Five years to the day after the Mustang was introduced, Ford rolled out the Maverick as the replacement for the compact Falcon. It shared some of the Mustang’s styling cues, such as a long hood/short deck layout. And, for a time, the Maverick would outsell the Mustang. This 1973 Maverick looks to be in great survivor condition and was donated to a charity so it could be sold here on eBay. Located in Orange, California, this Ford has been bid up to $8,955. Would you pay nine grand or more for one of these cars?
Ford would sell more than two million Mavericks during its eight-year run, making it one of the most successful product launches of the 1970s. In the beginning, you could buy one of these cars for as little as $1,995, priced just a few hundred dollars more than the smaller VW Beetle it was trying to thwart (the Pinto would follow to go head-to-head with the German and Japanese imports). This ’73 Maverick seems to be wearing the “luxury décor option” (LDO) which came with reclining bucket seats in a leather-like vinyl, plush carpeting, and a vinyl roof.
We’re told that this Maverick with as little as 39,000 miles was donated to a national charity (we don’t know which one) and was handed off to JDC (“Just Donated”) to auction off for maximum benefit. As such, no history is provided on the vehicle, mainly how has it stayed so nice for nearly 50 years. There is (probably) a 302 cubic-inch V8 under the hood that has been blinged out, but we don’t know if that includes any major performance upgrades. It’s paired with an automatic transmission.
Both the exterior and interior look to be original with little to no noteworthy flaws. Aftermarket wheels have been added and the tires have about half their grab left. The car has been road-tested locally, but there are no claims as to how it would perform at highway speeds. The seller refers to a video for us to check out, but I’ve been unable to find a link to it in the listing. If you were to bid on the Ford, be prepared to play catch-up on DMV fees if you’re in California as the auto was last registered in 2019. Also, the seller will collect an 8% buyer’s fee for their role in the sale. This looks like a nice Maverick and is priced a lot less than the same period Mustang that it shares underpinnings with.
Looks like a nice Maverick. Lots of high-res pics which do show some flaws (rock chips etc.), but nothing serious. A few simple but tasteful mods. These two-door Mavericks really are sporty-looking with the fastback roofline. Simple to maintain. Plenty of bidding action, I’m not surprised. I too like it… even in brown.
I always thought it was odd that Ford marketed it as a “two-door sedan” when it had all the hallmarks of a coupe, even a shortened wheelbase. Technically it hit the market a year ahead of the 4-door, but it still had a shorter wb and sportier styling than the (last real) Falcon.
Now this is how you take pictures. Wondering about the top. Would you call it a vinyl toupee?
Ford called it a “halo” roof.
Always liked the Maverick, as well as the Comet of the same vintage, with the LDO. I remember them coming with the full wheel covers that were painted to match the body color…
I’m puzzled. In 1973, we were entering the era of the 5mph bumpers. This car (which looks fantastic to me, maybe too much wheel though) seems to have the older small rear bumper and the 5mph front bumper – did they come mixed this way???
Also, the vinyl top really works here, but for the life of me I do not recall ever seeing this in the Canadian market.
Great Maverick!
cheers,
BT
The 5 mph front bumper was legislated for 1973 while the rear bumper was one year later in 1974.
Thanks Jack – I didn’t know that!
bt
In 1973 bumperettes were added to comply with the new 5 mph mandate. In 1974 bigger, heavier bumpers were added. This one is very close to mine, which was my first car, bought used in 1974 and driven 13 years. This is a later 1973 with glove box added. Mine had a package shelf and was bought off the showroom floor the first day the 73 model was introduced.
The doors have frames around the glass, so they were called sedans ; if there was a 2dr Maverick with no frames it would have been called a coupe
Without the post, it is a hardtop. Coupe is correct for this body.
I found the missing video by searching on the seller’s website. Here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-yvBOUGLnw&t=2s
1973 Federal standards only required Front 5 mph bumpers. Rears were a requirement starting in 1974
I first said a big fat NO to 9+ K, then I saw under the hood. I imediately changed my mind. There are abou 40 followers on it right now and the last one standing, is probably really going to have to step up to the pump. A very cool car.
I had a ’73 but with the 6cyl. Good riding car.
At least; the front bumper is one year only,
not certain of the rear.
Great looking Maverick, and the wheels make it that much better.
I bought one of the first mavericks in Sept 1969 you can tell the ones built in 1969 as the key was still on the dash after Jan 1970 they moved it to the steering column was a great car had the upgraded 200 ci 6 with 3 speed on column
Nice do over and its affordable.
Looks nice from the many photos. Can’t tell which engine it has..maybe some Ford expert can tell from the images. Unable to determine if it has air conditioning and whether it was properly updated due to environmental regulations. Being a donated car, the Maverick is an unknown horse without thoroughbred papers. Would love it if someone had donated it to me!
Absence of ac vents in dash and no compressor under the hood should be a tipoff that this is not an ac-equipped car. How uncool is that?
It looks like a 289 or 302. I ran a vin check and the car was born with a 302 2 bbl so its safe to assume its a 302 dressed up a bit.
Its a very nice car and would be a blast without spending Mustang money!
pretty un-kou-well, BUT…
then again U can call it a racer.
Bud has 1 w/the 300/4.9 – duz 10s @ the drag. I perfer the 200/250. The 200 is a lill rev-er & can take the Oz 2v (alu or iron) & a few others (linked @ bottom). I like the 250/4.1 as it’s stroked (in my 1st gen bronk). If the Grenad-a is 1st fox (’75/82) I guess the Mav (’70/7) is last of the falcons. (’78/05 fox: fairmont/zepher, cougar, stangs, dwn sz LTD, marquis, continental, t-bird, monarch, capri).
https://www.vintageinlines.com/product-page/deposit-only-aluminum-head-package
WOW’. what a sweet car somebody really did a good job on how they tricked it out that 302 v/8 sounds great if it runs and handles as good as it looks I would love to have it only thing I would do is put A/C on it they are rare and a v/8 to boot it looks like a 39000 mile car to me. price will be high but for the right person who loves these cars it will be worth it. hard to Believe it was a Donation.
I’ve seen more miles than that on a 2 year old car!
I believe I see aluminum cylinder heads on it. That little car should SCOOT !