How many people own a 1980 to 1986 Explorer Special F-series on this forum?
 

I was wondering how many people own a 1980 to 1986 F-series with the Explorer Special option. Would be interesting to know how many people still own them and if they have their original emblems or stripes.

i got a 81 f100 explorer,the person i got it from didnt take care of it, but it still has the hood ornament, and i plan on fixin it up. are these rare trucks???

I don't know if I have a explorer or not but I do have a 86 F250 HD Supercab 2WD none of the badges or stripes are on it.

They are limited edition trucks yes. As to how rare they are, that is the reason for the poll. :)

I have a tech album in my gallery about the 1968 to 1986 explorer specials with pictures of each year made.

The 1981 Explorer, had unique seat covers and colors, Color coded pinstripes, and a special two-tone option on the B, C, and D optional Explorer packages.

Explorer Package A: Standard

Tri Color Tape stripe in three color choices
Hood Ornament
Bedside nameplates
Unique seat covers in plaid or knitted faberic
Sport style wheel covers
Bright wheel lip moldings
Chrome grille
Chrome tailgate handle
Chrome straight rear bumper

Explorer Package B: includes package A

Unique tutone paint in five color choices
Cloth Headliner
Ranger door trim
Color Keyed floor mats
Security lock group

Explorer Package C: includes A and B

Ranger XLT Door Trim
Color keyed carpet
Woodtone interior
Deluxe steering wheel (soft grip)
Automatic transmission option
Power steering
Power Brakes
Air Conditioning
Tinted Glass
Am-Fm stereo
Tutone Delete option

Explorer Package D: includes A,B,C

Speed Control
Tilt Steering
Sports instrumentation (tach and trip)
Convenience group
Light Group
Aux fuel tank
Tutone delete option

The above is for the 1981, but others may be simular.

Hope this helps.

1983 F-100 Explorer
 

I have a 1983 F-100 Explorer with the hood ornament. though I am looking for a set of bed emblems. The last owner took them off when it was repainted. I love my truck it's in the galleries under 1983 F-100 called The Blue Angel.http://images.ford-trucks.com/forums...sfiring_v1.gif

your gallery says the truck died in hurracain katrina? did you get another one

Trucks....
 

The truck behind me , with the evil girl was the truck before the blue one. I gave it to my brother and we put a 300-6 in it, but hurricane Katrina smashed it againsta tree and flooded it. I t sits abandoned in Chalmette on blocks since I salvaged the rims and tailgate off of it. The blue truck is still running,and pulled 6 parades this past Mardi Gras. Unfortunetly some idiot pulled out in front of me right before new years and I hit him in the middle of his chebbie impala, so I need a new bumper and grill and head light covers. Though he needs a whole new drivers side!http://images.ford-trucks.com/forums...sfiring_v1.gif

so far I have had better luck finding Explorer F-series in the 73 to 79 forum than here. 9 trucks over there so far to only 3 here.

With the very early results of this poll, it's looking that our 80's are more rare than the 70's ones. Especially with the stripes intact.

Time will tell though. It will be interesting to know the rough figures in about a week. :)

hi. i have an 85 explorer f150. nice truck. are they rare?

I was hoping for a little more feedback from the poll, like I got on the 73-79 forum. But it looks like these trucks may be rare yes.

Or at least on these forums. :)

How many do you see around that say explorer on them, in your area?

In my area, it's around 5 seen every six months or so, 1972 to 1986.

So I'd say yes they are becoming more rare and harder to find, especialy with the stripes, if equipped.

81 f150 explorer. i will keep my eye out for them as i hever gave it much thought before. mine has the two tone paint with four stripes along the bottom.it has the plaid seats, wood grain dash,sliding rear window and gauges.it is also the xl model. is there any mechanical parts like suspension or something that makes them different? it is interesting anyway. maybe we dont see to many cause there all rotting away in the junkyard. who knows.anyway if you have more info let me have it. later

Nothing really to do with suspension, or anything mechanical. Just an options and trim level, package, that was limited and changed every year at the time. The four stripes, plaid seats you mention was part of the package. Along with air conditioning, tinted glass and other options grouped in the A-B-C or D options part of the package.

Look at my gallery and you will see a tech album and a picture of every year made.

In 1987, The Eddie Bauer Pickups became the limited edition F-series, or you can think of the King Ranch, that are avaiable today as an example of what the Explorer was at the time.
Though they were not equal by anymeans. :D

i am not sure if i have one or not, but my f-150 4x4 has some stripes runnin along the bottom that have 4x4 in them. there are pics in my gallery but they arent that close.

My 1980 F350 4x4 400 auto came out of the Richmond assembly plant as a Ranger with Explorer B package with handling, snow plow prep and trailer tow packages, as well. By 1985, the hood "bling" was gone along with the rust magnet SS fender trim, stripes and the plastic Explorer emblem on the tailgate. In total, by removing the Explorer exterior telltales, I reduced the weight of the truck by approximately 5 pounds, lol.

You could have the Freewheeling package. They came with stripes also. I don't know much more about them though, mostly came with a black grille. although on package "B" they did have fog lights, and wheel upgrades.

you put it back on this minute. :D :D :D


lol.

Just kidding. :)

Makes the still OEMs floating around more rare. :D

Edsels, AMC Pacers, Nash Americans and Two door hardtop 1952 Studebaker two-tone green Commanders like my Dad got conned by Lee D Butler into buying new despite protests from his 9 year old son are all rare too, Thank God!

Ah I haven't seen a AMC vehicle in years...

and the last one I saw was shot up and abandoned, in the mountains.

It was a gremlin. Very apropriate name. :)

I got a explorer edition truck it is an 86 f150 i am not sure of what package though it does have woodgrain in the dash with a auto trans tinted window (not sure if stock) does not have cruz well not yet (a got a donor truck for it) but i think it is B Package But the emblem fell of the box but is still readable due to fading

I own a 83 explorer. Its primer red so I dont know what it came with originally.

...Welcome jinserra to Ford Truck Enthusiasts!

…..See you on the boards.:-X22

I must have the explorer D package, i had a/c, sliding rear window, tach, power everything, am/fm radio, explorer emblems on the bed (when it had a bed). I love this truck, its starting to look better every day. Just got some new (patched up/junkyard new) fenders on it today, looks pretty nice. Airbrushing will be coming soon.

1980 F150 Explorer Package
 

I have a 1980 F150 Explorer that my folks purchased new. As a kid my brother and I really tried to kill the darn thing, but it still keeps ticking away (thank god for the 300-6!!!). It currently serves as my daily driver and I am trying to fix it up a little at a time. Mine is red with white striping and the Explorer hood ornament and an Explorer emblem was on the original tailgate. It also came with a set of bed rails that Dad took off to install a kidnapper. There are a couple of similar trucks here in Missoula -- one red one, a white and two blue ones. All of them have the goofy looking "Ford Motor Company" hubcaps with on them -- was this part of the Explorer Package? As soon as get a few extra bucks and I going to get some nicer wheels for mine.

Does anyone have "California stripes" on there explorer edition?

Yes, the "Ford Motor Company" wheel covers were standard on the 1980 Explorer, as well as the Bedrails.

In 1981-1986 however, the sport wheelcovers were standard. and the bedrail was an option. :D

1984 f150 explorer 351w
 

I know this post is a bit old but I just got an 84 f150 explorer wit stripes and badges intact I dont have a hood ornament though

A BIT OLD???? try over 2 years but yeh the only ones that came with hood ornaments were the 80-81's

Explorer
 

I have a 1983 F100 Explorer that I put the hood ornament on since I liked how they looked. But the ornament is the blue one from the late 70's and looks more unique.

I don't own one, but my dad had one that he bought new in 1984. It was red with silver along the bottom and silver on the roof. It had orange Explorer stripes and orange Ford letters on the tailgate. The Interior was red and it had woodgrain trim on the dash and door panels. It was a very sharp looking truck.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=194485&.jpg

Clyde isn't an OE Explorer, but earned it's Explorer badges by becoming our vacation vehicle, hauling first our 11'3" slide-in camper, an earlier 5th wheel and now the one in the signature. We've explored many highways together.

I also added the badges because I had an OE 1977 Explorer pkg F150 when it was near new. I've got some slides of it somewhere that really do need to be scanned. It was the really dark red with what I thought was the sharpest Explorer stripes Ford ever did, the white ones that ran down the sides and flared to surround the Explorer emblems.

One of the reasons you find more interest on the earlier board is because then the trucks were much more special.

i've got an 86 f-150 xlt lariat explorer, its a mouthfull

yes it is. i have an 85 of the same breed.:) just fipfloped on the 2 tone tho

My F150 explorer
 

Here is my new "work in progress" It's an 84 F150 explorer as you can tell it has seen better days but I really love this truck and plan to bring her back to life
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=197185&.jpg

I have a 85 F150 Explorer XLT Lariat. I am not sure on which package... It is all original.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...197827.520.390

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...195593.520.390

Both of my built Ford's chassis's started life under 86 F250 XLT Lariat EXplorers, and the 86 F250 is one too.

So these trucks are rare?

ok, well since I'm not so bright at times, I'm not sure what ur refering to as an " explorer special" so heres what my 86 4x4 is..... 86 f 150 4x4 xlt explorer lariat with the camper package on it. Has 3850 rear springs, 3250 fronts. 2 tone grey/grey paint with silver/red/silver pin strips on top, chrome trim on the bottom, chrome grill, bumperets, painted hd step bumper. air/tilt/cruise, power windows, power door locks, slideing rear window, am/fm cassette, wood grain trim, full gauges cept no tach ( auto) soft burgandy seat with matching carpet, and head liner. 302 efi aod trans with a np 208 transfer case and manual hubs ( could have been auto hubs originally) under the hood it had an original factory wireing harness and plugs for hooking your camper/ travel trailer electrical plug ins too, and at one point, it had dual batteries in it and isolator ( removed when the truck was traded at dealer)

It has the f 150 badges on the front fender, the lariat badges on the side of the cab, in line with the window and the explorer badges on the box and the XLT emblem on the dash. It also had running boards and fender flares on it at one time.

yeh well i forgot to mention my 82 F100 is an explorer special but not real sure what the difference is it has the strip down the side with explorer painted into the strip. wood grain bezels in the dash, ac, no tilt, no cruise, manual windows and locks, sliding rear window, no tach. not real sure if its actually original can someone help me????????

Yes, they are rare.

The Explorer Special package began in 1968 and lasted until 1986.

They were only avaliable a few months out of the year, and were year specific. No two years were alike. (although 1973 and 1974 are simular). It also didn't feature in the main brochure, it featured it's very own special brochure.

Also the Explorer Special Featured options and accessories not avaliable on the other models.

Special Explorer Specific paint colors, and tu-tone schemes, special interior seat fabric and designs, and explorer specific striping, and they are all year specific.

And that's just to name a few things.

your Truck looks like a Explorer Package B, truck from the pictures in your gallery.

It has the Explorer Tu-tone that was avaliable only for the 1982 model, and it has the stripe, year specific to the 1982.

The Wheel Covers are not original, but the paint seems to be. (The Wheel Covers should be the ones like on my 1981.) Also those door panels are not original.

If you look into my Photo galary, you will see pictures of my 1981.

Each Year of Explorer is Different, however I will post the differences with the 1981 Explorer Packages to give you a round about idea. As I said, your year model may vary.

1981 EXPLORER PACKAGE A: (Explorer Base Model package)

1: Explorer Tri-Color Tape Stripe (Bodyside and tailgate) in three color choices.
2: Explorer Nameplate
3: Explorer Hood Ornament
4: Sport Wheel Covers
5: Bright window molding.
6: Wheelip Molding
7: Chrome Grille
8: Chrome Tailgate Release Handle
9: Custom trim series avaliable in unique plaid cloth and vinyl or knitted vinyl.

PACKAGE B:

1: Includes Package A.
2: Unique tu-tone paint configuration.
3: Cloth Headliner and Moldings
4: Ranger (Later XL) door trim panels.
5: Color Keyed Floor Mats
6: Security Lock Group.

PACKAGE C:

1: Includes package A and B.
1: Ranger XLT (Later XLT) door Panels.
2: Color Keyed Carpet.
3: Woodtone Instrument Panel
4: Deluxe Steering Wheel.
5: Automatic Transmission (Requires 5.0L on 4x4 units)
6: Power Steering
7: Power Brakes
8: Air Conditioining
9: Tinted Glass
10: AM/FM Stereo
11: Tu-tone delete option.

PACKAGE D:

1: Includes Packages A, B, and C.

2: Speed Control
3: Tilt Steering
4: Sports Instrumentation
5: Convenience Group
6: Light Group
7: Auxilery Fuel Tank
8: Tu-tone Delete Option

Hope this helps.