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The Chevrolet Astro was a Rear-wheel Drive Minivan introduced by Chevrolet in 1985 to rival domestic ( American ) competitors the Dodge Caravan / Plymouth Voyager twins and the Japan ese Toyota Van . Also sharing the Astro's truck-based platform was its sibling, the ''' GMC Safari'''. In addition to standard passenger uses, the vans were also available as cargo vans, and converters used them as the basis for small Conversion Van s. Both Pontiac and GMC have used the Safari nameplate (GMC is part of the Pontiac/GMC division); Pontiac used the nameplate on several of its Station Wagon models from 1955 through 1989. The two Safaris, both Pontiac and GMC, were on the market together (often sold by the same dealerships) from 1985 through 1989. While the Astro was referred to as a minivan, it was sized between the Chevrolet Venture / Lumina APV Unibody Minivan and the full-size Chevy Van/Express . Similar to the Ford Aerostar, it was based on a traditional truck frame. Due to their truck-based platform, the Astro and Safari could pull 5,500 lb with proper equipment. AWD models could tow up to 5000 lb where properly equipped. This is opposed to car-based, front-wheel drive minivans cannot pull as much weight. Initial advertising boasted that it was a vehicle that will "make you realize that life is too big for a Minivan ", referring to the Chrysler Minivans . Engines options ranged from 160 to 190 hp (119 to 142 KW ) V6 engine, depending on options and/or model year. The van seated up to 8 passengers. In 1986 the Chevrolet plant in Arlington, Texas produced 8 special and classic edition Astro Vans, featuring a digital compass and themometer limited designs. One of the eight vans has been confirmed totaled in Houston in 2000; another spent 20 years in Belton, Texas and was then sold to a man in Mexico and is now an ice cream van. The other 6 are unaccounted for. In addition to being sold in North America , the Chevrolet Astro was exported to Japan , where the van enjoys a cult following. In 2005, to celebrate the last year of Astro production, Chevrolet of Japan offered a limited edition run of the final production models. The Astro's popularity in Japan comes even though it was only offered in left-hand drive. CHASSIS FEATURES Much like the second-generation GM F-body and X-body vehicles, the GM M-van (Astro/Safari) had a bolt-on subframe incorporating the front suspension from a GM B-body station wagon ( Chevrolet Caprice , Cadillac Brougham ) with a leaf-spring rear suspension. The lower ball joints were larger than their B-body counterparts, however. These ball joints were later used in the final Chevrolet Caprice 9C1 (police package) cars manufactured in 1995 and 1996. They also shared many mechanical similarities to the GMT 325/330 midsize S/T Pickup/Utilities. Hundreds of instances of front torsion bar failure in the AWD suspension were reported to NSHTA. The torsion bars failed without warning, resulting in bottoming of the suspension. Repair required replacement of both torsion bar assemblies with upgraded designs at a cost of about $1000. No fatalities were reported. In 1990, a new dash was introduced along with the availability of a long-wheelbase model. In 1995, the model was face lifted with an extended nose that resembled the then-new full-size Express vans. In 1996, a redesigned dash received a passenger side air-bag. The vans remained mostly unchanged until canceled in 2005. In 2003, GM upgraded the chassis of both the Astro and Safari with certain suspension components, larger brakes, and six-lug, 16 inch wheels from the full-size Chevrolet and GMC half-ton pickup trucks. The modifications improved the poor handling and braking of the vans. END OF THE LINE Faced with falling sales across its vehicle lines, General Motors began closing plants and discontinuing slow-selling vehicle lines. With new federal standards for side impact and head injury reductions coming, GM determined that there was no use in expending money for a redesign of a vehicle line that was no longer selling well. Thus, the Safari and Astro were taken out of production in May 14 , 2005 , and the long-serving Baltimore, Maryland assembly plant where both were built was closed. It was the only rear-wheel drive minivan which was produced for 20 model years - a longer run than its nearest rival, the Ford Aerostar , which ceased production in 1997, and the only remaining rear-wheel drive minivan in the United States and Canada since the original Mazda MPV ceased production in 1998. It was also the only Rear-wheel Drive Minivan in the United States and Canada to spawn two generations. In total, the Baltimore plant produced approximately 3,700,000 Astro and Safari vans. In the Chevrolet line, the Astro was replaced by the Chevrolet Uplander "crossover sport van", which also replaced the Chevrolet Venture . Like the Astro, the Uplander is available in cargo and passenger versions, although its front-wheel drive Unibody platform makes it less suitable for heavy-duty work. GMC has replaced the Safari with their Acadia 7-passenger Crossover SUV for 2007. UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED? The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS), which is known for its testing of vehicles and results that are often shown on NBC 's '' Dateline '' television news program, gave the Astro a "poor" rating in 1996 because of what by all appearances was a horrifying display of Structural Failure in the Institute's 40-mph Crash Test into a fixed, offset barrier. The underbody of the test van buckled, pitching both front seats forward and shoving the crash dummy into the dashboard and Steering Wheel , leading the Institute to comment that " collapse of the occupant compartment left little survival space for the driver." [http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=66 See detailed crash test information, including photos illustrating the Astro's structural collapse In testing performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), however, the Astro and Safari fared better, improving from a single-star rating in 1990 to a three-star (driver) and four-star (passenger) rating by 1999. In side impacts, the Astro and Safari both received the highest, five-star rating in every year that the test was administered. POPULARITY WITH MODIFIERS and bell.]] In addition to their popularity as conversion vans, the Astro and Safari both have popular followings with "back yard" modifiers. Modifications are both street and off-road. Some vans have the original 4.3L Vortec V6 Engine replaced with a Small-block V8 Engine , such as the Chevrolet 350 Engine . This switch is simplified because the 4.3L V6 is based on the GM small-block V8, and most of the factory drivetrain components can be reused. Because of its truck based design, the Astro also is popular with some off road and camping enthusiasts. The combination of a powerful drivetrain, large cargo and passenger space, all-wheel drive, and stock G80 Locking Differential for the rear axle facilitate off road modifications. The suspension can be lifted, allowing larger tires and clearance with relatively small changes in exterior appearance. ENGINES
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