Ford Aerostar

Ford Aerostar (VN1)
1991 Aerostar XL
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford
Production	June 15, 1985 – August 22, 1997
Model years	1986–1997
Assembly	Hazelwood, Missouri (St. Louis Assembly)
Body and chassis
Class	Minivan
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel drive Front-engine, all-wheel drive (1990–1997)
Platform	Ford VN1 platform
Powertrain
Engine	2.3 L Lima I4 (1986-1987) 2.8 L Cologne V6 (1986) 3.0 L Vulcan V6 (1986-1997) 4.0 L Cologne V6 (1990-1997)
Transmission	5-speed manual 4-speed automatic 5-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	118.9 in (3,020 mm)
Length	Standard-length:174.9 in (4,440 mm) Extended-length:190.3 in (4,830 mm)
Width	71.7 in (1,820 mm)
Height	72.2–74.0 in (1,830–1,880 mm)
Chronology
Successor	Ford Windstar Ford Transit Connect (for cargo van)

The Ford Aerostar is a range of vans that was manufactured by Ford from the 1986 to the 1997 model years. The first minivan produced by Ford, the model line was marketed against the Chevrolet Astro/GMC Safari and the first two generations of the Chrysler minivans. Introduced shortly before the Ford Taurus, the Aerostar derived its name from its slope-nosed "one-box" exterior (although over six feet tall, the body of the Aerostar retained a drag coefficient of Cd=0.37,^[1] besting the Lincoln Mark VII).

The first minivan powered exclusively by V6 engines, the Aerostar was also one of the first vehicles to introduce all-wheel drive to the segment in North America. The model line was sold in multiple configurations, including passenger and cargo vans, along with an extended-length body. Sold primarily in the United States and Canada, a limited number of vehicles were exported outside of North America.

The Aerostar was replaced for the 1995 model year by the front-wheel drive Ford Windstar; Ford sold both model lines concurrently through the 1997 model year. The role of the Aerostar cargo van was left unfilled, with the Ford Transit Connect serving as the closest successor (in terms of size and capability).

For its entire production, the model line was assembled by the St. Louis Assembly Plant in Hazelwood, Missouri. In total, 2,029,577 vehicles were produced across a single generation.