**The Astro Van: A Nostalgic Look Back**

The first-generation Astro van was quite the sight to behold, especially when carrying 1700 pounds in its cargo area - "That's a lot of fat little boys." However, for kids in the '80s and '90s, owning an Astro was the ultimate status symbol. When headed to hockey practice, it was always said: "Can we all stop at McDonald's?" with the promise of nuggets and Big Macs on the menu.

For those who could afford one, the Astro became a staple in many families' garages, especially when converted into a luxurious summer road trip van. Companies like Glaval, Mark III, and Star Craft transformed the base model into a plush haven, complete with captain's chairs, VHS players, and Super Nintendo consoles.

In the late '80s to early '90s, the Astro underwent significant technological upgrades, including all-wheel drive and four-wheel anti-lock brakes. Its competitors at Ford were left in its dust, unable to match the safety features of the Astro. The iconic Dutch doors with flip-up windows became a standard feature, much to the delight of parents struggling to keep their fat little kids' mess contained.

The second-generation Astro arrived in 1995, and Chevy continued its marketing strategy centered around the van's tough-guy image. "Load up the back with dirt bikes? Total horse trailer? Yeah!" The phrase echoed through many a teenager's dreams. Despite its rugged appearance, the Astro did receive safety improvements over the years, eventually earning three gold star ratings for driver protection.

In 2005, the Astro and Chevy mini-vans were discontinued, marking the end of an era. Many Astros have since found their way into construction workers' fleets or hipsters' van life collections, a testament to the van's enduring appeal. For those who grew up in the '80s and '90s, owning an Astro was the ultimate status symbol - "They were the bell of the ball."

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en(care engine roaring)(metal scraping)- Do you have a passion forthe ultimate family mobile?Something that can handlea trip to Home Depotfor plywood, Costco for groceries in bulk,a road trip across America with grandmato see Mount Rushmore,and trips to hockey practicewith the entire team?Well, mama and papa doI have a car for you.A car that's not a car.It's a van.This is everything you need to knowto get up to speed onthe Chevrolet Astro Van.(lighting striking)(upbeat electric music).Big thanks to this weeks sponsor Audible.Listen up Amazon Prime member.For a limited time, youcan start an Audiblemembership and save 66 percenton your first three months.A total of 30 dollars off.That's like gettin' threemonths for the price of one.You'll pay just four dollars and 95 centsper month for the first three months.After that, it's only 14.95 per month.Act quick though becausethe offer is only valid'till July 31st.I'm excited to get mymembership so I can listento The Boys In The Cave by Matt Gutman.Don't know what it's about,but I love caves.Visit Audible.com/uptospeed or text 500500to get started today.That's Audible.com/uptospeed.Support the companies that support Donut,we couldn't make it without them.Now, back to the show.Before we start talking about vans,we should first mention the Station Wagon.The once upon a time stereotypicalAmerican family vehicle.The Station Wagon dangerously carriedMany-a-restless kidacross the American roadsseat belts optional.But, in the late 1970s the sale of biggas guzzling StationWagons was on the decline.The do it all wagonsfuture was looking grim,partly due to the gas prices,but more partly due becauseof the new category of cars.So, in 1984 the Chryslervan program birthed,the Plymouth Voyager mini-van.The first of it's kind, the Voyager washugely popular for it's abilityto tote all the kids around,get better gas mileagethen a Station Wagon,and, yes, be able to fitin a garage safely awayfrom those mean suburban streets,It was a great all aroundpackage for the modern family,and GM quickly realized thathey needed their own versionof the the mini-van.- Should we make our own miniature van?- Uh Yeah!We already have one in the works.Don't you know about it?- Uh, 'course I do.What's it called?- The Astro- Astro!Yep, I said it first.I knew it, totally knew it.There's a reason I'm the boss.Keeping with the space theme that Plymouthstarted with the Voyager,in 1985 Chevy released their all newnot so mini mini-van the Chevy Astro,A van so sick, it cam time-warp,and drive on the rings of Saturn.The boxy middle van andit's twin GMC brotherthe Safari were only 1.5 inches shorter,and 2 and a half narrower than Chevy'ssmallest full-size van.And, while it was seven inches shorter,and claimed to be able to fit in a garage,Chevy quickly acknowledgedtheir bulked up box on wheels,and used the middle vanstatus in their advertising.- The new Chevy Astro.Built to do more than a mini-van can.- Not a mini-van, not a full-size van,but a middle van.The real world giant box mobilehad multiple seating configurations,allowing you to carry you,and seven of your so-called friends.Let's be honest,they just wanted to sit In thosecomfy, cozy, fluffy, cloth bench seats.Or, you could take out all the seats,and use it as a cargo van.Unlike it's mini-van competition,the Astro was built on a truck chassis,with a bolt-on sub frame.The front suspension shared manyof the same components directly fromthe Caprice Station Wagon,while the rear had compositeleaf springs like the S-10.Engine options on the first year Astro,were either the 98 Mini Shetland PonyHorsepower 2.3 liter four cylinder,or the optional 165midi-horsepower 4.3 liter V6.(engine roaring)And the placement of said engines?How bout' right under thefront dash cup holders.You could swap out your battery,and check the oil inthe mini-hood up front.But, any serious workwould have to be doneinside the van.A big bump in betweenthe two front seats gotcovered with a hatch,and gave way to an access panel,that once removed exposedthe engine on the Astro.Mechanics loved it.The coolest part,is that you could get it with a manual.That's right, the base transmissionthat the Astro came with,was a four speed manual which is sick.And, you could get it with anoptional five speed until 1989.After that they went full auto.But, I'm grateful thatit was manual at all.(chiming music)By the end of the eighties, the demand formini-vans as family vehicles had largleysuperseded full sizeStation Wagons in the US.Rest in peace Station Wagon.It wouldn't be until 1989 that Chevywould release a more comparablefront wheel drive vanto take on the Chrysler mini-van.The Lumina APV.But, that didn't stop GM from also sellingthe Astro and the Safari.People loved it for it's abilityto not only haul kids around,but also haul stuff around.The Astro could pull five thousand pounds.No other mini-van waspullin' that kind of weight.It could also carry 1700pounds in the cargo area.That's a lot of fat little boys.- All right kids, let'sgo to hockey practice.- Can we all stop at McDonald's?- Yeah, I want some nuggets.- Yeah, I wanna get a Big Mac.- Yeah, we can get the McDonald's.- Yay, chunky butts on three.One, two, three,- Chunky butts!- Chunky butts.- Side note, Chevy marketedAstro van to fat people.- Tired of watching your weight?If you had a GMC Safari,you wouldn't have to.- With a strong commercial game like that,how could you not want anAstro if you're a chunky butt?Towards the final stretchof the first gen Astro,GM really started toturn up the technology.In 1990, the Astro camewith all wheel drive,as well as four wheel anti-lock brakes.Their competitors over at Ford,with the Aerostar.Again, another space theme van.What is the deal?They didn't have ABS, all right?And, that's pretty important when you'recarrying your fat little family around.And you got a space car,you don't want regular doors,you want dutch doors.Two rear doors with flipup windows on top of 'em.And Dutch people love 'em.Also because parents werecomplaining about theirfat little kids making a mess,Scotch Guard Fabric Protection alsobecame a standard feature withAstro vans with cloth seats.The second gen Astro came out in 1995,and Chevy was deep in the,let's sell this thing as a tough dudeall family vehicle game.Load the back up with dirt bikes, sure!Total horse trailer? Yeah!The Astro was tough like a rock!♪ Oh, like a rock. ♪- But not much reallychanged from the first gento the second gen Astros.They got updated headlights to match therectangular ones on the Silverado.There was also only one engine option.The 4.3 liter Vortec V6.And, there was only one body option.The shorter version was ditched,They did improve that engine hatch in thecenter of the two front seatsto increase front leg room,and help cut down on interior noise.You know, since themotor was inside the car?They improved dash installation too.You know, 'cause themotor's inside the car.(engine roaring)(tires screeching)The second gen also got passenger airbagswhich by the way, speaking of safety,the Astro was not safe.It eventually improvedfrom a one gold starrating in 1991, to three gold star rating,for the driver only in 2000.If you were a kid in theeighties or nineties,and your friends had an Astro,they were the bell of the ball.But, if they had a conversion van Astro,they were the king of the ball.Companies like Glaval,Mark III, and Star Craft,took the bone stock Astro,and turned them intolush rich kids basementson wheels.The summer road trip van made visitingyour grandparents not all that bad becauseyou could watch freakin'movies and play Super Nintendoall while sitting in the most comfortablecaptains chairs on the planet.Yeah, that's right.It's a chair for a freakin' captain.He's the leader of the ship.If your eyes got too tired from playingvideo games or watchingMrs. Doubtfire on VHS,because of course it has a VHS player,You could just crawl onover to the back bench seat,fold it down and take a big old nap.Safe? No.Comfortable?You betcha' chunky little butt it is.- Chunky butts- Chunky butts- My friend Vince's dad had an Astro van,and we played Earthworm Gym for hours.And we were in the driveway.The Astro helped put conversion vanson the map for the masses.In 1994 there wasroughly 200,000 shipmentsof van conversions to dealers.People all over the worldloved their conversion Astros.Even this guy, AKA Russian James.(speaking in Russian)(retro video game sounds)The Astro space van would eventuallyend in 2005 as well as Chevy mini-vans.The venture to consolidatefor a single mini-van,the Uplander.But, that didn't last long.Four years later, Chevy leftthe mini-van market completely,and while the majorityof Astro's have foundtheir way into the handsof construction workers,van life hipsters, orsadly even junk yards,it still remains as thenot so mini mini-vanthat warmed our fuzzy littlenostalgic chunky butts.(upbeat electronic music)