From the Clunkbucket far western island division comes this 1990 Chevrolet Astro Van with a mere 79K on the clock. While the Astro Van is a native of the mainland, it is a citizen of the big island of Hawaii, and currently owned and driven by on Hilo resident Richard Walker. The Astro Van served as staff wagon for the Hilo Shopping Center before being pressed into further road duty by Walker, who picked up the delivery special for 750 bucks. The lettering on the panels was peeled off, but Hibiscus flower logo retained as a bonus graphic. Richard says this first-gen Astro van can carry full 4X8 sheets of plywood with the passenger seat removed, and is able to navigate unpaved cane roads with relative ease. Surfboards, are no problem. The rear wheel drive Chevrolet Astro Van and its GMC Safari cousin are not to be confused with the 1984 Airstream Excella Astrovan used by the Astronauts.
More: The Original Astrosafari forum, or Catching a Ride to Destiny at NASA
Keep it away from the Cash for Clunker Nazis and it will be fine.
Growing up my family went through at least three Astro vans. They’re damn near impossible to destroy. We’d load up the van with the parents, two kids, dog and our stuff, and drive out west to Indiana, or up north to Maine. Many happy memories in these things. My mum almost killing us on the highway in Penn when she fell asleep at the wheel, getting attacked by yellow jackets in the back, burning out thighs on the vinyl seats. When my parents were done with the van, I got it. And i can attest to the room in the back of the van with no seat *wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more* Lets just say I became a man in one. We finally had to let go of it when on a trip to the Cape the engine decided to throw a rod.
@ USA#1: If I remember correctly this got about 27 mpg so it could not qualify for Cash for Clunkers anyway. I knew someone who used to get 33 mpg out of theirs. So yeah, not eligible and certainly not a clunker.