Ford Explorer Desk Drive Promised a Fax Machine and Coffee Pot

The entertaining Ford Heritage Vault is a treasure trove of photos and information from the Blue Oval’s yesteryear, including the scattered forgotten concept vehicle. Whilst looking for details to inform another story, we stumbled upon this fantastic concept from when the Ford Explorer was brand new and taking the world by storm.

Called the Explorer Desk Drive, playing on the ‘disk drive’ phrase of that era and the fact there was an actual desk in this thing, it made the auto show rounds in 1990 as an executive office on wheels featuring the likes of an era-appropriate computer, cell phone gear, and fax machine. There was also a fridge, microwave, and all-important coffee pot for the harried executive bent on making their mark in the fresh 1990s. We would also like to learn more about the voice actuated memo pad and “dash-panel navigation system with a lighted display of the metro streets and roads network”. 

An interior shot shows all seats save for the driver’s perch were binned in favor of a swivel chair and curved desk, the latter of which contained all the office gear which was cutting edge for its day – though Ralph Nader would surely have had something to say about that extendable metal arm on the reading lamp and its ability to poke someone’s eye out in an emergency stop. 

As for the Explorer itself, the roof was raised about four inches to facilitate the office space which made room for an integrated and covered light bar featuring six lamps, to say nothing of that mini satellite dish perched on the aft quarters. The extra height gives Jurassic Park vibes despite this concept appearing about three years before the blockbuster Hollywood hit.

That’s also a unique front fascia on display with its own fog lamps, brushguard-style addenda, and Desk Drive badging. We think the first two items would have been popular had they been translated to production. The slightly steroidal hood is also not a production piece, though there are no suggestions of upgrades made to the 4.0-liter V6 engine.

[Images: Ford]

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