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The Ford Carousel (also spelled Carrousel〔http://vehiclevoice.com/tag/ford-carousel/〕) is a prototype vehicle that was developed by Ford in 1973.〔http://vehiclevoice.com/2007/07/ford_carrousel_story_continues_1/#more-787〕 It was designed and styled by Dick Nesbitt, designer of the Ford Mustang II.〔http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1972-ford-carousel-minivan-concept-car2.htm〕 The Carousel/Carrousel was assembled by Carron & Company of Inkster, Michigan.〔 While never produced, the Carousel explored many of the concepts that would be seen a decade later in minivans produced by American automakers including two-box design, garageable height, and three-row seating as an alternative to both station wagons and full-size vans. ==Development== In 1972, Ford truck designers had started to finish design work on a full-sized van project. Codenamed "Nantucket", it would become the 1975 Ford Econoline/Club Wagon in its final form.〔http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/03/1972-ford-carousel-the-chrysler-minivans-true-father/#more-350855〕 While boasting more usable interior space for driver and front passengers, the new Econoline had become a close fit in the average American garage door opening. In 1972, Ford president Lee Iaccoca approved development of a variant based on the Nantucket project. Codenamed "Carousel", the variant was to be a "garageable van".〔〔http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1972-ford-carousel-minivan-concept-car1.htm〕〔http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/03/1972-ford-carousel-the-chrysler-minivans-true-father/〕 If approved for production, its target market would have been both buyers of full-size station wagons and passenger van buyers.〔〔 Sharing the frame of the short-wheelbase model,〔(【引用サイトリンク】 title=Yarn – Nobody Ever Talks About Ford's Carrousel Concept )〕 Carousel was designed with a lower roofline than the full-size Econoline. Underneath the hood, Ford fitted it with a 460 cubic-inch V8, sourced from the Lincoln Continental Mark III .〔 As its primary market was retail buyers, the rear body of the Carousel was surrounded in glass (in a style not unlike the 1950s Chevrolet Nomad). To attract wagon buyers, the rear door was a tailgate with a retracting rear window.〔 To further attract wagon buyers, the Carousel prototype was built to the equivalent of a potential "Squire" trim level; the body was fitted with simulated woodgrain siding.〔 Inside, the seating arrangement of the Carousel mimicked that of the Club Wagon; two captains' chairs with two bench seats.〔 While based on the Econoline, the Carousel prototype wore its own instrument panel and was trimmed similar to the LTD Brougham and Thunderbird〔〔 (at the time, this would have placed the Carousel above the LTD Country Squire in the Ford station wagon lineup). 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Ford Carousel」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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