The Ford Aerostar is a range of vans that was manufactured by Ford from the 1986 to the 1997 model years. The first minivan produced by Ford, the model line was marketed against the Chevrolet Astro/GMC Safari and the first two generations of the Chrysler minivans. Introduced shortly before the Ford Taurus, the Aerostar derived its name from its slope-nosed "one-box" exterior (although over six feet tall, the body of the Aerostar retained a drag coefficient of Cd=0.37, besting the Lincoln Mark VII).

The first minivan powered exclusively by V6 engines, the Aerostar was also one of the first vehicles to introduce all-wheel drive to the segment in North America. The model line was sold in multiple configurations, including passenger and cargo vans, along with an extended-length body. Sold primarily in the United States and Canada, a limited number of vehicles were exported outside of North America.

The front-wheel drive Ford Windstar was introduced for the 1995 model year as the Aerostar's intended replacement, but Ford sold both model lines concurrently through the 1997 model year. The role of the Aerostar cargo van was left unfilled, with the Ford Transit Connect serving as the closest successor (in terms of size and capability).

For its entire production, the model line was assembled by the St. Louis Assembly Plant in Hazelwood, Missouri. In total, 2,029,577 vehicles were produced across a single generation.

For Ford Motor Company, the development of the minivan began life in the early 1970s as a companion model to the third-generation Ford Econoline/Club Wagon, under development for the 1975 model year. As the full-size van was slated to grow in size, Ford explored the concept of a "garageable van", designed with a roofline to easily fit through a typical garage door opening. Additional objectives for the "garageable van" included increased interior space (over station wagons) and more desirable styling (over full-size vans). Dubbed the Ford Carousel, a prototype was tested from 1972 to 1974, using the 124-inch wheelbase chassis of the Club Wagon.

To achieve its "garageable" status, the roofline of the Carousel was lowered approximately 12 inches in comparison to a standard-wheelbase Ford Club Wagon, placing its height close to that of the later Ford Windstar/Freestar. The Carousel also received a more steeply raked windshield, a new, longer, front fascia, and a wagon-style roofline, with wraparound window glass. In a key indication of its future as a family-oriented vehicle, the Carousel had a rear tailgate with a drop-down rear window; like the LTD station wagon, it was fitted with simulated exterior woodgrain trim. The interior of the prototype was fitted with two rear bench seats trimmed similar to the Ford Country Squire and Mercury Colony Park.

While the prototype would receive a positive response from many Ford executives, for a potential 1976 introduction, the Carousel did not reach production under any model name. At the time of its development, financial constraints forced the company to divert funds towards critical projects, such as the development of the Fox platform, Panther platform, and 1980 Ford F-Series. Along with it not replacing an existing Ford model line, the Carousel did not compete against an existing GM or Chrysler vehicle. Developed during the 1973 energy crisis, the Carousel was fitted with a 460 V8, shared with full-size Ford vehicles and one-ton Ford trucks.

In 1978, Lee Iacocca and Hal Sperlich both departed Ford and were hired by Chrysler. At the time, the company had worked on its own "garageable van" project for a year, leading to its approval for development for 1979. While Chrysler would adopt the basic concept of the Ford Carousel prototype, in terms of its height and seat configuration, the resulting 1984 Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager would be very different vehicles from the Carousel in terms of layout and engineering.