It’s hard to think import-fighter when looking at this 1976 Ford Maverick now, but in the 1970s it was. This small sedan is listed on eBay with a buy it now price of $5,900 or you can make an offer. It’s located in San Diego, California. This car was recently taken out of a 13-year slumber and a lot of work was done including a new battery, new gas tank, new fuel pump, new master cylinder, new wheel cylinder.
Yes, this is that car, the one that you’ve been hearing about your whole life. Not the flying car, that’s coming soon.. This is the car that a little old lady drove to church and back and that’s about it. Church must have been around 15 miles away because with just under 44,000 miles and there being 52 weeks a year, and this car being stored for the last 13 years, all of that = around 30 miles a week unless I did my math incorrectly. (he says waiting for confirmation from the math majors in the crowd)
Do they still make The Club? I haven’t seen one in years. The seller talks about a few seam separations but other than that the interior looks good, other than the carpets needing a deep cleaning.. (cough).. (hey, they usually do!) There are no engine photos, unfortunately, and no mention whether it’s a 200 or 250 cubic-inch six-cylinder. Any thoughts on which engine may be in this car? And, while we’re at it, any thoughts on this “little old lady” church Maverick?
I have always loved these but DAMN that puke green has got to go !
This car is so boring I’d fall asleep driving out of the driveway.
Those bumpers are gonna have to put a scare in the new econo boxes.
I bet they can withstand a 50 MPH crash…
In the ’70’s I frequently rode in the back seat of a dark blue one of these, as I remember, not that bad of a car. I would leave as is.
Mom had one when we were kids. It ate power steering pumps annually
I’ve had two of these 71 and 70. Both two doors with 302.s there light and really fast. Love them.
Thats Correctomundo. My friend Phil had three, actually two. A 70 2 door with a six. A 72 Grabber with a 302 V-8. Bucket seat car instead of the 70’s bench. Also a 71 Mercury Comet GT. V-8, bucket seat, A/C car. Very fast and light on its feet.
I was just going to mention that I was sure these also came with a 302 v8. I had a 74, 2 door with the big inline 6 and 3 on the tree. The thing was a total tank in the winter with a couple bags of cat litter or sand in plastic garbage bags (to prevent moisture from collecting and helping the rust) and a set of decent winter recaps. It was also an odd color but green and not yellow or gold. A deer at 55mph finally put an end to the beast but not before it scored over 170k on the odometer. And I believe all 170k were put on it in Northwest Pennsylvania minus trips etc.
That color is pretty hideous. Before I saw this article i was telling my daughter who loves green that in1972 my parents had both a 72 Mercury Montego MX and a 72 Pinto. The Montego was Ivy Green, with green interior. The Pinto was white with dark green interior. The seats were high back vinyl with houndstooth cloth inserts. This was part of the Decor Interior Group. Anyway in 1973 and later Ford green interior except for the Jade Green was just awful. Take this green on the Maverick in the article. The designer must have had too much LSD or something. Seriously, they went from a very pleasant green to this house of horrors green. The funny thing is that they did sell. I know people are saying that, well that’s what people wanted. I was around when these cars were new and everyone I knew thought this color was just as awful as I thought.
The two door was fun to hot rod !
I always called them the step Bro Mustang!
I hope with that color they use the steering wheel lock at all times 😮🤠👍
Being in California, I would guess this has the larger six as the 200 wasn’t California emissions compliant. This was a hugely successful car for Ford and the color is of the period, I’d leave it be.
I almost bought a pea green 75 4 door with 13k orig back in 2002.
It had one dent, the relative that had the car said his aunt had backed it into something years back.
The steering would just turn and turn. Kind of like an old Cadillac. No feel at all.
I already had my saddle bronze 74 Pinto with 20k original so I didn’t bite. But at $2000 it was a pretty awesome deal. (They Wanted $2600).
I didn’t need 2 big bumper 70’s Ford Econo cars. Being I lived in an apartment complex it would have had to sit in the street too.
This would make a pleasant second vehicle for running around town. My aunt had one in 1977 that she bought new, same green but a slightly different shade as far as my memory goes. I’ve always liked the looks of them. They are very basic so pretty easy to maintain. I’d update the upholstery later. Maybe all vinyl. New carpet would help. It would be nicer with the 302 but I’d take the gas mileage of the 6 Cylinder. Ideally I’d take a small bumper 1970 – 1972 with a V8. Actually a first year which only came with the 6-Cyl would be the most interesting.
$5900? Maybe there is an exhaust leak, and the ad was written after a drive.
My sister-in-law had one with 4 kids. An absolute penalty box.
I worked for a company that had these as fleet cars. Very slow, and the mileage was poor. Primative emmission contols made for poor drivability. These competed directly against Valiants with slant sixes. Also Novas and their ilk.
This was an import fighter only because the competing Japanese products rusted very quickly, and had their own emmission contol issues. Ask me; I had a 1977 Honda Accord and a 1978 Toyota pickup.
I had a 79 Accord as my first car in 1992. Such a nice car, actually.
Totally ahead of their time. I loved the big gauges, the motor purred, the hondamatic worked quite well, I dug the nifty little coin box on the dash.
Wish they stayed that Size. The Civic is a damn limo now. Accords got so damn big and over packaged.
Miss the “We Keep it Simple” tag days. All the cars are loaded. Not even a DX or real base model anymore.
I own a 1974 Mav 4 door with 90k on the clock that belonged to my grandparents who purchased it new in Oct. Of 73.It has a 2v 302 v8,3spd auto.it drinks fuel like a fish drinks water but is a fun car to drive.it will smoke the rubber in every gear !!
I am moving this summer and just not in the market for any car, right now. But, once I get situated, this, or one like it, would be a very practical car for me. I like the Mavericks. When I was younger, I had the chance to buy a 2 dr, 302. But, with custody of 3 kids and in the USAF, I just had to stay with what I had. I’m not afraid of what others think about what I drive.
Boring and safe investment.
several guys I know do the 1/4 mi track w/the 250ci Mav.
There’s a few tricks but the tq OE is remarkable (peak comes in so low).
reborn as the granada
I know someone who is a Ford Mechanic. He owns a blue Maverick sedan and the car was a former recruiter car. Was used by the United States Air Force.
You would have seen that car at your local high school or college campus. The recruit would drive that car and also take prospects to M.E.P.S for physical exam and shipping out, reserve training center for A.S.V.A.B. Uses it as a weekend driver.