The Explorer Package

[Bradison]

The mats were mismatched like that by the factory design in '72's?

 

[sprdv1]

Like that Green...

More info:

* the dark brown and green '76s are more than likely special order Explorers as the only standard colors offered in '76 were the Medium Copper and Brook Blue Poly/Medium Blue Poly

I am 100% certain I currently own the green 76 in your attached picture. It was repainted with a modified stripe after that picture was taken. Paint code "B" Explorer.

Do you have any other pictures?

 

[fordfan]

'76 original paint Explorer

 

[DirtDonk]

The mats were mismatched like that by the factory design in '72's?

Hey Bradison, welcome to classicbroncos.
If that was meant for me, not sure I understand the question. If you mean mis-matched by simply being the normal parchment color, then yes, some of them were that way.
Or so I thought...

I don't have any really good images of them, but it might be that my memory is saying "parchment" because they were light colored, when perhaps they were really a "tan" color or whatever that might have been to match the Explorer/Sport cloth seats?

I did not see a truly color-coordinated mat until I saw them in a Ranger later on. Blue and Orange were common then, but at some point carpet became the covering of choice for Rangers and I did not really see that many Rangers or Explorers with full mats in that time.
That doesn't mean that some '72's couldn't have come with brighter colors though. Just that the ones I knew of were both parchment. Or tan.

You guys be the judge. Here are a couple of very narrow views of the mat in my buddy's Red '72 Explorer. The pics are recent scans of old tired prints and the colors have changed, but they're starting to look darker to me than true parchment colors. When I find the original slide I'll see if I can scan for more accurate colors.
But here it is:



In fact, somewhere around here I have the Bronco logo cut out of one of them that I was going to sew into some carpet someday. I'll try to dig it out and see if it's more of a tan than parchment.

Paul

 

[ngsd]

This may have been covered but I did not see it. Did all of the explorers have the plaid cloth seats or where on the trim code can you tell if it was vinyl or cloth? Mine is S4 Blue in 74 but should I assume it is a solid vinyl color then?

 

[Mac2Night]

ngsd,

Your '74 Explorer seats would have been blue vinyl with plaid cloth inserts like these:

This may have been covered but I did not see it. Did all of the explorers have the plaid cloth seats or where on the trim code can you tell if it was vinyl or cloth? Mine is S4 Blue in 74 but should I assume it is a solid vinyl color then?

 

[ngsd]

ngsd,

Your '74 Explorer seats would have been blue vinyl with plaid cloth inserts like these:

Thanks for that, So all of the 74 Explorer options had Plaid inserts I assume? The trim and Marti report just say S4 Blue Explorer Bucket Seats/Rear seat

 

[JGbronc]

Thanks for that, So all of the 74 Explorer options had Plaid inserts I assume? The trim and Marti report just say S4 Blue Explorer Bucket Seats/Rear seat

Correct, all '74 Explorers had the blue or red plaid pattern.

 

[BroncoLew]

WOW! This is the first time I've seen what my Bronco originally looked like. It is a 76 and was ordered dark jade metallic with the TU interior code. Until today, I never could figure out what the original interior looked like.

 

[DirtDonk]

What does it look like now? Completely different, or are any of the original features still intact?

Paul

 

[Justin Palmer]

I have owned two. 72 and a 73. Loved them both!

 

[BroncoLew]

What does it look like now? Completely different, or are any of the original features still intact?

Paul

Mine looked like the one in this post. It was dark jade metallic, then was painted red, and is now black. Interior is painted all black as well. Original seats are gone and now it was two seats that the PO said came from a 1980's F-150 and theyre blue cloth.

My tag in the glove box has the same color and body code.

 

[DirtDonk]

Thanks for sharing. It’s amazing what morphing these things go through sometimes.

 

[399strokerEB]

Does anyone have a source for the red explorer seats and or carpet?

 

[DirtDonk]

Haven't seen any in awhile now. Might be at the upholstery companies, but the only ones we have right now (other than plain parchment of course) are the Orange, the Ginger, and Black/White Houndstooth sets here: WH Interior Upholstery Page
The Ginger version is the only one that looks closer to original to me. The Orange is a different border combination I thought (but could be wrong), and I haven't seen a Black/White combo before, so can't comment.

Paul

 

[Mountaingoat0122]

Can't determine an Explorer from the VIN, but one can from the trim code.

How can you determine this from trim code ?

 

[JGbronc]

How can you determine this from trim code ?

The trim code is specifically for an Explorer. This will be on the warranty plate on the backside of the glovebox door. For example, TU is a 76 Explorer with tan interior while AU would be a Ranger with Tan (Light Saddle) houndstooth, SV would be a Sport with parchment and RV would be standard parchment.

These trim codes differ through the years, so these exact codes are 76 specific. 77 shared the same codes minus the Explorer. 72, 73, and 74 all had unique Explorer codes as well.

 

[MThalfcab]

Love reading these old threads especially when it covers my 74 Explorer, so let not forget the Wind Blue Color which my interior has been completely changed to black from PO, I’d love to go back to the Blue Interior but as we know it’s really hard to come across! Thanks to all of you for your great information on this subject
MThalfcab

 

[Mountaingoat0122]

Can't determine an Explorer from the VIN, but one can from the trim code.

How can you determine this from trim code

The trim code is specifically for an Explorer. This will be on the warranty plate on the backside of the glovebox door. For example, TU is a 76 Explorer with tan interior while AU would be a Ranger with Tan (Light Saddle) houndstooth, SV would be a Sport with parchment and RV would be standard parchment.

These trim codes differ through the years, so these exact codes are 76 specific. 77 shared the same codes minus the Explorer. 72, 73, and 74 all had unique Explorer codes as well.

Would you happen to know the trim code for explorer and ranger packages for 1973 ?

 

[DirtDonk]

Are you asking if there’s a trim code to have both? You don’t have both though, you have one or the other only. From the sound of it, you’re looking for the Ranger trim code.