OMG RANCHO

[Pete-M]

 

 

[MrRegieRitmo]

I'd happily add a good one to my collection but I'm not in the market for any more projects unfortunately.

I think that R5 counts as very much a project!

[Split_Pin]

 

 

Got the very same one on my shelf just now

[VWPowered]

Don't forget the Japs bought out a MPV before Renault or Chrysler, in 1982. OK, it was the Nissan Prairie so not really as much of a 'car' as the Espace, but it was the same type of vehicle before Renault or Chrysler's, both of which were inspired by the Chrysler Europe & Matra MPV project worked on in the mid 1970s.

To be fair the Prairie was very much a car. Most of the under structure at the front was shared with the Sunny and Cherry. The rear end used trailing arms on torsion bars in order to get a very low floor in the back. They feel like a car and a surprisingly pleasant to drive. Reasonably nippy in 1800 form too.The prairie often gets forgotton as an MPV pioneer because export markets usually only got it as a 5 seater but it was available as a 7 seater in Japan.The Rancho was just as pioneering as the Prairie. It effectively created a market sector that wasn't really there before. Of course it isn't an offroader but then that's not what it was ever intended to be. I'd happily add a good one to my collection but I'm not in the market for any more projects unfortunately.

have to say i think VW Type 2 was possibly the oldest form of MPV maybe others, but defo 20 years before nissan/renault or anyone else had the idea

[Ratdat]

Type 2 is based on (and also sold as) a van so not a purpose built MPV. There were other purpose made "people carriers" prior to the Prairie though.

[andrew e]

Fiat multiplas, Citroen big 15 Families etc.

[Guest]

More metal than the real thing

[Talbotman]

Has anybody got any contact details for the rancho? Im definitely feeling a purchase twitch for this............!