Where did the Neon get it's looks from?
#11
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ORIGINAL: stev
So, has anyone taken a look at the Voyager III concept vehicle to actually see how a small car like the neon + people mover atttachment could take place?
Here's a few early snapshots of the concept.
![](http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/7324/1990chryslervoyageriiifvl8.jpg)
![](http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/346/1990chryslervoyageriiifir5.jpg)
I see either a retro AMC 1976 Pacer or a cabforward front of a Dodge Neon.
![](http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/7843/plymouthvoyageriii1989mtx7.jpg)
This is the 1989 Plymonth Voyager III Concept vehicle.
This is where the Neon started ...
If it wasn't for the "ugly" duckling of a Pacer offering it's cabforward design ques, where would the recovery of Chrysler come from back then? Even an ugly duckling turns into a glorious piece of art in it's time. Lee did a good thing keeping the AMC styling engineering group together to save Chrysler with future models.
And now you know the rest of the story.
So, has anyone taken a look at the Voyager III concept vehicle to actually see how a small car like the neon + people mover atttachment could take place?
Here's a few early snapshots of the concept.
![](http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/7324/1990chryslervoyageriiifvl8.jpg)
![](http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/346/1990chryslervoyageriiifir5.jpg)
I see either a retro AMC 1976 Pacer or a cabforward front of a Dodge Neon.
![](http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/7843/plymouthvoyageriii1989mtx7.jpg)
This is the 1989 Plymonth Voyager III Concept vehicle.
![](http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/2301/89plymouthvoyager32rc5.jpg)
This is where the Neon started ...
If it wasn't for the "ugly" duckling of a Pacer offering it's cabforward design ques, where would the recovery of Chrysler come from back then? Even an ugly duckling turns into a glorious piece of art in it's time. Lee did a good thing keeping the AMC styling engineering group together to save Chrysler with future models.
And now you know the rest of the story.
#14
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That's one neat observation of the small car rear axle location being like a Smart Car. However, the Smart car doesn't have any front end with a long and wide hood like the Neon.
Sure there are some minor simlars ques with the rear axel end, but the window glass around the prototype isn't like any Smart Car.
Remember that the Voyager III concept here was done for the autoshows in 1989.
The Smart Car came in 1997.
"How everything begun: In 1993 Mercedes-Benz started a feasibility study on a subcompact car. Together with the Swatch Group Ltd. they founded the Micro Compact Car AG in 1994. The smart city-coupé celebrates its world première at the IAA in Frankfurt (Germany) in 1997 and is one year successfully launched in nine European countries. By now, the smart is available in 25 countries all over the world and was sold over 750,000 times."
So .... A correct statement here is that the Smart Car people might have looked at the Voyager III concept mini car for design ques and function.![Smile](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Sure there are some minor simlars ques with the rear axel end, but the window glass around the prototype isn't like any Smart Car.
Remember that the Voyager III concept here was done for the autoshows in 1989.
The Smart Car came in 1997.
"How everything begun: In 1993 Mercedes-Benz started a feasibility study on a subcompact car. Together with the Swatch Group Ltd. they founded the Micro Compact Car AG in 1994. The smart city-coupé celebrates its world première at the IAA in Frankfurt (Germany) in 1997 and is one year successfully launched in nine European countries. By now, the smart is available in 25 countries all over the world and was sold over 750,000 times."
So .... A correct statement here is that the Smart Car people might have looked at the Voyager III concept mini car for design ques and function.
![Smile](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif)
#15
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ORIGINAL: stev
So .... A correct statement here is that the Smart Car people might have looked at the Voyager III concept mini car for design ques and function.![Smile](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif)
So .... A correct statement here is that the Smart Car people might have looked at the Voyager III concept mini car for design ques and function.
![Smile](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif)
#16
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Years ago when I lived in M!CH!GAN I saw this Voyager-III at the auto show.
If people remember years prior (1971-1978) the Voyager Ram Vans were full size and sat 12-passengers. The Voyager-III concept combined the ability of a rear ended mini-van to a mini-car. It's a strange combination.
As for the question about getting the rear wheels upward, that was simple since the mini car was FWD. The rear axle hinged and tucked the wheels under the lifted skirt. There is a control on the dash to properly engage the mini car or detach it. It could only be done in Park. Once executed, you could place the mini car in drive to go.
It's so neat to see the mini car survive the concept and tailor much of the front and door scheme to the early Neon.
If people remember years prior (1971-1978) the Voyager Ram Vans were full size and sat 12-passengers. The Voyager-III concept combined the ability of a rear ended mini-van to a mini-car. It's a strange combination.
As for the question about getting the rear wheels upward, that was simple since the mini car was FWD. The rear axle hinged and tucked the wheels under the lifted skirt. There is a control on the dash to properly engage the mini car or detach it. It could only be done in Park. Once executed, you could place the mini car in drive to go.
It's so neat to see the mini car survive the concept and tailor much of the front and door scheme to the early Neon.
#17
#18
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roof line, circle headlights, and hood shape? i think i and everyone else here would prefer we compare a neon to a challenger. the dart was dodge's old small car, but the roof line is much close on the challenger. esp. on a 2 dr. that van car thing reminds me of a geo metro. i guess thats getting eaten by walt disney's monorail.
#20