Here’s how the Chevy Astro/GMC Safari twins became known as “Mid-i-vans”

In this episode I provide the history of the Chevrolet Astro and its GMC twin, the Safari. Both vans were GM's quick response to the success of Chrysler's minivans that debuted in 1983. The 1985 Astro and Safari differed from Chrysler in that GM's vans were rear-wheel-drive and based on a truck chassis, making them taller, and able to tow and carry more cargo. However the Astro/Safari never became seriously competitive with Chrysler, leading GM to introduce their dustbuster minivan trio in 1990. The Astro and Safari stayed true to form for their second generation in 1996, still very square and only one sliding door, and although they had many loyal fans, they weren't enough for GM to continue production after 2005. However there are still some out there who wish GM would bring them back someday.

[@curtiscf1986]

These vans were tougher than a bucket of nails. Probably one of the best vehicles General Motors ever made.

[@colbywalsh4610]

I am the proud and happy owner of a 2005 Chevrolet Astro L S passenger all wheel drive with about 250,000 miles. As far as I know, it is all original. Original engine and transmission and everything. The 03 to 05 was the best😊

[@lawnmowerdude]

Have you changed the intake manifold gaskets yet?

[@patrickmcgoldrick8234]

The 4.3s are a really good engines,as long as the coolant is changed and the intake is tightened as routine service as well as oil changes with filter and the transmissions seem to hold up well if taken care of.overall a pretty decent little van

[@colbywalsh4610]

@@lawnmowerdude it was a school van before I purchased it. Service record show that was done at around 217,000 miles or so. I am currently at just under 246,000.

[@aaronburratwood.6957]

I have an ‘04 with 212,k mikes now and counting and I drove it to Philadelphia to visits some friends and I urban camped in it for a few days. It was quite a scene

[@samuelleal2143]

The transfer case is actuallly worse than the earlier model other than that I agree

[@2coolwheels139]

I'm driving a 98 with over 200K miles on it. I bought it 10 years ago for $100! Best $100 I ever spent!

[@johnmaki3046]

I believe this!

[@Lilmiket1000]

omg 100! Amazing! I been trying to get one for less than 3000 with less than 300k miles on it lol.

[@davidking3311]

I worked at the Baltimore assembly plant making these in the early 1990s there was a whole lotta drinking going on to get these beauties manufactured

[@rtcturnemup7028]

I remember simple times when suvs were rare and mini vans were exactly how suvs are today. Cars, minivans, and wagons ❤

[@MrOiram46]

in those times, SUVs were just trucks with shorter beds that came with rear seats and a removable top

[@rtcturnemup7028]

@@MrOiram46 most suvs I remember were 2 door mostly just like the trucks. Only a few super long suvs with the main one obviously being the suburban

[@edwardaustin740]

I had an 87 Safari. Took the seats out and went camping in it every weekend for years. Great vehicle.

[@johnmaki3046]

They were okay!

[@davinp]

Since GM & Ford both left the minivan market in 2009, that left Chrsyler the only American automaker to offer a minivan

[@Rascofresco11]

I think it's quite ironic that Chrysler introduced the minivan concept and when the chips fall they're the last(American) standing.

[@SayAhh]

Was the Mazda MPV ever considered a domestic product?

[@CarringtonHollister]

Ford still has a minivan technically (Transit Connect)

[@FiregemGaming]

And now it’s quite literally the only car in Chryslers line up, they are killing the 300 this year.

[@carexpertandy]

@@SayAhhNot when Mazda is a Japanese company.

[@danhenson7366]

Best mini van ever produced

[@marviveedee7198]

Definitely a cool van

[@chosenone101]

The Astro name was used the 80s production of the GM/Chevy heavy truck cabover division...the GMC Astro and Chevy Titan. They stopped production in 1987 and formed White/GMC

[@JohnnyN-ml3te]

I had a 2001 Astro hi top conversion that I bought in 2014 with 125k. In 7 years I put 90k on it and the only thing the engine ever needed was a distributor cap but I gave it plugs and wires too. Of course I did an alternator, water pump, power steering but that's any vehicle. I think it was the most dependable vehicle I ever owned, and I'm a Ford van guy! My Astro still ran great when I sold it with 216k I kinda miss it

[@indee105]

I used to have an Astro with the Vortec V6. Thing made it to 310,000 miles before I sold it, only ever did basic maintenance. Before I moved I would still see it being driven around by the new owner from time to time. Was an amazing machine.

[@deborahabercrombie9461]

i have a 2003 with the glass top i love it been working on it for 2 years to bring it back

[@RedAngles34]

I have a 1990 gmc safari absolutely love it best car ever my dad had a 1986 gmc safari

[@Lon1001]

Drove an awd one from the late 90s often for work, to pick up customers and drive people around and the 4WD was awesome in them, they went everywhere in all weather. 18 inches of snow was barely a problem even on some pretty steep grades, and the rear bias made them fun to powerslide when it was slippery out.

[@furiouhuzzah]

Even as a kid I always thought they were the coolest vehicles. I was a teen in the early 2000's during the SUV boom, so to fit in I got a Grand Cherokee. I wish I would've gotten an Astro, probably would have had a lot fun with it.

[@Mr19thcenturyman]

I've had a Safari passenger model and currently have a Safari cargo version. AWD and anti-lock brakes. The boxy design is what makes them perfect for cargo , boxes or bicycles.

[@johnmaki3046]

I owned an '87 Chevy Astro (2.5 4 cyl.) cargo van and a '90 G.M.C. Safari Waldoch conversion in '09! They were both "okay", but the MoPars were MUCH BETTER in EVERY CATAGORY!

[@averyparticularsetofskills]

To this day I'd LOVE an Astro/Safari AWD high top conversion!

[@carexpertandy]

The most manly minivan built!

[@RIVERSIDEREVIEWS]

Literally LIVED in a one of these for 2-3yrs. It was a 1980s era class-B+ allegro camper conversion with the V6. Thing ran strong with zero issues. Uncle had a standard van version. Basically, the S-10 of mini-vans. Good times and shame theres nothing on the market like it today.

[@AN-cw6yg]

We had an 89' Astro in Maroon then a 99' Astro in Green. Those were the days.

[@tenczaandfriends]

I currently got a 1990 Chevy Astro 4.3L V6 RWD Cargo with 290k and I love it, I lived in it and now I live with it. It's so juiced for just a Van. It's got some quirks but it still starts up and drives every time.

[@Brian-li5up]

Great ending!

[@citizenblue]

I have one of these and still love it

[@TheHelado36]

Loved the sharp crease in the middle of the front fascia !

[@pbmc_]

I saw the thumbnail and had to watch. We had the same color one as in thumbnail. I waked up at 4:30 every morning in high school and delivered newspapers by throwing them out the windows of the ASTRO. Such great memories with this awesome vehicle.

[@nesianhoney94]

This is the most classic bangin' little Chevy van! I swoon when I see a well kept Astro.

[@georgemartin1436]

Drove the Safari and the Astro, and they were awesome.

[@lobolj53]

We still have our 2000 Astro awd that was bought in 2001. 320,000 miles and still going.

[@ThatPatriot]

I wish they still made it, perfect work van

[@thomaskunik15]

My''94 has 123K on the cluck, where my '95 has 326K on the clock. both have a rebuilt tranny. Neither have e rebuilt motor. the 95 got a master gasket set installed last trans build. doesn't tick at all. I had a bunch while building a service business. Only one was destroyed because of a drunk driving it after hours into a tree. Parts are almost unobtanium for series one. Love these vans...

[@joshriles84]

They're still so popular the prices are higher than any other older minivan

[@RobsNeighbor]

I was born in 1980, these were all I saw! Then worked on then drove. Great Video!

[@FriedOkraPickles]

0:50 🚨Dad Joke Detected 🚨 "Dedicated Van Base"😂😂🤣

[@aliendeer1294]

Wow the memories....I remember being enthralled by that jingle as a little kid..."Chevy, CHEVY, Astro, ASTRO!"

[@timothydurkan]

I wanted an Astro van bad in the mid 90s. Another great video!

[@aaronburratwood.6957]

I have an ‘04 Astro for work. I paid $900 for it with 167,k. It was in great shape but had an electrical problem. I fixed that, put some wheels from a ‘22 GMC Sierra on it & it’s still a great van with over 220,k miles on it now.

[@DarknessViper99]

Man I was getting mad nostalgic for these lately, the epitome of 2000s family transport in Santa Ana

[@19chucki74]

I'd been looking for an Astro cargo van for a while, and almost bought one, if it hadn't been so roughed up on the inside. I still want an Astro though. Great vans.

[@CrazyHorse420]

I have an 02 I'll sell you.

[@johnmaki3046]

These were TUFF!

[@juppzmuda9725]

Yeah, I always liked the Astro! For a future Video: Dodge B Series / Ram Van!

[@ChillkootMarkowee]

Yeah, I've got a 1980 Dodge B300 MaxiVan!

[@daveunknown01]

The Astro name was also used for one of GMCs Cabover Semi trucks.

[@dave900575]

We rented an Astro for a mother's day roadtrip. I recall it was a very nice vehicle.

[@James-sir]

I always wanted a Astro Van because when you saw them lowered with actual nice wheels they looked so good I might have to buy one and fulfill that teenage me dream minivan

[@Mintman83]

They were assembled near where I lived in MD

[@agy234]

I still see Chevy astros driving around as work vans

[@Shuckey5]

I just bought one $500 run amazing 140,000

[@padroooo]

I see you are headed for 100,000 subscribers Pat. Keep up the good work.

[@DUNEATV]

Hey deserves it and much more!

[@nurseelliott4256]

Hey I dig those little vans. I wouldn’t mind have a conversion one today.

[@XqeDiosxqe]

One of the best mini vans out there.

[@brandbryce]

loved this episode

[@rickc6028]

Best minivan ever!!! 😍

[@Henry_Jones]

The chevy Corvair Greenbrier deseves a shoutout as it pre-dated the Astro by 20 years to compete with the vw bus!

[@robertcamble3543]

These vans are among the most reliable vehicles ever made . They still popular on the road after so many years .

[@heffedirte6243]

I would love to have another one. I had an 87 lowrider on Daytons and a 94 with a 350 conversion and cragar SS

[@bobhill3941]

That's awesome! I've always loved Crager SS mags! I watched a show where some guys took a second gen Safari AWD like we had and turbo'd it as a what if like the Syclone and Typhoon.

[@danhenson7366]

Using the truck plan is why they were the best.... im currently looking for a 2005 awd

[@billdursa4976]

I had an Astro and a Safari. They were both great and trouble free.

[@jean-phillipegagnon2120]

I owned one used it for work beast 👌

[@CarlosGuzman-bq8fr]

Loved ❤ it. Thanks so much.

[@grunkohlaktionar7474]

Please do an episode on the Mitsubishi Diamante

[@42luke93]

What’s that? Never heard of it

[@xraider927]

​@@42luke93it's a full size sedan larger than the Galant

[@TheJaymon1962]

Thanks for this!

[@markfierke8565]

The Astro name came from the class eight diesel truck section of GMC. GMC Astro/Chevrolet Titan starting in 1969

[@SeymourBalz]

I have a 97 Astro. 206k miles. Runs and drives fine. About 21mpg.

[@joellamoureux7914]

Here in georgia usa, i fairly frequently see these on the road. I always liked them.

[@sergeipohkerova7211]

The Caravan and Transsport always struck me more as the mom car and the Astro was more likely to be a dad.

[@thejmcGarage]

Just for FYI, the 1984 Sheepdog van at the end of this episode was actually based on a Ford Econoline van.

[@MyOldCar]

Yes I know that wasn't a GM van, I just loved that scene and figured I could borrow it here

[@rushnerd]

@@MyOldCar CHEVY CHEVY ASTRO ASTRO What you have you done to me

[@fgeiger41]

Great video. You forgot that the AstroO was HUGELY popular in japan and inspired a while segment of vehicles that even Kia started emulating like the Soul.

[@MyOldCar]

Actually I did mentiion its popularity in Japan near the end.

[@fgeiger41]

@@MyOldCar oh wow. Gives me an excuse to watch again. 😁 I was waiting on it but was also multitasking at the same time. Thanks 😊

[@ryurc3033]

The transfer case / front differential of the AWD models has been known to withstand 800hp launching with drag radials. With only upgrades to the cv axles. Still a sought after setup for street racing

[@ryurc3033]

AWD Astro van with a gen4 5.3 and one of them Chinese whistling hair dryers would make a hugely awesome sleeper

[@idajane1974]

If they made one of those new today I would buy one

[@carlbuschman]

I drove an Astro van as a Courtesy for Riley Chevrolet for customers, the Astro was a really good choice.

[@rnt45t1]

Painters love them.

[@dalesmth1]

Former Astro owner here. The V8 swap greatly improved this vehicle’s shortcomings.

[@nicklikesradio]

5.3 or?

[@dalesmth1]

@@nicklikesradio 5.7 vortec. This was three years before LS variants.

[@bk_goatkim679]

Astro-Astro! These cans were so unreliable! Love it!!!

[@Danthehistoryman]

It's amazing GM hasnt changed the look of those commercial vans in decades, they've made their money on those. The ASTRO was neat, nothing really like it these days.

[@alexanderspenser4960]

Recently asked my sister to sell me her '95 with 285k miles. Nope, it still looks new sitting next to their 1986 Camino SS. Have to rewatch your vid, many details to learn.👍🏾

[@Raatokalle]

had a good laugh at the end. Should have seen that coming.

[@kc0lif]

nice awd mini van.

[@joshriles84]

1995 is a special year....1996 front end with 1994 interior

[@pablochavezsalas7615]

Así es. También es mi año favorito.

[@charlie_nolan]

I still see the cargo/work versions of the Astro everywhere, must be because of the 4.3 V6 or the Iron Duke

[@U.S.S.SOUTHSIDE]

It's the 4.3 Vortec And the towing capacity.😊

[@highwayman1218]

Great vans and wrenched on them alot as a mechanic through their runs. The 4x were more wotk, but solid platforms. Unfortunately alot of buyers didnt understand what made them great was the truck inspired bones and complaints from soccer mom type buyers....

[@hrayrstanboulian5270]

I used to own 1990 buick century i had custom dual exhaust on it from same generation grandprix but now rarely seen one for years still. Road worthy

[@mr_beezlebub3985]

It'd be so cool if the Astro made a comeback as a hybrid minivan.

[@anthony_rivera4735]

Please do a video on the Ford Explorer sport trac pickup

[@JSFGuy]

Keep asking and see what happens.

[@dsihacker01]

These astros are great damn vans, got a few right now myself, 2 2000s, and a 99. One of the 2000s is a teal awd, with a now blown motor, which thankfully, is easily swapable to a 5.3l v8. I also want rwd and Awd or 4x4, so thats being swapped out. Originally looked into doing similar to another van of mine, and it was going to be a lot of work, however, I was very happy to see that its very easy, and chevy literally makes all the parts. Most I may need is driveline. Engine literally falls out

[@Minivan_Operator]

CHEVY! CHEVY! ASTRO! ASTRO! DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU! 😂

[@xraider927]

🤣🤣🤣 even at the end of the video

[@jeremyanderson1139]

The Astro and Safari were more so aimed at commercial buyers than at families. The M-Body platform that these vans was actually different from the Chevrolet S-10 platform

[@jasonz7788]

Cool thanks 👍👍

[@EDT123]

You keep it up man good job very informative citipointe I love it

[@jsembler1]

Nice touch on dubbing in the Astro jingle with Dumb and Dumber.

[@donalddday7741]

it was the only mini that looked like a real an and was and still is popular with vanners

[@davidpistek6241]

The awd system was used on the syclone, Tony Angelo is building a clone and used the awd settup and 4.3 from it

[@mjohnso9mj]

I still have an 89 Astro 0 rust. Soon to have a 375hp v8 conversion

[@DUNEATV]

Great video…as usual! 🍻

[@jcoop3660]

speed is the need we need to feed

[@evanscott7578]

GM actually had a prototype for a minivan before Chrysler, called the Nomad II. If you look it up, it looked very similar to what Chrysler came out with. Another GM van fact is they had a trim package for their full size Chevy G vans called Caravan well before Dodge used that name.

[@jelanimclean6326]

The Heartbeat Of America. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@puresweetnessyo]

I want to see a video on the Nissan 240sx. I had a 1990 fastback in high school.

[@ghoffmann821]

I learned to drive in an '86 manual Astro. By age 14, I was a grizzled stress veteran with a 100,000 mile stare.

[@melvinmcfly4498]

I’d love to see a video about the Lincoln ls, very under appreciated cars imo.

[@texasbeast239]

1:47 Anybody know what that extra, wide opening is for, between the front grille and the front bumper? And which trimlines had it?

[@maddoxboyd6584]

Astro is amazing