Ford had a bit of a western tinge in the 1960s and 70s. The TV show Maverick, which for the first 3 seasons starred the famous car-guy, James Garner, ended in 1962. The Ford Maverick debuted 8 years later for the 1970 model year. I can’t picture James Garner driving a Ford Maverick, but maybe he was a fan of them? This nice 1975 Ford Maverick is listed on eBay with a current bid price of $2,500 and there are 7 full days left on the auction! This cowpoke is located in Manheim, Pennsylvania.
This Maverick has about 88,000 miles on it, an average of about 2,100 miles a year, that’s pretty amazing. Someone didn’t use this car very much. I have a 15-year old car with only 24,700 miles on it, or about 1,650 miles a year, so I guess I can’t say too much.
This car looks really good, much better than most 42-year old cars do, rust-wise. There is one portion with an obvious repaint on the LR quarter, and hopefully there isn’t anything hidden by bodywork and paint anywhere. It sure looks like a straight car.
The interior is great! That seat fabric pattern and color is to die for, at least compared to modern black, gray, or tan solid-color interiors…zzzzzzzzz.. booooooring. The dash, the very, very simple dash looks great and I’m assuming that the steering wheel is either cracked which is why they covered it up, or it’s perfect under that protective cover because of being covered up! There are no engine photos but the seller says that it’s a 250 cubic-inch inline-six with an automatic transmission. This engine should have had around 70 hp which isn’t a heck of a lot for a 3,000-pound car, but for an around-town, fun, weekend car it would be more than enough. Remember when people drove cars like this everywhere, every day? As in, if you had to drive cross-country you just did it because this is the car that you had? Can you imagine driving a car like this the same way, the same distances, year-round, as you do your modern vehicle today?
Wow, those bumpers just destroy the car. I like the early Mavericks and Comets, but the bumper law forced them to hang chrome benches on everything. This one is in great shape, though, and I like the wild interior.
Yep, I know the bumper law hurts the CAFÉ ratings. But there’s nothing like being in two 5 MPH collisions(such as I have been) and suffering no damage whatsoever, to cause one to appreciate the bumper law. I take that back. If one is in two 5 mph collisions in a car with “Reagan Abomination” (1982 and later), and both times had to pay big bucks to have his car fixed, that would cause one to appreciate the 1974 to 1981 full 5 mph bumper law even more(in 1973, the law was 2 1/2 mph front and rear).
I had a 1975 four-door Maverick that I drove 94,000 miles and junked it at 210,000. I also had a 1977 two-door Maverick that I drove from 17,000 original miles to 156,000 miles, when I sold it still running for $150. Both were great cars, though they did get lousy gas mileage. And I acknowledge that those fatass bumpers did hurt the mpg. But come to think of it, saving gas and saving the planet trump saving one’s wallet.
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Correction to my last post: I’m not sure about the 1973 bumper law whether it was 5 mph front and 2 1/2 mph rear, or 2 1/2 mph both front and rear.
A neighbor was “restoring” a 4 door early model for his nephew. It’s painted refrigerator white (although orange peel) has a complete rebuild on the 6 cylinder & trans, sitting on a pallet. Been in a storage unit completely gutted for about 2 years now. I wonder if it will ever be completed. His nephew went into the service. I offered to help him put it together but so far he hasn’t excepted. And it sits……
Love the car hate the bumpers. Fun cars. Even more fun with a 302/4 speed. What is it with GREEN. I hate green. My ex loved pizza and green. Guess what my 2 least loved things are. To over 3 years after split to even have a bite of pukza. Never have had another gross green. But, really what is up with all the green not being used up and crushed.
Could only get a 302 with auto our 3 speed I think!
Actually, there WAS a vehicle in honor of that show. The 1958 Willys “Maverick Special”. Willys was a sponsor of the show ( although, I can’t find any ads with James Garner endorsing one)
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This particular Maverick looks like a great deal. The Maverick always seemed to play “2nd fiddle” to the other Ford’s ( especially Mustang) but they were great cars, just to drive, even today. Great find, real deal here.
And Maverick was his naaaame !
LOL – love the 2 gauge pods and the 4 idiot lights. Imagine someone walking into a dealer today and being offered a car with only this set up. It’s a clean car – but I’d wouldn’t spend a whole lot on it as it has nice bones for a sleeper.
I miss my mavericks and Don is correct they only had automatic and 3spd manuals
Yes I did not say factory. Because of the interchangabilitt of parts you could make a 4 speed and make it look factory without much problem
Would be harder to do today because back then you had junkyard access to play mix and match.
These were a great but often overlooked Pony car platform, Fords Answer to the Nova. I was always a Chevy guy (With multiple Novas) but I knew a few people with these. I hated the Ford 6 cyls but knew a few with the V8s and I *THINK* it was the Cleveland or Windsor? One of those was super narrow and a good upgrade. Scary fast with a built V8. I was just looking in my office but I have pictures from being at Mt Home AFB in Idaho and another guy in my squadron had a red Maverick with the V8 and mild build. It was red with white accents,Slotted mags, Traction bars and had Chrome side pipes that gave it a nice look and Rumble. Often I would grab Oranges from the Chowhall (DFLAC now days) and stuff them in his side pipes in the mornings. He was a cool guy and everytime I see a Maverick I think of him. Fond memories of driving into Boise to cruise the downtown strip. Not as cool as Portland, Seattle or the Bay Area cruises but was not bad for a PoDunk town like Boise. Ahhhh to have a time machine.
I remember looking at a brand new Maverick about 1973 in the showroom of Jim Fisher Ford in Portland. It bore a slight resemblance to the Pinto, but obviously had more interior room.The seats had a checkerboard pattern on the flat surfaces. The austere dashboard stood out, and was not very flattering, but the overall lines of the car were stylish.
Sadly few remain, it was underappreciated at the time, due to pony car alternatives. When I see a decent example, I do take notice.