1981 Ford F-250: trims, real prices & how to pick yours

134 builds left the factory as a 1981 F-250, each a different combination of engine, transmission and body identified by the first eight characters of its VIN. The 3 main configurations sell for $6,790–$39,995 today. Page 1 of 3.

  • 3 main configurations
  • 1,131 vehicles built
  • 42 for sale right now
  • $6,790–$39,995 typical price range

Which F-250 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-250

What 1FTHF261-E means

1FT HF261 · E
1FT
the World Manufacturer Identifier Ford registered — assembled in the United States
HF261
together encode the F-250 line — Pickup, 6.9L 8cyl, Four-wheel drive — as Ford filed it, these five characters are read as one block, not letter by letter
E
in position 10 — model year 1981
9, 11–17
differ on every car: check digit, plant code and the serial number
47 rare configurations — mostly fleet, export or irregular VIN patterns. Fewer than 20 known vehicles each.

Already looking at a specific F-250?

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