The 2002 Ford Explorer was Rather Interesting
Millions and millions of Ford Explorers have been made since 1990, and the first two generations were blockbuster hits. While not the first SUV, it certainly played its part in making the entire genre as big as it is today.
The third-generation Explorer was a rather interesting model that bridged the past and present models. It still rode on a body-on-frame chassis, but it came with fully independent suspension at the front and rear. It was released in late 2001 for the 2002 model year and marked the Explorer’s baby steps toward becoming a crossover.
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The 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept
We can only assume that many design studies were made before we all saw the SUV that was practically everywhere in the early ’00s. There was, however, a concept that teased the new look in a way: the Explorer Sportsman Concept.
It’s a bit of a forgotten concept now, but it did make big news back in 2001. It was shown at the 2001 North American International Auto Show alongside the Thunderbird revival, which later failed to meet sales expectations. So, what was the Sportsman Concept? Underneath its boxy exterior is the frame for the redesigned Explorer, so in a way, the all-new model was hiding in plain sight.
According to Ford, the concept was made specifically for fly fishing. It’s a pretty specific niche to target, but that’s what Ford went with in the end. Then again, the company couldn’t say it’s the third-gen Explorer in disguise.
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It’s Now For Sale
The very car that was proudly on display 25 years ago had ended up on Bring a Trailer. At the time of writing, the bid is $13,500, which is certainly much less than the amount Ford spent on building the car in the first place. An interesting, if largely forgotten, piece of history? You bet.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time this particular concept vehicle has been auctioned off. Back in 2010, it was sold for $49,500 by RM Sotheby’s. It went up for sale again in 2014, and the hammer fell at just $15,675. Whoever bought it for nearly $50,000 in 2010 must’ve felt that massive loss.
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Not Road Legal
To whoever wins the auction, do note that the SUV is, sadly, not road legal. There are no certificates for it to be used in public, so, at best, it can be driven around private spaces. Yes, it’s a moving and (mostly) functional car, so it has that going for it.
According to the original description from 2001, it had a 4.6-liter V8 under the hood, but the reality is pretty far from that. Instead, there’s a 2.0-liter 12-valve Mazda engine with half the cylinders. For all we know, it came from a fourth-generation 626, and don’t expect it to go anywhere fast. Oh, and some of the features that made it idea for fly fishing aren’t included in the sale, namely the original seatback-mounted fly-tying workstations. Also, there’s no working speedometer and all you get it a static display.
We’re genuinely curious what it would take for it to be road-legal. As for the concept itself, some design elements did make it to various Ford SUVs in the 2000s. The sizable fender flares can be seen in the Explorer and Expedition, along with the chunky door handles. It didn’t reach production, at least some its influences were applied later on.
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