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For those belonging to the millennial generation, chances are you’ve experienced riding in the original Dodge Caravan. Back in 1984, Chrysler struck gold with the first-generation Caravan, which not only became a highly sought-after family vehicle in the nation but also pioneered the concept of the American minivan as we recognize it today. However, GM came close to beating Chrysler to the race five years earlier with its minivan contender—the Chevrolet Nomad II.
In 1979, Chevy unveiled the Nomad II concept, a stylish people carrier constructed on GM’s front-wheel-drive X-Car platform, a platform it shared with the Chevy Citation and Buick Skylark during that time. Little information was divulged about the car by GM, except for one photo of the Nomad II, which is humorously marketed as a poster.
GM would have struck gold with the Nomad II had it gone into production. Not only did the American public unknowingly desire minivans, but it was an aesthetically pleasing vehicle, notably more attractive than the minivans that followed. Featuring a lower roofline, a modest shoulder line, flared wheel arches, and a surprisingly broad wheel track, the Nomad II sported more of a muscular wagon appearance, albeit with enhanced passenger capacity.
Curiously, it appeared to lack a sliding passenger door, which later became a key selling point for the Dodge Caravan. From GM’s single photo of the Nomad II, the absence of a passenger side sliding door is evident, with only a front door visible on the driver’s side. However, judging by the B-pillars and flared rear wheel arches, it seems unlikely that the passenger side could accommodate a sliding door, indicating it probably had a standard rear door instead.
While GM was not the initial American automaker to propose the concept of a compact family van (Ford executives proposed the Mini-Max in the late ’70s), the Nomad II would have been America’s first front-wheel-drive minivan if it had proceeded to production. Sadly, the Nomad II project was terminated due to GM’s fear of it cannibalizing their lucrative station wagon sales. Being more cost-effective than GM’s rear-wheel-drive station wagons while offering more interior space, the front-drive Nomad II would have quickly appealed to many consumers. Ironically, the Dodge Caravan eventually eclipsed all wagon sales, irrespective of brand, in the United States.
Chevy Nomad II | Chevrolet
GM hasn’t forgotten this irony. The description on its aforementioned poster indicates, “The Nomad II received highly positive evaluations in customer clinics but did not receive the green light for production. Another company introduced a successful mini-van a few years later.” Some bitterness still lingers.
Subsequent to the immense triumph of the Dodge Caravan and its various rebranded versions, GM eventually rolled out its front-wheel-drive minivans, albeit a decade later. The debut of the Chevy Lumina APV in 1990 exhibited a futuristic appearance resembling a dustbuster, earning it the moniker “dustbuster van”. Although the Lumina garnered reasonable sales, GM couldn’t match the popularity of Chrysler’s well-established van lineup.
GM’s decision not to pursue the Nomad II may have appeared inconsequential at the time, yet it ultimately became one of the most significant automotive blunders of the 20th century in America. The minivan sector stood as one of the most thriving automotive segments for decades, and GM could have been at its forefront. Instead, it witnessed its primary competitor claim victory.
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