This 1973 Maverick is guilty of mixing its metaphors. First, it’s a coupe with the “Luxury Decor Option,” which included a fancy set of paint-matched wheel covers, a vinyl roof with “halo treatment,” and a more opulent interior. On the other hand, this example has polished Torq-Thrust wheels and underhood accessories that belie its luxury theme. It’s no matter—this looks like a solid Maverick coupe from the era just before the bumpers got too big, and with the optional 302, it’s bound to attract some Blue Oval acolytes. Thanks, as always, to Curvette, who found it here on craigslist in Seattle, Washington, with an asking price of $11,800.
Maverick fans will be happy to know that top-of-the-line 302 sits under the hood of this LDO Maverick; however, it has an Edelbrock air cleaner that I’d immediately discard in the same bin as the red spark plug wires (just my personal taste). The optional 302 two-barrel in the 1973 Maverick produced 140 net horsepower, and in this case, it’s backed by Ford’s trusty C4 automatic. Aside from saying that it “runs and drives excellent,” the seller doesn’t mention any engine upgrades aside from “Edelbrock,” but a stock 302 has plenty of pep for those who don’t measure their driving excitement in quarter-mile times. It looks like this example has power steering but no power brakes.
The interior of the LDO Maverick actually does look fairly luxurious, with cushy bucket seats and upholstery that matches period literature. The seats sent me looking for factory images because they look so modern and well-bolstered, and they apparently recline, a feature that wasn’t common on American cars in the 1970s. The Luxury Decor Option also had woodgrain trim on the dashboard (used sparingly), and “European-type armrests.” The seller says that the interior as a whole is in “mint condition.”
The back seat is certainly not a place where an adult would want to spend much time, but the upholstery looks just as nice back here as it does up front.
Painted in what appears to be “Ivy Glow,” and combined with a tan vinyl top and side moldings, this looks like a pretty neat Maverick. While one might picture an LDO Maverick as a sedan, as might befit a car with luxury pretensions, I’m kind of happy that it was available as a coupe; after all, we see plenty of Grabbers out there. While the pictures aren’t quite clear enough to make a “sight unseen” decision on this car, if it’s as solid as it looks, it will probably make a fan of 1970s Ford compacts very happy.
Nice looking cars the Maverick coupe. Toth that backseat does look like a penalty box.
The attractively-styled Maverick was a successful economy car in its day, even though it was based on decade-old architecture and powertrains. I find it interesting that Ford was able to trim them out, and find success, with a sporty theme (Grabber), and with a luxury theme (LDO). The Grabbers are more prized today, but this LDO looks pretty good. I too would like to see it with the color-keyed wheel covers.
Thanks Aaron.
Plymouth did the same when they released their Valiant Brougham. It had a vinyl roof, cushier seats with plush velour, and wood trim in the interior as well, just like this Maverick . Quite a nice upgrade from the normally utilitarian Valiants.