1981 Ford F-150: trims, real prices & how to pick yours

126 builds left the factory as a 1981 F-150, each a different combination of engine, transmission and body identified by the first eight characters of its VIN. The 3 main configurations sell for $3,000–$13,900 today. Page 2 of 3.

  • 3 main configurations
  • 2,121 vehicles built
  • 29 for sale right now
  • $3,000–$13,900 typical price range

Which F-150 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 F-150

  • 1981 Ford F-150 Styleside Most common — 89% of 1981 F-150s
    Styleside · 4WD 1FTEX1EW-A

    4.6L 8-cyl, 248 hp, Four-wheel drive. 1,885 built.

    $3,000 great deal $8,588 typical $13,900 top of market
  • 1981 Ford F-150
    Base configuration 1FTDF15F-B

    5L 8-cyl, 143 hp. 21 built.

What actually differs

Styleside · 4WD Base configuration
Engine 4.6L 8-cyl 5L 8-cyl
Power 248 hp 143 hp
For sale right now 26 1
Vehicles built 1,885 21
Same on every 1981 F-150
  • Drivetrain Four-wheel drive
  • Fuel Gasoline
  • Body Pickup
  • Typical price today $8,588

What people actually pay

37 price observations · updated Aug 30, 2026
Styleside · 4WD
$8,588
$2,910 $5,762 $8,614 $11,465 $14,317

What 1FTEX1EW-A means

1FT EX1EW · A
1FT
the World Manufacturer Identifier Ford registered — assembled in the United States
EX1EW
together encode the F-150 line — Pickup, 4.6L 8cyl, Four-wheel drive — as Ford filed it, these five characters are read as one block, not letter by letter
A
in position 10 — model year 1981
9, 11–17
differ on every car: check digit, plant code and the serial number
46 rare configurations — mostly fleet, export or irregular VIN patterns. Fewer than 20 known vehicles each.

Already looking at a specific F-150?

Paste its VIN — we’ll open that exact car’s page: its configuration, market position and every listing we’ve tracked.