diff --git a/base/array.jl b/base/array.jl
index 2e0f5b4feb98b..49b9758424f59 100644
--- a/base/array.jl
+++ b/base/array.jl
@@ -226,6 +226,9 @@ end
 
 ## Conversions ##
 
+convert{T}(::Type{Vector}, x::AbstractVector{T}) = convert(Vector{T}, x)
+convert{T}(::Type{Matrix}, x::AbstractMatrix{T}) = convert(Matrix{T}, x)
+
 convert{T,n}(::Type{Array{T}}, x::Array{T,n}) = x
 convert{T,n}(::Type{Array{T,n}}, x::Array{T,n}) = x
 
diff --git a/test/abstractarray.jl b/test/abstractarray.jl
index db26e0099f896..807e5da5a7398 100644
--- a/test/abstractarray.jl
+++ b/test/abstractarray.jl
@@ -405,7 +405,19 @@ function test_primitives{T}(::Type{T}, shape, ::Type{TestAbstractArray})
 
     # convert{T, N}(::Type{Array}, A::AbstractArray{T, N})
     X = [1:10...]
+    Y = [1 2; 3 4]
     @test convert(Array, X) == X
+    @test convert(Array, Y) == Y
+
+    # convert{T}(::Type{Vector}, A::AbstractVector{T})
+    @test convert(Vector, X) == X
+    @test convert(Vector, view(X, 2:4)) == [2,3,4]
+    @test_throws MethodError convert(Vector, Y)
+
+    # convert{T}(::Type{Matrix}, A::AbstractMatrix{T})
+    @test convert(Matrix, Y) == Y
+    @test convert(Matrix, view(Y, 1:2, 1:2)) == Y
+    @test_throws MethodError convert(Matrix, X)
 end
 
 let