowhere near the volume enjoyed by Mustangs or minivans ) as it was about the beautiful design, quality, and commitment to excellence.

Reportedly, every 1969 Mark III engine was test-run, disassembled & inspected, then re-assembled and fined tuned for peak performance.  This did NOT happen with the '70 & '71 models.

Collectors know that original '69s will be better performers  than the others.  Iacocca was responsible for that.

@chris   Sister had a new Horizon, great warrantee, problem was you had to use it so much. 

I bought a new '83 Reliant, it was a 5 speed standard, interstate highway on an up hill drive home every day,  half the time it went the 60 mph up the hill in 5th gear the other half I would have to shift to 4th just to maintain 55 & the steering wheel would shake violently above 55 mph. For over a year it went to the dealer for repair [16 times], they changed out dozens of parts including the tires & rims to no avail. I was one of the first cases in the then new Lemon Law. They took the car back to the factory for a month and replaced the entire front end and drive train back to the transmission.  The shake was gone, for a month and came back, traded it in on an '85  Mercury Marquis.  So I have absolutely no respect for Chrysler cars of the period.

Posted by: @brush

Posted by: @chris

 

I've said it before, 3 of the most popular American cars in history: The Ford Mustang, '69 Lincoln Continental Mark III, and Chrysler Minivans are all a result of Iacocca's business savoy & marketing genius.   

So was the Omni/Horizon and the K-car, the biggest lemon I ever owned.

I owned a Dodge Omni, two Reliants  (sedan and 2dr) and an Aires wagon; all were of course basic transportation but great commuters.