With under 54,000 miles, this 1997 Ford Aerostar Cargo Van has barely been used over the last 29 years. We don’t know its history, but it looks really nice in the photos that the seller has provided. It can be found here on Facebook Marketplace in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and they’re asking $4,999. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Sam61 for the tip!
I have a soft spot for little white cargo vans, as I had one for years, although it was a 1987 Dodge Caravan, and it didn’t have a didn’t have a window on the passenger-side cargo area sliding door. It was the perfect size, and it was great in the few winters I used it, with front-wheel drive. I’m sure this rear-wheel-drive Aerostar would be good in the snow with winter tires.
Ford made the Aerostar van in one model run, for years 1986 through 1997, and there weren’t many sweeping changes or redesigns. A 29-year-old vehicle isn’t exactly a new or “modern,” but with such low mileage, it seems like this one may be worth taking a chance on if a person were looking for an interesting cargo van for their business. My Caravan cargo van (Ram Mini Ram Van, like the silver one shown on page 2 of this brochure, but in white) didn’t have the recessed areas on the side as this van does. I prefer the cleaner look myself, not to mention the great driving characteristics of a Caravan.
The interior looks nice in the photos, other than some possible cracks in the vinyl seats. There are no rear seats, of course. The seller says this van has cold AC, something my ’87 Dodge Mini-Ram Van didn’t have at all, cold or not. That would have been nice, but it was a bare-bones van. I know some of you own or have owned an Aerostar, and I’ve never driven one; I’m assuming they’re nice vans, even in cargo spec.
Sadly, even though the seller appears to be a dealer, they didn’t include an engine photo. I’d normally show that in the fifth spot, but instead, here’s what the rear cargo area looks like. It looks clean and nice, other than the dirty floor mat. The engine should be a V6, but whether it’s a 3.0 or 4.0, I’m not sure. I’m assuming this is the 3.0-liter OHV V6, since it’s a cargo van and that was the base engine. It would have had around 145 horsepower. The seller doesn’t mention the engine at all, which, again, for a dealer, is a little unusual. The automatic sends power to the rear wheels, and they say it runs and drives great. How would you use this one? It would be a mini toy-hauler for me: motorcycles, snowmobiles, ATVs, etc.
Wow. There was a time that you saw panel van versions of Aerostars, Astro and Safari Vans, and Caravans like Scotty had all the time. What happened? This one looks unbelievably well preserved for a cargo van. Where on earth has this thing been hiding?
Good find Sammy 👏
I had an Aerostar, full seating, one of the few vehicles my ex didn’t kill. It served me well. Bit hard to work on, but frankly, it never needed much. The old man had an extended Aerostar I took to Fla. one year( from Wis) drove it practically non-stop, with a break around Atlanta, it was a very easy van to drive. Funny thing, I got to FL. next evening was going to go somewhere, no headlights. They worked fine the whole way. Had brights, no low beams. I said, did both low beams go at once? Not likely, but that’s what happened. I had thought of getting another, but decided to forget that,, the “gee, haven’t seen one of those in a while”, has talked me out of ANYTHING. I always thought these were the best of the “mini-vans”, with no FWD, all Ford truck. Sure am tempted at $5grand, but there is SO much stuff out there, and with repairs in the Outer Limits, if you can even find a repair facility that isn’t booked until next Spring, it doesn’t pay to buy anything today. They were great trucks.
Be a great stealth camper. So many options. Good price, great mileage.
Those were solid vehicles if kept properly maintained. Based on the Ranger platform. Practically bulletproof. Someone ‘s gonna be happy with this one. If it were a stick shift, I would be sorely tempted.