1981 Ford Explorer: trims, real prices & how to pick yours
6 builds left the factory as a 1981 Explorer, each a different combination of engine, transmission and body identified by the first eight characters of its VIN.
- 1 main configurations
- 58 vehicles built
Which Explorer is yours?
Enter a VIN — the 17 characters on the windshield or the title — and we’ll match it to its exact factory configuration, typical price and equipment.
Works with any VIN — a different year or model takes you straight to its own page.
Pick your Explorer
What 1FMZU65W-3 means
1FM
ZU65W
·
3
- 1FM
- the World Manufacturer Identifier Ford registered — assembled in the United States
- ZU65W
- together encode the Explorer line — Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), 4.6L 8cyl — as Ford filed it, these five characters are read as one block, not letter by letter
- 3
- in position 10 — model year 1981
- 9, 11–17
- vehicle-specific fields: check digit, plant code and production sequence
5 rare configurations — mostly fleet, export or irregular VIN patterns. Fewer than 20 known vehicles each.
Already looking at a specific Explorer?
Paste its VIN — we’ll open that exact car’s page: its configuration, market position and every listing we’ve tracked.