'86 Astro Van Chinook; Interesting.

[maybeachinook]

Hi all.

In searching for a Chinook, found this:

https://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/cto/5353917549.html

the rear seat bed (+storage?) looks pretty clever.

Neil.

[Blue~Go]

Well that's pretty nifty. I've never looked at any of the Chinook Class B vans to see what they were like inside (even in photos). And I've never even noticed one on an Astro before; just various full-sized vans. Seems like they got into the Class B vans in the 80's, maybe around the time they were not making too many of the Class C Chinooks (?). Anyway, neato!

(The dash display is classic 80's, isn't it. Ooh, side swish!)

[kdarling]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that zero Chinook 18 Plus / Concourse class C types were made between 1980 and 1986. They were only made from 1971-1979, and then again from 1987-2005. (Perhaps beginning in late 1986.)

Apparently the gap was while Trail Wagons was negotiating to buy back the Chinook brand from investors who had bailed due to the economy.

Around 1986 (perhaps as early as late 1984), I think the Trail Wagon's owner's nephews started making the vans.

One of the more interesting Chinook vans to me, are the 1991-1995 Aerostars with a pop top and AWD (!). They usually go for less than $4,000, which is a deal for an AWD van camper. Unforunately they often need engine work by now.