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I keeps it real!!The Ford Aerostar was Ford's first minivan, and was introduced as a 1986 model in summer 1985. Although introduced to compete with the front-wheel drive Dodge Caravan/Plymouth Voyager twins, it was a rear-wheel drive minivan, like the Chevrolet Astro and Toyota Van. Early models were available with Ford's 2.3 L Lima I4 engine, which at 100 hp (70 kW) was grossly underpowered for a van that could carry up to seven passengers and luggage. Available as an upgrade initially was Ford's also-underpowered 115 horsepower (86 kW) 2.8 L Cologne V6. Later models came with either the 145 horsepower (108 kW) corporate 3.0 L Vulcan V6 found in the Taurus and Ranger, or (starting in 1990) a 155 horsepower (116 kW) version of the Explorer/Ranger's 4.0 L Cologne V6. The Aerostar was Motor Trend magazine's Truck of the Year for 1990.[1] The Aerostar differed from other minivans of its time, because instead of being built on a car platform, it was built on a truck platform. This design was developed because the designers in Ford's truck office were unfamiliar and uncomfortable with unibody construction, and essentially designed a frame into the unibody (this construction was also used on the Chevrolet/GMC G-Series vans and the second generation Jeep Cherokee). The aerodynamic styling was similar to the Ford Taurus, which was introduced at the same time. A commercial ad stated that the Aerostar's front nose resembled the NASA Space Shuttle; Ford often compared the Aerostar to the Space Shuttle in its advertising. Models ranged from the base (and most popular) XL to the luxury XLT. In some years an Eddie Bauer model was available, which had all XLT features and was only available with a tan interior and a tan exterior two-tone available with other select colors. One usually overlooked feature of the Eddie Bauer package is that the middle and rear bench seats would fold out flat converting the two bench seats into a bed, though some Eddie Bauer Aerostars were equipped with a pair of bucket seats instead of the middle bench seat. Also, a "Sport" option was an aesthetic upgrade to XL or XLT models and included a front air dam, running boards with an "AEROSTAR" logo, two-tone paint (usually with silver as the accent color) including the bumpers painted in the accent color (instead of dark grey like other models), and "Sport" badging. Major options included rear air, an extended length model in 1988-on, E4WD (see below), etc. Most models included rear-seat controls for the audio and rear climate control if so equipped. Most models also came equipped with A/C, intermittent wipers, rear wiper, rear defogger, and so forth. In 1994, built-in child safety seats were made part of the middle bench seat. Rear-wheel ABS was standard in most years, as was the case with most Ford trucks. 4-wheel ABS was not an option, curiously enough. The Aerostar was a rear-wheel drive vehicle, unlike the Chrysler minivans. This compromised interior space somewhat (although providing a level load floor unlike the deep-well like design of a front-wheel drive minivan) but provided superior towing ability as well as increased traction when loaded. However, for those requiring more traction, Ford provided it. Starting in 1990 and on through 1997, an electronically controlled all-wheel drive option was available on any trim level. This was a different system than other four-wheel-drive Ford vehicles in that the system engaged when it detected rear wheel spin, powering the front wheels automatically with no driver input requried. Unlike most four-wheel-drive vehicles the system used on the Aerostar is more precisely described as "All Wheel Drive". It is distinctly different from traditional four-wheel-drive systems and other modern-day versions. The difference is that the Aerostar's unique Dana TC28 transfercase employs a true center differential, though this center-differential is regulated by an electronically controlled electro-magnetic clutch, this means that all four wheels are essentially powered at all times. All four-wheel-drive (called "E4WD" by Ford, standing for Electronic 4 Wheel Drive) Aerostars used the 4.0 L Cologne V6 rated at 160 hp (119 kW). The Aerostar was available with either a 5-speed manual (which was discontinued in 1995) or the 4-speed A4LD automatic. For 1996, both the 4-speed 4R44E (3.0 Engine) and 4-speed automatic 4R55E (4.0 engine) transmissions became available, replacing the A4LD. For 1997 the 5R55E was standard for the 4.0 engine. Since the Aerostar used truck parts (the brake rotors, axle bearings, wheels, etc. were all interchangeable with the Ford Ranger, Bronco II, and Explorer), essentially any interchangeable truck option for power and suspension was available. Many Aerostar owners upgraded to 15- or 16-inch wheels from an Explorer or Ranger. One noted difference is that the Aerostar had a 3-link coil spring rear suspension with a live axle, similar to the Ford Crown Victoria and Fox-body Mustang. Two different 5-speed manual transmissions were used, both of which were shared with other Ford and Mazda truck products. The earlier unit used from 1985-1987 is the Toyo-Kogyo (Mazda) transmission known as the TK-5. This unit was designed and built by Toyo-Kogyo. The later transmission, used from 1988-95 is the Mazda M5OD-R1. It was designed by Ford, but built by Mazda and shares a similarity to (but not interchangeability with) the Ford/Mazda M5OD-R2 transmission used in the fullsize Ford F-series and Ford Bronco trucks. The Aerostar received no major styling changes (aside from relocation of the "AEROSTAR" logo from the front fenders to the rear liftgate in 1988). In 1989, the Aerostar got its second facelift by adding a short-wheelbase version. Its third facelift would happen in 1992, when flush-mounted headlamps were fitted, a new grille, and inside a redesigned dashboard that incorporated a driver's side airbag and a column-mounted gearshift, finally replacing the floor-mounted shifter that blocked access to the rear seats from the front. The Ford logo moved from the middle to the top of the grille. A "mini-console" replaced the floor shift (except in manual transmission models), and provided two cup holders and a coin holder. Standard instruments included a 90 mph (145 km/h) speedometer, a digital odometer capable of reading up to 999,999.9 miles (instead of the old 5-digit style), oil pressure, fuel gauge, voltmeter, and temperature indicator. The speedometer was also now electronically controlled, replacing of the old, "shaky-needle" cable operated one of 1986-1991. This also makes replacing the instrument cluster easier. The Aerostar optional electronic digital odometer, available 1986-91, would roll over to 100,000.0 miles (160,934.4 km) after it registered 199,999.9 miles (321,868.6 km) (example pic). This oddity continued for several years, but sometime before the 1993 model year this anomaly had been corrected. Since the kilometer output would also roll over at the 200,000.0 mark, one needed to compare the two outputs using a little math to determine the true mileage on the odometer. The Aerostar was produced at Ford's St. Louis, Missouri assembly plant, which built the Ford Explorer, Mercury Mountaineer, and Lincoln Aviator. This assembly plant is now closed. Ford began to phase out the Aerostar with the Ford Windstar in 1995. The Aerostar was sold until March 17, 1997, after overlapping for 3 years. When Ford tried to discontinue the Aerostar after the 1994 model year, the Ford Motor Company headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan was bombarded with letters from the public and dealerships, insisting that the Aerostar continue production. In 1997, to commemorate its last year, Ford fitted the Aerostar with unique monochromatic taillights (instead of the red/white/amber of 1986-1996). Also, all 1997 Aerostars were XLT models; no base model was available. The unique taillights are often a popular customizing choice of pre-1997 Aerostar owners who wish to make their Aerostar stand out a bit. Retrofitting them on to a pre-1997 Aerostar requires drilling an extra hole inside for the turn signal indicator. Right up until production ended, 100,000+ Aerostars were sold each year, much better than competitors from GM or imports like Honda or Toyota at the time.