The 1991 Ford Explorer was launched with great fanfare as the company's first entry into the then-new sport utility vehicle market. The Explorer took its name from a 1980s trimline of the popular Ford F-150 pickup; presumably, Ford hoped to capitalize with the F-150's popularity with the off-road set.

The Explorer's trim offerings shared names with those of the F-150 as well: the Explorer was offered in Sport, XL, XLT, and Eddie Bauer trims, with two-door and four-door setups and optional four-wheel drive. Under the hood, the Explorer boasted a 4.0 liter, 155-horsepower V-6 engine.

Alas, the first year of the Ford Explorer was cursed with some quality issues: although most of the 1991 Explorers have held up well through the year, a number of them came off the line with flaws in the transmission and/or chassis. Gas mileage is not the '91 Explorer's great selling point, either, with its 15 mpg city, 17 mpg highway.

If you need the size and durability, though, the roomy Ford Explorer may be the vehicle for you. One of the first SUVs to be broadly marketed in the US, the Explorer has a loyal following of devoted owners.