Ford Aerostar History

Ford Aerostar

The Ford Aerostar was Ford's first attempt at building a minivan, and was introduced as a 1986 model in summer 1985.

Early models were available with Ford's 2.3 L HSO I4 engine, which at 100 hp was grossly underpowered for a van that could carry up to seven passengers and luggage. Available as an upgrade initially was Ford's also-underpowered 2.9 L V6; later models came with either the corporate 3.0 L Vulcan V6 found in the Taurus and Ranger, or the Explorer's 4.0 L Cologne V6.

The Aerostar was Motor Trend magazine's Truck of the Year for 1990 .

The Aerostar was distinguished by using a modified pickup truck chassis integral to its unibody construction. This design was developed because the designers in Ford's truck office were unfamiliar and uncomfortable with unibody construction, and essentially designed a frame into the unibody (this construction was also used on the Chevrolet/GMC G-Series vans and the second generation Jeep Cherokee). The aerodynamic styling was similar to the Ford Taurus, which was introduced at the same time. A commercial ad stated that the Aerostar's front nose resembled the NASA Space Shuttle; Ford often compared the Aerostar to the Space Shuttle in its advertising.

The Aerostar was a rear-wheel drive vehicle, unlike the Chrysler minivans. This compromised interior space somewhat (although providing a level load floor unlike the deep-well like design of a front-wheel drive minivan) but provided superior towing ability as well as increased traction when loaded.

However, for those requiring more traction, Ford provided. Starting in 1990 and on through 1997, Ford made available an all-wheel drive Aerostar, which used an electronically-controlled system, and was available on any trim level. This was a different system than other four-wheel drive Ford vehicles in that the system engaged when it detected front wheel spin.

All four-wheel drive Aerostars used the 4.0 L Cologne V6 rated at 160 hp, and the Aerostar was available with either a 5-speed manual (which was discontinued in 1995) or the 4-speed A4LD automatic. For 1996, both the 4-speed 4R44E and 4R55E transmissions became available, replacing the A4LD.

Since the Aerostar used truck parts (the brake rotors, axle bearings, wheels, etc. were all interchangable with the Ford Ranger, Bronco II, and Explorer), essentially any interchangeable truck option for power and suspension was available. A lot of Aerostar owners upgrade to 15 in or 16 in wheels from a Ford Explorer, Ranger or Mustang (Jeep wheels will also interchange, and 15 in Cherokee wheels provide a worthy aesthetic enhancement as well as better handling). One noted difference is that the Aerostar had a 4-link coil spring rear suspension with a live axle, similar to the Ford Crown Victoria and Fox-body Mustang.

The Aerostar received no major styling changes until 1992, when flush-mounted headlamps were fitted, along with a redesigned dashboard that incorporated a driver's side airbag and a column-mounted gearshift, finally replacing the floor-mounted shifter that blocked access to the rear seats from the front. A "mini-console" replaced the floor shift (except in 5-speed models), and provided two cup holders and a coin holder.

The Aerostar was produced at Ford's Struthers, Ohio assembly plant.

Ford eventually replaced the Aerostar with the Ford Windstar in 1995. The Aerostar was sold until 1997, after overlapping for 3 years. When Ford tried to discontinue the Aerostar after the 1994 model year, the Ford Motor Company headquarters in Struthers, Ohio was bombarded with letters and riots from the public, insisting that the Aerostar continue production. Ford agreed, and kept the "mid-van" (smaller than a full-size van, but bigger and more truck-like than traditional front-wheel drive minivans) until it would no longer meet federal safety standards and would cost too much to redesign for the use of a passenger's side airbag (in 1997, the Aerostar was the only Ford vehicle left without one).

In 1997, to comemorate its last year, Ford fitted the Aerostar with unique monochomatic taillights (instead of the red/white/amber of 1986-1996). Also, all 1997 Aerostars were XLT models; no base model was available. The unique taillights are often a popular customizing choice of pre-1997 Aerostar owners who wish to make their Aerostar stand out a bit, along with miscolored doors. Retrofitting them on to a pre-1997 Aerostar requires drilling an extra hole inside for the turn signal indicator.

Right up until production ended, 100,000 Aerostars were sold a year, much better than competitors from GM or imports like Honda or Toyota at the time.