1962 Chevrolet Greenbrier Sports Wagon
Arguably America’s first successful minivan, the windowed Greenbrier Sports Wagon helped pioneer the people-carrier concept that would later dominate family transportation. Built on Chevrolet’s rear-engine Corvair platform, the Sports Wagon featured a forward-control design, positioning the driver above the front wheels to maximize interior space.
Its air-cooled, horizontally-opposed 145-cubic-inch flat-six engine (producing 80 hp) was mounted behind the rear axle under a raised cargo floor. The Greenbrier was offered in six- or eight-door configurations with large side windows, transforming the basic panel van into a versatile passenger hauler.
Priced at $2,655, Chevrolet produced 13,491 examples during the 1962 model year. The Sports Wagon came standard with a three-speed manual transmission, with optional two-speed Powerglide automatic or four-speed manual available.
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