Aftermarket Vans

Podcast Episode: 0145
Who would ever think to customized a Van?

    Vans are not something you think of when you think of the aftermarket industry.  So, then why are there so many aftermarket vans out there now?  AutoLooks looks at this rising part of the aftermarket industry and how it came to be.

    Vans are what you think of when you need a work vehicle, or to haul around a lot of people.  This is not a market you think of when you hear the word aftermarket.  But, like all other segments of this great automotive world, there is a market for it.   And the funny thing today, is that it is getting bigger.
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    Back in the 70's the cargo van market was gaining popularity, as most of us wanted another place to hang out with our friends.  From strobe lights and waterbeds, to mini-bars and shag carpeting, the custom van culture was alive.   Then came the 80's and the arrival of the minivan.  Sure, this new variation of the van would become one of the biggest markets of late 80's and 90's, but it was not good news for the custom van market.
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    Soon enough companies began to play around with the idea of a fun minivan.  This may seem like an odd combination, but Chrysler fitting a Mitsubishi turbo a Caravan to help it break into the growing aftermarket world.  Being that stick shifts were still common, adding a turbo to a 5speed minivan was just something that just seemed plausible.  Too bad for Chrysler, as this fad never caught on.
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    Before long the rise of the import marketplace would breathe new life into the custom van marketplace, as the need for customization was growing, even after you settled into the suburbs.  Hopping up your parents' minivan soon became a thing and with the Asian marketplace being big on vans, this market soon took off.  Although the North American companies decided to forgo this marketplace at the beginning, they too would soon fall in line with this growing market.
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    Today the aftermarket van segment is alive and well in a few markets around the world.  Though this market has taken a back seat to muscle cars in America, China has found a new love with the custom van marketplace.  And with a rise in van sales across the Asia-Pacific market, it was just a matter of time before the aftermarket van world would take off again.

Everett J.
#autolooks