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302 Equipped! 1974 Ford Maverick

The Ford Maverick has been back in the news quite a bit lately, as the nameplate has recently been revived, but this time as an entry-level pickup truck that starts at around $20,000.  That’s pretty inexpensive transportation for the times we’re living in, and when Ford originally introduced the Maverick in 1970 it was marketed with the same concept- cheap transportation.  Base price for a Maverick in 1970 began as low as $1,995, and buyers loved it as Ford sold more than half a million Mavericks just in 1970 alone.  These vehicles were originally produced from 1970 through 1977, and if you’ve been in the market for a nice middle-of-the-run example this 1974 Ford Maverick might be a good car for you.  Located in Lathrop, California, it can be found here on eBay at a current bid of $5,601 with the reserve price not yet reached.

The Maverick being offered for sale here is believed to have been a Northern California car its entire life.  It’s still wearing its original paint, which is showing some surface rust but has been clear-coated to help contain it at the current level.  The seller says there are no signs that the car has had any bodywork or outside repairs, and that the front and rear bumper mounting brackets have been shortened to make the bumpers closer to the body for a better look.  The floors, trunk, rockers, and torque boxes are all said to look nice as well.

Not a whole lot is specifically mentioned about the inside, but the interior appears to be overall in decent shape, although the front and rear seats don’t match and it looks like at some point the covering was replaced in the front.  Seat belts have been upgraded in both the front and back, with 3-point belts up front.  The car features an aftermarket steering wheel plus a column-mounted tach, and what looks like a radio with a CD player in the dash.  The dash pad has some cracks and would benefit from a cover, or better yet a replacement.  And check out that crazy floor shifter!

Under the hood is where this Maverick really shines, as there is a 302 cubic inch V8 nestled inside there with a few aftermarket goodies, including an Edelbrock carburetor, a painted aluminum intake, electronic ignition, a high-amp alternator, and a high torque mini starter.  The car also has power steering, an aluminum radiator, and a C4 automatic transmission.  The seller says that his Maverick runs nice and can continue to be enjoyed as-is, or that it would be a good candidate for an easy restoration.  What are your thoughts on this 1974 Ford Maverick?

Comments

  1. Avatar Fahrvergnugen Member

    Nice to see that on this one, any mods can only help its value as a base Maverick (ex, not Grabber or even MPG) wouldn’t be collectible, with or without numbers-matching. Just keep room in the budget for paint and treatments and this could be fun to play with!

    Like 9
  2. Avatar Sam Shive

    I’ve Always Liked ” The Simple Machine” This and the Comet never got much respect on the street but back in the day they were pretty hot on the 1320. It’s got a great start with the 302. If the bottom don’t look like the top then it should be good to go. Take the back seat out and carpet it. No one can sit back there anyway. Hopefully someone makes it a sweet little cruiser.

    Like 5
  3. Avatar Matt

    Nobody’s mentioning that weird looking shifter on the floor? Am I seeing stuff or is that even on the side of the hump.

    Like 5
  4. Avatar Lance Platt

    Like Matt, the first thing I noticed was that after market shifter when the car is advertised as an automatic. The front seat covering definitely isn’t NOS or a reproduction either. Even some cancerous rust can cost like a chemotherapy treatment. That said, the Maverick represents something missing from American car lineup now: an affordable sporty looking economy car with V8 power. We still have a handful of domestic cars like Mustangs and Challengers plus turbo Malibus and Camaros but all cost almost 20 times what a Maverick did. It is nice to see a running simple machine on BarnFinds.

    Like 3
    • Avatar 19sixty5 Member

      Tucking the bumpers certainly helps, but the rear is still clumsy looking. The sides of the bumper overlap the side lights. I would opt for the 70-72 style bumpers. The Comet GT hood scoop IMO is nicer than a Grabber hood. The floor shifter appears home-made to me. Having an automatic trans certainly makes it easier to cobble one up out of leftover parts. I believe an aftermarket shifter would likely be at least chrome plated. Still a cool car, you certainly can have fun with it and it will be unique at the car shows.

      Like 1
  5. Avatar PRA4SNW

    First thing I noticed when looking through the pics were that the bumpers looked okay for a ’74 where they typically double as park benches.

    Like 2
  6. Avatar mstang

    “L” code in the Serial Number 4K91L133333 indicates it was originally a 200CID Straight Six car. Be nice to know what the engine/tranny came out of and how extensive a conversion was done.
    Maverick is probably one of the best “cheap fun” cars out there!

    Like 0
    • Avatar msstang

      Actually… L code would be 250 CID Straight Six which would account for the 5 lug wheels. The 200 CID would be T which would have had the 4 lug wheels.

      Like 0
  7. Avatar Stanley

    So many y-s
    Why the homemade gearshift.
    Hopefully the brakes were upgraded.
    Why the horrible seat cover.
    Why punch holes in in the seat cover for the seat belts
    74 had 3 point belts so why did ne need to replace them.
    Hopefully it is a descent car

    Like 0
  8. Avatar trav66

    In ’92 I had a ’70 Grabber with a factory straight 6 and 3-speed in the floor. We put a 302/auto in it out of a junk yard. One night when I was coming home from shooting pool, a Camaro and some new truck were drag racing from the stop light. I was behind the Camaro so I floored it and wound up passing it and the truck (while in the outside turn lane)!. I waved bye-bye while doing so.
    It was fun, good memories. Looking back I wish I would have kept it, with the original engine/trans set up.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Robert West

    I love that black interior. Should clean up nice.

    Like 0

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