Conversion shops are accustomed to the sight of a big Ford Club Wagon rolling through the doorway. It's a thoroughbred van that has all the basics and design integrity suited for the customer's creative juices.Still, it says lots about a vehicle's character when that same full-size van, carrying a factory-installed package, can win over the showroom customer. And that will happen plenty with the 1994 Ford Club Wagon Chateau, a seven-passenger blend of comfort, convenience and sheer drivability.
This is a full-sizer that threatens to make enthusiasts permanently swear off even the sweetest of minivans, all because of one glorious element: space.
Ford uses it brilliantly on the Chateau, making sure that this van brings a surplus of comfortable seating and ultra-visible glass to a sound overall package. In fact, you get the distinct feeling riding in the Club Wagon Chateau that you're aboard a plush tour bus. It's a matter of room, ambience and a lot of little things that make the ride anything but routine.
Its MSRP was steep: $24,348 for a brass-tacks version, $26,597 when we threw in a recommended option package that included a 5.8-liter V8 to provide a boost in power and acceleration for basic towing assignments.
What Ford offers with the '94 Club Wagon is a fundamental, full-size van of substance and minimalist styling. Performance is more than adequate and compensates for a look that's, by and large, no-frills. And while that's going to be just fine with the conversion crowd, it's also enough to suit the smaller percentage of showroom buyers who'll like the brawn and brassiness of this van.
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