My second find of the year! How rare is it?

[The Project]

So browsing one of my local "donate us your car and we will make you think the money is going to a charity auctions" I came across my new find. A Lapis metallic (light blue) 1996 4 door 5 Speed 4x4 Explorer. She had 105,000 miles on her and seemed to run pretty good when they fired her up. I ended up buying it and upon getting her cleaned up a bit and doing a few minor things she seems to be settling in as a great daily driver. My question is this. How many of these 4 door 5 speed 4x4s were produced in 1996? I have done a little browsing on the old e web and cant find much. I would imagine my new driver is most likely one of very few in this color that were produced. I picked up a real nice 94 earlier this year with only 36,000 miles on it and was using it for my driver but I am getting more attached to the 96 daily. Anyways if anyone out there could come up with how many of these they actually made I think it would be kind of cool to know.

 

[wbrudi28]

not sure, but post some pics!

 

[Suicide77]

not sure, but post some pics!

I second the notion!

 

[96firephoenix]

the 5-speed was base equipment for that year (was an option on my 2002), so they're more common than you'd think. I'd say about 80-90% were ordered with the automatic, just from my experience in searching for a used one... either that or only about 80-90% of ones that people were selling were automatic. I sure as hell don't wanna give up mine with the manual.

 

[masospaghetti]

I only saw one 4-door 4x4 5-speed Explorer and I ended up buying it. They seem really rare. I bet most 5-speeds went into the 2-door body style.

 

[toypaseo]

In the junkyards I hit in southern WY and northern CO, automatics are the common. I'll say that maybe, at most, one in ten are autos. Blue 95-01 are not very common either.

 

[The Project]

Ok last time I try this

 

[4DoorFord]

Nice! I'm diggin the color.

 

[masospaghetti]

Looks good! Nice looking seats too. Most of them have torn up lumbar cushions.

 

[1997XLTRollover]

If only they made the 5.0's with a 5 speed. Looks like a nice truck though OP very clean.

 

[The Project]

Yea it cleaned up pretty good. Paint needs to be waxed and I had to do a lot to the carpet to get it to clean out. Was a one owner lady driven vehicle. Purchased here in Austin new. Zero rust etc. Been looking for one of these for some time. Wish they made a 5.0 with a 5 speed too but for a daily this thing seems to get pretty good gas mileage. Want to do a lift and a few other things but I may as well get some use out of the 4 new Michelins it came with before I start modifying it

 

[koda2000]

Yea it cleaned up pretty good. Paint needs to be waxed and I had to do a lot to the carpet to get it to clean out. Was a one owner lady driven vehicle. Purchased here in Austin new. Zero rust etc. Been looking for one of these for some time. Wish they made a 5.0 with a 5 speed too but for a daily this thing seems to get pretty good gas mileage. Want to do a lift and a few other things but I may as well get some use out of the 4 new Michelins it came with before I start modifying it

Looks good. I've never seen one in that color. BTW, they do make a 5.0 with a manual transmission... it's called a Mustang.

 

[The Project]

just put it up for sale in the classifieds. Found a Bronco I wanted more.

 

[Mike65]

I love that color. I had a 2000 Ranger in that same color.

 

[Flash]

We didn't even get the 5.0 Explorer much less a manual.

 

[davem]

just put it up for sale in the classifieds. Found a Bronco I wanted more.

Can you post a link the the ad ?

 

[4rd Xplora]

Thinking I saw you today going down I-35 about 6:45 pm or so. If it was you I was a little ahead of you and you took the Rundberg exit. Man, I wished I needed it because I want it....just don't need it