I had an 83 F-150 Explorer and it had the stripes down the side that were about 4" wide and had the word "Explorer" worked into it. It had the 300 I-6, 4 speed, cloth/vinyl seat, no A/C, AM/FM radio, and non sliding rear window.
That truck was the BEST truck I've owned until I bought my F-250 H.D. 4x4. I owned 3 Chevy's, that's why I'll own nothing but Ford's from now on!

 

Hello I'm new to the forum but couldn't resist posting to this cause I have accumulated a lot of knowledge on the 1981 explorer packages. Hope you guys bear with me while I learn.

Here is a picture of my 1981 F-150 Explorer Custom.



http://www.zippyimages.com/files/71094/Jun26028.jpg

It has a standard 300 inline 6 with a MCU computer. 4 speed transmission etc.

It has the explorer pinstripe for 1981, It was changed year by year by this time according to my dealer when I tryed to get a replacement set 10 years ago.

It has an almost "weird" set of options though.

Chrome Front Grille
Chrome fender "skirts"
Explorer Hood Ornament and rear bed badges
Chrome Rear strait bumper.
Chrome tailgate handle
Standard custom black dash bezels with clock and am/fm stereo/cassette
Tachometer
Courtousy lighting package, (cargo light, underdash lights etc)
Standard vinal floormats
Vinal and cloth seat
Some items included for air-conditioning, including the solonoids on the carb, but strange enough, no air!!
No head liner.
Auxillery Fuel Tank
The Ford "Western" Side mirrors and "Fordham" wheel covers.
Intermittent wipers
Power steering / Brakes

Other than that it has no other add-ons. and it's two wheel drive.

My father had a 1972 F-250 Explorer, camper special, it had the body chrome the tailgate full chrome, leather interior door panels, aux fuel tank, and Power steering and air-conditioning. It also had explorer badges on it's backside.

I was told by my friend at ford that they are "limited editions" and very few were made each year. The explorer package was dropped for 1987 and later modles.

Hope this helps a bit,

 

The EXPLORER packages from Ford came in "A" "B" "C" and "D" packages. They all have to do with trim desires. The rarest of all the packages was the "D" Package. If you want to know the entire history on the EXPLORER packages you can get some at Wikipedia, Just go there and type in Ford truck explorer packages for your year truck. By the way I own the rarest of the rare EXPLORER packaged ford 250. On this web site your on now just go to the photo album page and scroll down to the gray f250 with the orange cone in the bed and the hood slightly open, this may very well be the only one left in the country in this condition and this Explorer package. Also the "D" package includes the interior trim as well as the exterior trim with the XLT, the Lariate package and the 4 speed 4 wheel drive 460 motor. Good luck in your search.

 

My dad had an '83 F100 Explorer 4x2, which had few options over XL. The Explorer pinstriping was year-specific, apparently '83 being the rarest. I've only seen two in person and very few on the web, '80-'82 and '84-'86 are fairly common around here.

 

I'm thinking the 86 Explorer is a dealer add on. There's no mention of it in the 86 Brochure.

The major trim levels listed are Standard, XL and XLT Lariat.