CHEVROLET Venture Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

After ditching the Lumina APV nameplate, Chevrolet introduced the Venture as its family-oriented minivan on the market in 1996.

GM noticed that there was an increasing market for the minivans in Europe and built the Venture as a global vehicle. In the Old Continent, it sold it as the Opel/Vauxhall Sintra, but the sales were so slow that it decided to pull the plug way faster than it thought. On the U.S. market, on the other hand, the minivan was welcomed by customers. Moreover, it was sold as the Pontiac Tran Sport or the Oldsmobile Montana as well.

While the previous Lumina APV looked like a bullet on wheels, with its sharp nose, the Venture was closer to a proper family van. The taller front fascia featured a broad, chromed grille. Its headlights were taller and wider than on its predecessor, offering better visibility on the road. A black rubber cladding adorned the front bumper and the side panels, protecting the car from bumps in the parking lot. To prevent its customers from damaging other peoples' cars, Chevrolet installed sliding doors on both sides for the rear passengers.

Inside, the Venture offered room for up to seven adult passengers, although the last row didn't provide too much room for full-grown adults. With the last seats folded or removed, the trunk space was excellent. Moreover, the car could've been transformed into a true furniture carrier if only the first two seats were kept in place.

Under the hood, Chevrolet installed a 3.4-liter V6 engine mated to a four-speed automatic gearbox. In order to get more customers, GM built the Venture with either a front or an all-wheel drive system.