Junkyard Gem: 1985 Ford F-150 Explorer XL 4X4

The Ford F-Collection was the perfect promoting motorcar in the US for the 1982 mannequin yr and has remained within the No. 1 spot ever since. You’d assume that Junkyard Gem-worthy examples of that historic F-Collection technology can be simple to search out within the automobile graveyards I frequent, given what number of had been offered, however many of the ones that do present up have been used up past simple recognition after which picked clear by junkyard customers. That is not the case with at present’s truck noticed in a northeastern Colorado yard: a reasonably strong 1985 F-150 with two-tone paint and the Explorer trim bundle.

The seventh technology of the F-Collection was offered in the US for the 1980 by means of 1986 mannequin years. For 1980 by means of 1983, the F-100 cost-cutting half-ton mannequin was nonetheless obtainable, after which it was changed by the F-150 as the one half-ton F-Collection. This truck has the mid-grade XL trim stage, positioned between the Normal and XLT tiers.

The Explorer bundle, which included styling upgrades and numerous in style choices at tempting costs, first turned obtainable in F-Collection vehicles for the 1968 mannequin yr. There have been Explorer Rancheros and Broncos as properly for some time. 1985 seems to have been the final mannequin yr for the F-Collection Explorer bundle, after which it was changed by a set of Most popular Tools Packages. Beginning with the 1991 mannequin yr, the Explorer title was repurposed because the mannequin designation for a hot-selling SUV based mostly on the Ranger chassis by way of the Bronco II.

The F-Collection hadn’t gone very far alongside the method of its metamorphosis into the substitute for the American household sedan by the center Eighties, so the powertrain on this one is extraordinarily truckish. The engine is the bottom 300-cubic-inch (4.9-liter) pushrod straight-six, rated at 115 horsepower and 223 pound-feet. 302- and 351-cubic-inch (5.0- and 5.8-liter) gasoline V8s had been obtainable as choices, and patrons of 1985 F-250s and F-350s may go for a 460-cube (7.5-liter) big-block V8 or a 6.9-liter diesel.

No drive-to-the-office-park computerized right here! This truck has the four-on-the-floor guide transmission, which was an improve from the bottom three-on-the-tree column-shift guide however cheaper than the four-speed with overdrive prime gear.

Who says you possibly can’t have a floor-shift guide with a bench seat? The center passenger simply needed to get used to taking a beating from the shifter.

Ford hadn’t gone to six-digit odometers in these vehicles by 1985, so the precise remaining mileage should stay a thriller.

There’s rust right here and there, nevertheless it appears to be like good from 100 toes away.

The unique purchaser of this truck even sprang for the non-obligatory AM/FM stereo radio, which was a good suggestion for the type of lengthy drives you’re taking within the Mountain Time Zone.

Ford used the chassis of the 1980 F-Collection practically into our present century, lastly doing a serious redesign for the 1997 mannequin yr. The present F-Collection is the 14th technology of a truck household courting again to 1948.

Willie Nelson higher have been paid properly for Ford’s use of this rewrite of his 1980 track!

Climbs a rocky hill whereas carrying a Chevy truck and towing a Dodge.