Enthusiast Group Wants To Bring The Chevrolet Astro Van Back
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There are some vehicle segments where advancement and innovation are key to selling cars – like the premium mid-size or full-size SUV segments, for example. But when it comes to vans, simplicity is paramount. Most van owners, whether they plan on using their vehicle to haul their family or their tools, like the vehicle for its practicality and aren’t overly concerned with having the latest gadgets or features. This is evidenced by the fact that General Motors has left the Chevrolet Express and GMC Safari vans virtually unchanged for years now and it remains a strong seller. It’s even true for family minivans – Fiat Chrysler is still selling the old Dodge Grand Caravan as a cheaper, more straightforward alternative to the fancier Chrysler Pacifica, and the vehicle has no trouble finding buyers.
We recently stumbled across a community of Chevrolet Astro van enthusiasts who love the vehicle for its spaciousness, practicality and reliability and want to see GM revive the model. The community appears to be related to the “overlanding” community, which is essentially off-road car camping and is a hobby that has taken off in popularity in recent years. It’s easy to see why these folks like the Astro van, then. Not only is it practical, reliable and easy to work on, its body-on-frame design and available all-wheel drive make it decent off-road, too. They even put together a retro-inspired video on the Astro and set up Change.org petition to try and convince GM to revive the van. There’s also a website dedicated to the cause, www.bringbacktheastro.com.
“In 1985, you provided a macro-response to the minivan,” the website says, addressing GM directly. “With 182 cubic feet of cabin space, the do-everything Astro van can carry enough groceries to outlast winter. And if your local supermarket happened to be on top of a mountain peak, the all-wheel-drive workhorse could climb that rocky road.”
“Two glorious decades and 3.2 million Astro vans followed before the last one rolled off the line at Baltimore Assembly in 2005,” the site also says. “The van you no longer sell continues to respond to the times. Fifteen years later, a growing community continues to recognize and discover what an Astro can do on the terrain of road and the ride of life.”
If the Astro also occupies a unique place in your heart and you think a new one would be worth buying, be sure to sign the Change.org petition at this link.
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Agree with the need to bring one back with equal quality and capabilities.
Absolutely! I’d buy one in a heartbeat…
…if….all-wheel-dtive option, 5K+ pound towing capacity, dual sliding doors. Nothing on the market like it.
I want the van back too.
I spotted a mistake in your article. You said that the Chevy Express and GMC Safari vans are still strong sellers. The GMC Safari was actually the Astros counterpart. What you actually meant to say was the GMC Savana.
I had one. Purchased in 1997 and I used it for 20 years! Sold it and still see it on the road occasionally.
YES !!! I have had 2 of them and put over 250,000 miles on each. One regular 1986 and then an AWD 1990 model. I am always looking for a decent used one and people just do not get rid of them until they are “worn out.”
I would be one of the first in line if they would bring out a new version. Great for hauling all kinds of things and good towing capability. I even used to take out all the middle seats and take it camping. It actually made a decent camper!!
If anyone at GM reads this – please consider bringing back the Astro / Safari vans……. Thank you.
Agreed, I foolishly traded my 2003, have regretted that ever since. The Ford Flex was great (eventually traded for ’13 C-Max best car ever had) but it just didn’t have all the capability needed that my GMC Safari had. Come On GM stop listening to the soccer mom focus groups and bring back a vehicle as significant as Henry Ford’s Model T was in it’s day. Or does building real common sense vehicles that the public really wants not a thing anymore. All the makes have all but ceased building sedans in favor of 4 door pickups an SUV … they say it’s what the public wants, wrong …… they are only buying only what is available. Chrysler, bring back the Plymouth Reliant K or the Chrysler 5th Avenue … Ford, the Crown Vic, Country Squire Wagon, or Ford Fairmont … GM, the Monte Carlo, or Caprice in sedan an wagon, the GMC Safari an Chevy Astro, the Olds 98 and Olds Cutlass Serria sedan an wagon. All the makers say wagons don’t sell … don’t say that out loud in the UK an Europe, I’d estimate 45% or more are wagons from every manufacturer … check out Autozine + UK and see the great vehicles.
if it is electric that is the only way it will see production in todays world. what ever happened to cng
I have a 2004 Astro for 11 years with 500,000 miles with 4.3 liters engine..only requires regular maintenance ..never have problems with motor or transmission..
I’m a painter contractor is this is my BABY!..
This is a warrior or a tank! Never let me down! I can carry almost everything.. I will buy one if they make another one just with same engine !
The most purposeful and practical van/suv/truck GM made in the last 25 years, period!
I love !! My gmc safari. It’s the best vehicle. I am 33 and, van life as well as just everyday people enjoying time in my van, they are coming around again. I would love an AWD safari, but a NEW one! Would be even more amazing…. I can see it now.
I had a chevy Astro van with raised roof, absolutely gorgeous on the inside the best vehicle ever. Would love to see it brought back . I would purchase one today if it was available.
While I’m here, I’m looking for page’s 1511 and 1512 of DR1-GG85. It gives a breakdown of all components, years and part #s.
Can anyone help me out ???
We absolutely loved our Safari van , had it 7 years & wished we had kept it . Would loved to get another one just like it, all wheel drive, dual heat & sir front & back & tons of room
This week, on my way to the metro (in Frankfurt on Main, Germany), I saw a 2004 Astro parked, with the owner cleaning the windshield. I took some to to chat a while with the owner.
He hat imported the car privately, and therefore had to get an individual certification. He showed himself very satisfied, and claimed that this car was better and despite the private import cheaper as the best equipped VW Transporter van.
I will love to see it return. just can’t get rid of this vehicle, it’s so practical, yet comfortable, with speed.
Please let’s do what it takes to bring them back. I drive a 2002 Chevy Astro.
Driven these for work and personal life. My dad started buying these since i was a kid and i still drive one today. They are hand down the best vehicle ever made.
I still drive one till date, 2002 LT model. all i noticed on this vehicle is the front legs lower arms will need your attention and this is again probably due to the bad roads. Asides this, nothing as good as the astro (for vehicles in this category). when i notice a gas increase, just service the catalyst and air flow sensors and gas intake reduces.
You will need more girth when doing a u-turn. This vehicle was some how built to last for generations and it shares very similar parts with the Hummer jeep.
Astro is a total MPV
Astro needs to be reborn with same strength, structure and a modern tweak.
Reborn immediately
What about a passager van version of the Chevy Express/GMC Savannah?
Either directly from GM or via conversion kits by third parties?
Correct me if I am wrong but I do believe they already make a passenger van version of these vans.
I don’t know of one, if you do please inform me of the brand or name. I would gladly purchase them if they were half as good.
Chevy Express Vans: Cargo, 12 Passenger and 15 Passengerhttps://www.chevrolet.com › vans
Express Cargo Van has plenty of room for your equipment and can be personalized inside and out for the needs of your business. Build & Price … 12 to 15 and room left for equipment and luggage, Express Passenger Van is ready for every … Full Bluetooth feature functionality varies by device, model and software version.
Thanks, VCAT. That is a little bus.
Too large for a passenger van as I imagined. I thought of something like the midsize vans by ex-PSA, like the Opel Vivaro.
Might be a bit large for what you want but they do make on.
Observer7, I think you miss a critical point. No one wants those big, tall and ugly box vans!
Express and Savanah is primarily a large ‘Commercial” taxi/transporter, delivery or contractor vehicle.
I would bet that given the chance, many companies/contractors would gladly go back to a Astro/Safari type and size van. I also believe that many ex-Astro/Safari owners went out and purchased the Fords and Nissans instead of going to the full size Express and Savana!
I owned 15 Astros and/or Safaris. Sometimes 3 or 4 at a time. I have regretted selling my last one since the day after I sold it. I would buy 2 if I could find them. I’ve never had a vehicle capable of doing the things that these vans were able to do. Mine was a work van, family van and a 4 wheel drive off road monster. By far the toughest vehicle I’ve ever owned. Miss them and want another 10. Anyone selling for even parts in decent shape, drop me a line.
We had a 1989 and a 1998. Each Astro went 250,000-300,000 essentially trouble free miles before we foolishly sold them. In combined 600,000 miles of ownership, just nitpicky electrical gremlins because of always poor GM interior quality. The 4.3 engine and tranny were bulletproof. The great thing about the Astro was it was like having two vehicle categories for the price of one. One was the highway soaking road trip machine for the family AND the other was a competent towing machine. Today we own 2 Honda Odyssey’s and a Ford expedition 4.6, which replaced the last Astro 15 years ago. The Odysseys and Expedition have been good people movers but neither can tow like the good old Astro.