The Ford Windstar (later the Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey) is a minivan that was produced and sold by Ford from the 1995 to 2007 model years. The second minivan line designed by Ford, the Windstar moved closer in line to the design of the Chrysler minivans. The successor of the Ford Aerostar, the model line adopted front-wheel drive and a "two-box" body design. Three generations of the model line were produced, with the final generation taking on the Ford Freestar nameplate.
Unrelated to the Nissan-developed Mercury Villager, the Windstar was marketed without a Lincoln-Mercury counterpart. Coinciding with the introduction of the Ford Freestar for 2004, Mercury introduced its first Ford-produced minivan in a revival of the Mercury Monterey nameplate.
Following a decline in sales across the minivan segment in the mid-2000s, the Freestar and Monterey were discontinued after the 2007 model year with no direct replacement. In North America, the model line was functionally matched by the 7-passenger 2008 Ford Taurus X wagon/CUV; in Mexico, the Freestar was replaced by the Ford Transit/Tourneo. In 2014, Ford reentered the segment as the Ford Transit Connect compact MPV gained 7-passenger seating in North America.
During its production, the Ford Windstar/Freestar and the Mercury Monterey were sourced from Oakville Assembly (Oakville, Ontario). In total, 1,984,232 were produced (1,704,786 Windstars, 246,493 Freestars, and 32,953 Montereys).
Development In 1985, Ford launched the Aerostar minivan with some degree of success; while it outsold the Chevrolet Astro/GMC Safari, Volkswagen Vanagon, and its Japanese competition, it consistently remained in second place in terms of sales in the minivan segment. To better compete with Chrysler, Ford decided its next minivan would adopt the same front-wheel drive layout popularized by Chrysler.
Codenamed "WIN88", development of the front-wheel drive minivan commenced in 1988 with a projected 1993 introduction (for the 1994 model year). By 1989, design work was well underway, with a concept design theme being settled on by December 1989. In 1990, the WIN88 exterior design by Camilo Pardo was frozen for scheduled 1993 production, with prototypes being tested from early 1991. Trademarks were filed for the Windstar name at the USPTO on April 13, 1992, with development ending in 1993.
While developed by the Ford truck division (the designers of the Aerostar and Econoline/Club Wagon), the Windstar was designed predominantly by a women-led engineering and design team. Intended nearly exclusively for family use, the design team considered design scenarios from the perspective of pregnant women, women wearing skirts and high heels, and adopted family-friendly design features (reconfigurable cupholders, auxiliary stereo controls).
First generation (1995–1998)
The Ford Windstar was released in March 1994 as a 1995 model, preceding the launch of the third-generation Chrysler minivans by over a year, enabling Ford to cut into Chrysler minivan sales significantly. While the competing model lines roughly benchmarked each other, the Windstar was sold only as an equivalent to the long-wheelbase "Grand" Chrysler vans, with Lincoln-Mercury selling the smaller, unrelated Mercury Villager (jointly developed with Nissan).
From the 1995 to 1997 model years, the Windstar was sold concurrently with its Ford Aerostar predecessor; initially slated for discontinuation following the 1994 model year, continued consumer and dealer demand for the Aerostar led Ford to market both vehicles. For its first year on the market, the Windstar was priced above both the Aerostar and the Mercury Villager. By 1997, however, the Villager's base price had surpassed the Windstar's by several hundred dollars, and top-of-the-line Villager Nautica models were priced some $6,000 USD higher.
In what would later become a design faux pas, this generation of the model line was marketed without a driver-side sliding door, a feature popularized by the introduction of third-generation Chrysler minivans. During its development, Ford claimed its focus groups did not identify it as an important feature; previously, vans (of all sizes) with a driver-side sliding door had sold poorly in the United States.
The Windstar was the first North American-built van to be exported to Europe and sold through the official Ford Europe sales channel. It was slotted above the Ford Galaxy in size and equipment level. The sole powertrain was the 3.0 L V6 engine and automatic transmission, with no diesel engine nor manual transmission available. As it wasn't available in right-hand-drive form and with left-side sliding door, it was not sold in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and other left-hand rule of road countries.
Chassis specification The first generation Ford Windstar is codenamed WIN88, sharing the front-wheel drive DN5 platform with the first-generation Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable. Using a 120.7-inch wheelbase (nearly 15 inches longer than the Taurus), the Windstar replaced the integrated frame-rail design of the Aerostar with full unibody construction. The front suspension used MacPherson struts, while the rear suspension was a beam axle using coil springs; air suspension was an option.
Front brakes were discs, with rear drum brakes; anti-lock braking was standard. In 1996, four-wheel disc brakes were introduced as an option (when ordered with traction control or the towing package). In contrast to the Aerostar, 15-inch wheels were fitted to the first-generation Windstar (except the 1998 Limited).
Powertrain The Windstar shared its powertrains with the Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable. For its 1995 launch, the 3.8L V6 was the sole engine in GL and LX Models, producing 155 hp; a 150 hp 3.0L V6 was introduced as the standard engine in October 1995 for base and lower GL models. For 1996, the 3.8L V6 saw its output increased to 200 hp.
Body design To compete more closely with the Chrysler minivans, Ford designers shifted from a "one-box" design to a "two-box" configuration; influenced somewhat by the Mercury Villager, the Windstar had a distinct hoodline and passenger compartment. Benchmarked in size against the long-wheelbase "Grand" Chrysler minivans, the Windstar was given a longer wheelbase than the Aerostar and both the second and third-generation Chrysler minivans; only a long-wheelbase version was marketed.
In what would be a preview of the 1996 Ford Taurus, the Windstar was designed with an oval rear window, though adopting several design elements of the Mercury Villager/Nissan Quest. While far more vertically oriented, the curved dashboard of the Windstar shares influences of the multi-tiered design used by the Lincoln Mark VIII.
For 1996 and 1997, there were no exterior changes except the base-trim model renamed the 3.0L. The GL did however get the option of Quad Command Bucket Seats which was coupled with alloy wheels and a premium audio system. Most dealers marketed it as a "GLX" model. The Quad Command Seating changed the seats from the high back buckets in the front to the low back bucket seats. Traction control was also available on upper end GL Models.
1998 revision The first-generation Windstar underwent few revisions during its production. After a shortened 1997 model year (lasting from October 1996 to January 1997), the 1998 Windstar was introduced. Coinciding with a mid-cycle revision, to compete with the introduction of driver-side sliding doors, Ford extended the driver's door and added an optional tilting/sliding driver seat. This short-term measure was called the "Family Entry System Door" in marketing, but Ford also referred to it as the "king door".
The front fascia underwent a facelift, adopting a trapezoidal grille and redesigned headlamps (with amber turn signal lenses); the optional fog lamps were moved out of the lower intake of the grille. The rear saw mild revisions, with revised tailgate badging, with larger model script and the centering of the Ford Blue Oval over the license plate). On all trim levels, new wheel covers and alloy wheel designs were introduced; the body side moldings were restyled, the GL and LX/Limited models featured specific bodyside moldings.
The interior saw a minor revision, coinciding with the addition of the tilt-slide driver's seat; the power vent switches were moved to the driver's door and an intermittent wipe was added for the rear wiper; while the dashboard remained unchanged, head restraints were added to the rear bench seats (already on rear bucket seats). Largely to make up for the retirement of the Aerostar Eddie Bauer, a "Northwoods" appearance package was offered for the GL and LX, offering leather (LX) or cloth/vinyl (GL) seats, gold-trimmed wheels, and luggage rack, and a unique two-tone exterior and bodyside moldings.
Features While adopting the front-wheel drive form factor similar to the Chrysler minivans, the Windstar adopted several design features from the Ford Aerostar and Mercury Villager, including rear-seat audio controls, rear air conditioning and middle-row bucket seats; a digital instrument panel was coupled with a trip computer, automatic headlamps, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Shared with Ford sedans, the Windstar offered a keyless entry system (using a door-mounted keypad) along with an alarm system.
In contrast to its lack of a driver-side sliding door, the Windstar introduced several features to the minivan segment, including a door lock control from the rear door (unless with the family security package, the rear button was omitted.) and a wide-angle mirror in the overhead console allowing a view of the rear passenger compartment.
Trim In line with the Aerostar and the Econoline/Club Wagon, the Windstar was sold as both a passenger van and as a cargo van. In place of using the XL/XLT nomenclature used by Ford trucks and vans, the Windstar adopted the model nomenclature used by the majority of the Ford car lineup. For retail sales, the base trim Windstar was the GL, with the Windstar LX as the flagship model.
For 1998, the Limited trim was introduced, distinguished by its monochromatic exterior and five-spoke 16-inch chrome wheels; wood interior trim was added. Slotted above both the LX and the Mercury Villager LS, the Windstar was offered with all optional features from the LX as standard.
Cargo Van (1995–1998) Windstar (1996) Windstar 3.0L (1997–1998) - replaced unnamed base model, and included: 7 passenger seating, cloth bucket front seats, all-season tires with 15" hubcaps, air conditioning, manual locks, manual windows and an AM/FM radio with four speakers. Windstar GL (1995–1998) - Added: 3.8L V6 engine option, all-season tires with 15" hubcaps or optional 15" alloy wheels, manual driver's seat, speed/tilt control steering wheel, and an AM/FM radio with four speakers. Package 473A added high-capacity air-conditioning with an auxiliary heater, rear audio controls, quad command bucket seating (96 & 97), tinted windows and a luggage rack. Windstar LX (1995–1998) - Added: two-tone paint as a no cost option, Upgraded cloth interior (Leather Optional), rear storage bin, power locks, power windows with automatic driver's side window, 15" cast alloy rims, puddle lights, tachometer, adjustable front seats with power driver's seat, dual power lumbar support (only on Limited in 1998), a Premium AM/FM radio with cassette player and four premium speakers (JBL Audio was optional), rear audio controls, digital dash board with trip computer, automatic headlamps and auto dimming rearview mirror (Optional), Family Security Pkg.(Optional) included an alarm system, door mounted keypad, heated exterior mirrors, full automatic lighting, and a pocket for a map behind the Driver and passenger seat (Passenger Seat only for 1998). There was also a trailer towing package available which included Load-Leveling Rear Suspension, Class 3 Trailer Hitch and 4 wheel disc Brakes.