1980 - 1981 Picture Request
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,362
Likes: 22
From: Florence, SC
1980 - 1981 Picture Request
I would like to see a picture of the FRONT of a 1980 - 1981 Ford F100/F150 with the original grille (no Ford oval) and F-O-R-D letters across the hood and bumper rub strips and bumper guards.
I am still trying to decide if I like the 1980-1981 grille with the F-O-R-D letters across the hood better or the 1982-1986 grille with the Ford oval in the center and no hood letters. I am trying to compare the two, but most of the early ones I see do not have the bumper pads/bumper guards, and that is would like to see for comparison.
Thanks!
I am still trying to decide if I like the 1980-1981 grille with the F-O-R-D letters across the hood better or the 1982-1986 grille with the Ford oval in the center and no hood letters. I am trying to compare the two, but most of the early ones I see do not have the bumper pads/bumper guards, and that is would like to see for comparison.
Thanks!
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 6
From: Florida
Personally,I never really liked the 80-81 grille,but I also hate not having the letters,so I got the best of both worlds and just put in an 82-86 grille.Sure it's not original,but who cares.Now I have the blue oval and less bars,and the letters too.The 80-81 grille has way too many bars in it,it just looks too cluttered.
If you can't get anything for bumper pads,I got plenty of pics before and after grill swap of just the front of my 80.I don't have bumper pads,or bumper guards,but the imagination is a wonderful thing.
Good luck.
If you can't get anything for bumper pads,I got plenty of pics before and after grill swap of just the front of my 80.I don't have bumper pads,or bumper guards,but the imagination is a wonderful thing.
Good luck.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette, La.
I assume you do know that in 1981 early models there was no oval, and, in the models from either July or August they put the blue oval ones on the 1981. My Dad's 1981 was manufactured in March and has the letters on the hood& no oval, but my 1981 was built in August and has the oval and no letters on the hood.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,521
Likes: 16
From: Lost
I would like to see a picture of the FRONT of a 1980 - 1981 Ford F100/F150 with the original grille (no Ford oval) and F-O-R-D letters across the hood and bumper rub strips and bumper guards.
I am still trying to decide if I like the 1980-1981 grille with the F-O-R-D letters across the hood better or the 1982-1986 grille with the Ford oval in the center and no hood letters. I am trying to compare the two, but most of the early ones I see do not have the bumper pads/bumper guards, and that is would like to see for comparison.
Thanks!
I am still trying to decide if I like the 1980-1981 grille with the F-O-R-D letters across the hood better or the 1982-1986 grille with the Ford oval in the center and no hood letters. I am trying to compare the two, but most of the early ones I see do not have the bumper pads/bumper guards, and that is would like to see for comparison.
Thanks!
You have to look hard, but there is another bar horizontally between the the visible ones....
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette, La.
" Wow, I never thought about how busy the early "81 grills were!" The bumper guards look sharp with that grill.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,521
Likes: 16
From: Lost
The smaller bars are silver, while the larger ones are chrome. That's partly why the small ones don't show up as well in the pic.
BTW, it's an 80. An early 80 at that. Only 4 numbers in the unit number, the first 2 are letters that don't relate to anything but space fillers.......
BTW, it's an 80. An early 80 at that. Only 4 numbers in the unit number, the first 2 are letters that don't relate to anything but space fillers.......
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 781
Likes: 8
From: Sanford, NC
My 1981 has the hood letters and no oval. My Dad bought it new and I think it was a
fairly early manufacture. I ordered a build sheet from Ford and will soon know exactly
when it was built.
fairly early manufacture. I ordered a build sheet from Ford and will soon know exactly
when it was built.
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Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,362
Likes: 22
From: Florence, SC
Originally Posted by Rogue_Wulff
I don't have the rub strip, but everything else, including the 80 only hood ornament.....
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,521
Likes: 16
From: Lost
Well, actually, it was used in the late 70's & 80, and has Explorer written in it. I have seen it listed as 80-84 in some reproduction parts books (such as LMC), but a ford parts counter guy told me they dropped it after 80. Another guy at ford salvage saw my truck, and instantly recognised it as an 80, also claiming that oranment wasn't used after 1980. I'm just going off what I was told......
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,330
Likes: 17
From: Dryden, ON, Canada
Personally, I prefer this combination:
80-81 grille, 80 turns, and the 82+ hood... To me it just looks cleaner. Nothing about that truck is true to year, it's a conglomeration of parts 80-97, so, not being stock is fine by me... LOL
80-81 grille, 80 turns, and the 82+ hood... To me it just looks cleaner. Nothing about that truck is true to year, it's a conglomeration of parts 80-97, so, not being stock is fine by me... LOL
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
I would like to see a picture of the FRONT of a 1980 - 1981 Ford F100/F150 with the original grille (no Ford oval) and F-O-R-D letters across the hood and bumper rub strips and bumper guards....
...I am trying to compare the two, but most of the early ones I see do not have the bumper pads/bumper guards, and that is would like to see for comparison.
Thanks!
...I am trying to compare the two, but most of the early ones I see do not have the bumper pads/bumper guards, and that is would like to see for comparison.
Thanks!
Front Bumper Guards with Bumper Rub Strips was part of the Exterior Protection Group which includes...
1: Bright Door Edge Mouldings
2: Front Bumper Guards
3: Front Bumper Rub Strip
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
I assume you do know that in 1981 early models there was no oval, and, in the models from either July or August they put the blue oval ones on the 1981. My Dad's 1981 was manufactured in March and has the letters on the hood& no oval, but my 1981 was built in August and has the oval and no letters on the hood.
A Build Date between, August 1st. 1981 to July 31st. 1982, makes the truck a 1982 year model.
New Year Models most always started production the first of August. There are a few exceptions, but that is the general rule.
So a build date of August 1981 makes your truck a 1982, and why it has the blue oval in the grille with no letters on the hood, it's a 1982.
1980's began production in August 1979.
1981's began production in August 1980.
1982's began production in August 1981.
Etc...