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The
'Explorer Special' Explained |
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Fig. 1 - The glovebox emblem
for the 'Explorer Special' trim package |
When you think of
luxurious pickups in the '67-'72 era, the first thing that normally
comes to mind is the Ranger and Ranger XLT. These option packages
outfitted a truck with enough gear and creature-comforts to rival almost
any full-size car. However, many people are not aware of another trim
option package that could be had on the '68-'69 Custom Cab and the
'70-'72 Custom and Sport Custom models which would give you almost all
the same options as the Ranger and Ranger XLT models, but at a lower price to the
buyer. Ford called this 'economy' setup the 'Explorer Special'.
NOTE: Since this
was a mid-year option, most factory literature makes no mention of the
Explorer Special.
However, I do have some
fairly detailed information on the Explorer Special features available
with the '70-'72 models (see below) from factory brochures. From what I've been able to gather, the '70
features are a little different from the '71-'72 features, which are
identical, as far as I can determine. |
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1968 Explorer Special postcard
(also check out the '68 Explorer
brochure) |
Fig. 3 |
Fig. 4 |
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1969 Explorer Special postcard
The "Ford Pickup Red Book" says
this of the '69 version: "A white sale special was the Explorer II,
available on F100 and F250 Stylesides, and included bodyside moldings
and 1967 Thunderbird-type wheelcovers on the F-100. The F-250s got
bright hubcaps." Also, "Ford F100/F150 Pickup" has a similar reference,
adding that the mid-year Explorer II special was only available on F-100
Stylesides with the 8-ft. box. |
Fig. 5 |
Fig. 6 |
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1969 Explorer Special postcard |
Fig. 7 |
Fig. 8 |
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1970 Explorer Special
features |
There were four Explorer packages available in '70. These packages were
trim levels which were only available on the Custom or Sport Custom
models on both F-100 and F-250 trucks. These were items that were
normally-available options, but just assembled into a package for a
slightly lower price for the buyer.
Package A
was called the basic Appearance Package and consisted of:
- One of two
exclusive exterior choices: Grabber Blue or Explorer Green
- Exclusive
matching interior trim: Blue Shetland Plaid or Green Shetland Plaid
- bright
bodyside moulding
- bright
swing-lock western mirrors (6" x 10")
- chrome front
bumper guards
- glove box
ornament
- bright
windshield moulding
- bright drip
rails
- bright box
rails (F-100)
- tool stowage
box (F-250)
- door edge
guards
- mag-type
wheel covers (F-100), hub caps (F-250)
"The
special Appearance Package is priced to save you $56-$60, based on
suggested retail prices."
Package B
included the basic Appearance Package A, plus:
- power
steering
- power brakes
- SelectShift
automatic transmission
"Priced to
save you $153 to $187, based on suggested retail prices."
Package C
included all of basic Appearance Package A, plus air conditioning
"Priced to
save you $129 to $133, based on suggested retail prices."
Package D
included all of Package B, plus air conditioning
"Priced to
save you $226 to $260, based on suggested retail prices."
The '70 pamphlet goes on to say that the Grabber Blue or Explorer Green
are the official "Explorer Special" colors, but if you wanted, you could
instead get one of the following colors:
- Raven
Black
- Wimbledon
White
- Harbor
Blue
- New Lime
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- Sky View
Blue
- Boxwood
Green
- Yucatan
Gold
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...and to make it more interesting, you could also get an F-250 Explorer
Special with the Camper Special package.
"Explorer Special
Packages 'B' and 'D' which include power steering, power brakes,
SelectShift Cruise-O-Matic and air conditioning (Package 'D') make the
F-250 especially at home in rugged camping situations."
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1970 Explorer Special postcard
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Be sure to
check out the
1970
Ford Explorer
white sale brochure in the
Factory Literature
Library |
'70
Explorer Special
magazine ad |
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1971-1972 Explorer Special
features |
There were four Explorer packages available in '71 and '72. These
packages were trim levels which were only available on the Custom or
Sport Custom models on both F-100 and F-250 trucks. These were items
that were normally-available options, but just assembled into a package
for a slightly lower price for the buyer. |
The 1972 Explorers were the only model year
with exterior emblems, though some other years could get the
glovebox emblem (Fig 1, above). |
A comparison of the '72-only
Explorer emblem with the '73-up
style. |
Explorer Package A consisted of the following items:
- Medium Blue,
Lime Gold or Saddle Tan metallic paint
- special
random-striped cloth seat trim in unique sew-style (Blue, Green or
Ginger)
- full foam
seat
- chrome front
bumper guards
- bright driprail
moldings
- bright
hubcaps
- Explorer
glovebox ornamentation
Explorer
Package B consisted of the items in Package A, plus the
following:
- bright box
rails (F-100 LWB only)
- bright spear
moldings
- swing-lock
mirrors
- mag-style
wheel covers (on F-100 only)
Explorer
Package C consisted of the items of Packages A and B, plus the
following:
- Cruiseomatic
automatic transmission
Explorer
Package D consisted of the items of Packages A, B and C, plus
the following:
- air
conditioning
- tinted glass
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Related
Memorabilia
The following thumbnails are examples of related items found in the
Factory
Literature
Library:
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'68 Explorer brochure (12p) |
'71 Explorer magazine advertisement |
'71 Explorer postcard
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'71 Explorer magazine advertisement |
1972
Ford Explorer brochure |
'72 Explorer magazine advertisement |
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SOURCES:
-
"Ford Pickup Red Book",
©1993 by Peter C. Sessler, Motorbooks International
-
"Ford F100/F150 Pickup",
©1997 by Robert Ackerson, Veloce Publishing PLC
The information
presented on this page is everything
I have at this time and therefore isn't complete.
If you have any
additional information which
could be added to this page, please
e-mail
me! |
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