Chrysler Town & Country/Dodge Caravan
Chrysler Corporation was in big trouble in the late 70s and early ’80s. Its enormous losses, poor sales, and lack of new models pushed the company nearly to the point of no return. When famous ex-Ford executive Lee Iacocca came to Chrysler in the late ’70s, almost everyone thought that there wasn’t anything he could do to save the fallen giant. However, Iacocca proved them wrong and returned Chrysler to the top position in the industry in just a few short years (via Hagerty).
His primary weapon was a new line of minivan models under the Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth names. The first model was Chrysler Town & Country, which was the right car for the times and basically the world’s first mass-produced minivan. The model established the minivan class and became the first Chrysler sales hit in decades. It was a perfect car for suburban America, replacing big, thirsty station wagons and preceding the SUV craze of today. The Town & Country proved influential and revolutionary and has stayed in production until today.