Yes, Ford likes to wrap old things in new paper.

 

Thats why I always wondered about my dad's seat. Was it going to be a different model? Or didn't they have an Explorer seat handy the day his was built? One of those things I could never figure out. I know he didn't get the seat reupolstered.

 

Is it the knitted vinyl bench seat?

 

It looks just like shanes66charger's green explorer seat with the same sewn center pattern, the out side parts were straight vinyl, then the stiched center portion was vinyl too, but had marks in it to simulate a leather look. The entire seat was tan, or saddle, or what ever they called it.

The plaid center in my seat is my least favorite, out of all the colors, but is is growing on me, as just some more of the 70's corn dog funk. Kinda looks like a pair of my pap's pants from back then.

 

Sounds like chain mail vinyl....but pics are always the best. Oh, well. Faded memories suck!

 

Your right it is not 100% out of the question, I know he knew a local upholstery shop owners very well, and could have had it changed with in a week or two of owning the truck.

I never remember seeing any plaid on the seat, but at the time I was 16 years old and had my head more into muscle cars at the time. I looked for pictures, but don't have any of the seat. I know in the late 80's the seat was getting bad, so he put a saddle blanket seat cover over it.

But at any rate, it was something I pondered, and always liked his Explorer.

After all of these years, I still never came across one just like his, it seemed to be one of a kind, but I am sure there were others, just not that I ever saw. I always had an eye out for one.

I did see a picture of one here on FTE that someone took of one, and they no longer have it, and were looking for it. That is the closest I ever came to see one like it.

My brother ended up with it, and he pretty much finished it off and ran it into the ground. He then sold it to someone over in Gettysburg who used it for parts.

Having lived it's life outside took its toll on it and the last I saw it, (98-99), the bed was in bad shape, and the front was tore up from his wife hitting a deer. He only believed in required, sometimes forced maintance on his vehicles.

The only thing he has anymore is the Pa bicentennial plate that was on the front bumper.