A car doesn’t necessarily have to be ultra-desirable to be interesting. Take this 1972 Ford Maverick as a perfect example. The company launched it as affordable family transport, but you will struggle to find a nice one today. This Maverick is a gem, ready to take the whole family on summer vacations. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Tony P. for spotting it listed here on Craigslist in Eugene, Oregon. The seller set their price at $11,950 for a car needing nothing.
Ford launched the Maverick in 1970, proving that old saying that everything old is new again. The stylish body hid a platform dating back to the 1960 Falcon, but that was potentially good news. It meant that the underpinnings were well-proven and that the Maverick didn’t have any potentially nasty surprises. This 1972 example is in excellent condition for its age, with no major cosmetic shortcomings. The paint shines nicely, the panels are straight, and there is no rust to spoil the ownership experience. The trim is in good condition, and the glass is clear. What sets this car apart is its vinyl roof and the color-coded wheel covers. These items were part of the Luxury Decor Option (LDO) Package introduced by Ford late in the 1972 model year. It also brought some welcome interior upgrades.
The interior images reveal the remaining items forming the LDO Package. It included seats trimmed in supple vinyl, plush carpet, and faux woodgrain on the dash. The first owner added air conditioning and an AM radio. Once again, the presentation is first-rate. The Beige vinyl is in good condition and, like the carpet, isn’t badly worn or stained. The dash and pad are excellent, and there are no visible aftermarket additions beyond the wheel cover and removable console.
Powering this Maverick is a 250ci six. This motor isn’t a fireball, delivering a mere 98hp and 183 ft/lbs of torque. The figures could be diplomatically described as modest. When paired with this car’s three-speed automatic transmission and power steering, it is more of a relaxed cruiser than a bruising performer. There is plenty of good news for prospective buyers. The seller recently replaced the starter, plugs, points, and condenser, and rebuilt the carburetor. The car runs and drives beautifully, and is a turnkey proposition with no identified mechanical issues.
Forced sales are typically sad, as demonstrated by this 1972 Ford Maverick. The seller indicates that they would prefer to keep it, but they have lost storage space, so this classic has to go. The price might be high, but it is one of the nicest unmolested examples we have seen at Barn Finds for a long time. It isn’t the most desirable car on the planet, but would its overall condition and practicality tempt you to park it in your garage?
I’m sure that the wheel covers are not aftermarket and are part of the LDO package. I clearly remember our neighbor’s maverick having the same ones. Gran Torinos of this vintage also had the same color coordinated wheel covers as part of the LDO package.
I remain amazed at how well cars like this are preserved in the pacific NW.
I assume he meant the “steering” wheel cover was aftermarket.
Wow!!! This is one super clean early Maverick. I like the 4 doors just as much as the two doors. I remember those color keyed wheel covers too. I don’t remember ever seeing a 4 door with the nice seats like this. I completely agree with Adam, this was a well proven and durable platform it was built on. It’s sad it’s a forced sale, but I really hope this goes to a great new home with a nice garage. Its survived very well over all these years. Nice one Adam and Tony P.!!!
These LDO Mavericks were very nicely trimmed. I think they were introduced mid-1972, which means… small bumpers. Seems like I recall that they sold well. This one looks like it has had excellent care. It’s not fast and (gasp) it has four doors, but it would still make for a fun cruiser.
Bob definitely something to cruise in but to be honest doubt I would have much fun. This was a people mover, I must admit it’s in great condition for a basically disposable car of the time.
yes, stock LDO wheel covers, the 250 cu in 6 was sufficient, only thing better would be same car but in the light blue and no vinyl top. This is a very nice 4-door maverick, would take it for sure.
You cast it out there Terry M and i am going to bite. The only thing better would be any Ford vehicle other than a Mustang II, Pinto, and of course a Maverick.
Beautiful car. My first vehicle was the Mercury Comet – a 2 door – with virtually the same interior and option package. Loved that car as a teenager. Tan/over brown with sport wheels and if it ever comes back up for sale I will buy it! As someone mentioned the preservation of these cars in the Pacific NW is amazing! The owner has done well with this car!
Learn something everyday. Didn’t realize LDO was available in late ’72, never seen one before now. Highly unusual to find a Maverick in this condition since they were basically throwaway cars (back in the decade I had a ’70 with the “big” six of the day, the 200). Nice as it is $12k is on the rich side. Then on the other hand, try and find another one like it. Pre-’73’s so much more attractive than their successors.
Absolutely stone slow with that 6 and automatic. But if you’re looking for something different, that you can take the kids to the car show in? You could do worse.
🎯 Big C… and the kids can bring a friend 👍 even better. 🍦
The Maverick has really grown on me over the past few years. Especially the small bumper 2 door versions. But a 4 door like this would be a lot of fun…
Had one just like it. Only mine was white with a tan (?) vinyl top
and side trim and a ’73 model with a 302 V-8 engine. I bought it
in the fall of ’87 off s used car lot
in Winter Haven Florida for $1,000 and it was as nice as the car shown here. Since the radio
was MIA, my wife and I went to
K-Mart and bought a Kraco AM/FM/cassette stereo to which we wired up 6 6X9″ Jansen speakers along with the factory
radio speaker for a grand total of
7 speakers. High end cars back then like Audi and Toyota were
offering the same setup as standard equipment. We built ours for a lot less. Other than that, the car was bone stock and that 302 made it run like a raped
ape. The seats were oh sooo cushy and the ride was unbeatable. We highly prized these traits as we were working for the Lakeland Ledger delivering newspapers and running complaints for our manager as carrier assistants. That car was our office and we spent a lot of time there. So why
not treat yourself to a comfortable ride like that. I’d joke to my friends that it wanted to be a Lincoln when it grew up!
But sadly, I traded it in on a POS
’86 Ford Escort wagon in ’89 that spent more time in the shop than
it did our driveway. Finally had enough and told the bank to come get it in ’91. Worst mistake
I ever made! If I had the cash, I’d
fly out to Oregon and drive it home. Would be like finding a long lost friend.
Hey Ken, if you find the money. And pay my expenses. I will go pick it up and drive it to you!
I still prefer the 2 door. But this is a nice one.
The Good: LDO package, which included bucket seats in place of the standard bench seat, rarely seen factory A/C option. The Bad: No V8, glove box or floor shift, two-doors are selling better. The Ugly: Possible roof rust under the vinyl top, Maverick handling. The Verdict: A rare example of the breed worth saving, if the price is right. At $50.00 shy of $12k, it might be priced just a tad high, but given the condition, it might be justified. These got a proper glove box in either 1973 or ’74, IIRC, but then you also got the Federally mandated “Bash Beam” bumpers to go with your glove box!
nice
Too far away, about 2400 miles from me.
I’m on my 5th Maverick.
A 73 2 door in competition green with a 460, C6 and 3:23 posi. Found it here on Barn finds, and, to me, it is a dream car. I’ve always loved these cars.
I had a 76 , 250ci project for around 12 years, gave it to my buddy for free when I got the 73.
Had a 72 prior to that, me and my wife bought it in 2003. Added a 350 cfm Holley 2bbl, MSD ignition, header, mild cam. She ran strong!
In 1992 I found a 1974 2 door, beige with tan interior, 65000 miles for $400 at a small car dealer. Ran it for almost a decade.
First was a 72 Grabber, 200ci automatic I bought in 1989. Beautiful car.
I love them all, and would definitely enjoy this 4 door!
I would love to have it, if it were the V-8, and closer to New England and northern New York. That six could never be timed right. If the timing were set as per the factory, the idle was rough, and it would stall-out when put into gear after starting. And it accelerated poorly. If you advanced the timing, she ran smoothly and gained lots of pep, but pinged like crazy when you firmly accelerated. Every one of these I encountered had that same problem, even the Mercury Comet version with a six under the hood. But there was none of that maddening difficulty with the V-8. Otherwise, I love just about everything about this car — ESPECIALLY those FOUR DOORS! These vanished in the northeast, though, because they were such rust-buckets — particularly with gaping holes behind the headlights and around the rear wheels and into the trunk.
These also included the “lovely” “run all-the-time” feature, a.k.a. Dieseling, thanks to the primitive anti-smog gear of the period! That also accounts for the issues with the timing, as the timing was retarded to aid in Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR), to limit nitrogen oxides emissions. Compression ratios were also lowered to cope with lower octane unleaded gasoline, which was available, but not yet mandatory for these cars. Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) and electronic ignition will help, but since the intake manifold was cast as part of the head, one-barrel TBI is your only option with the stock engine. Holley makes a kit for that, however (see link below).
https://www.holley.com/products/fuel_systems/fuel_injection/sniper_efi/sniper_efi/sniper_efi_autolite_1100_1-barrel/parts/550-552
There are also fuel tanks from Holley that support EFI, with provisions for a return line and electric fuel pump fitted. Just replace the fuel tank, run a return line back to the tank and find switched +12VDC power for the electric fuel pump, and you’re good to go! Swap in the V8 from a wrecked late model Mustang, change the tank, and you’re good to go!
Check out Clifford Research (6=8) about upgrading carburetion. A guy I worked with in college had a Maverick that he went the whole Clifford route and replaced isc3 on the tree with a 4 on the floor. It was by no means fast. But it became a very nice peppy car.
Wayne, if I had the cash, I’d take
you up on it. Whether it’s a 6 or a
V-8, it’s still like an old friend to me. You’ll never find a more honest and simple car than a
Maverick. Both my wife and the car are gone now, but I still have all those wonderful memories.
Hi Wayne,
I’ve looked at the Clifford performance web pages, and while they have aftermarket intakes for the Ford 223/240/300, which are truck engines, used only in Ford pickup trucks, the car six-cylinder engines, the 170/200/250 sixes, had cast-in-place intake manifolds. I asked a machine shop that specialized in rebuilding Ford Sixes, and they told me that cutting the manifold off of the head and fitting a bolt-on intake manifold was impossible, the act of cutting the intake off of the head would destroy the head! So, no joy there!
You missed the weld on carburetor bases. Then you bore out the hole in the intake. That way you get triple 1 barrel carbs. It works really well on the 144, 170 and 200 engines. THEN you add the header.
I found it. The Clifford web page is light on instructions, but I’ll send them an E-Mail on Monday. They have a two-barrel intake kit for the 200 that uses a bolt-on adapter plate for the existing cast-in-place manifold, but there’s nothing about a single-barrel three-carb setup on the web page. It might be a special order. Again, when I send an E-Mail, I’ll ask them about it. Thanks for the tip in any case. Cheers!
The tri carb set up is made by Offenhauser.
Part number 5970. Speedway motors carries it.
Also, check out aussiespeedshop.com, they have tons of performances parts including supercharger kits
Found it! it took a little digging, but I did find it. Here’s link for anyone else who might be interested:
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Offenhauser-5970-1970-Up-Ford-170-200-250-Inline-6-Cyl-Triple-Manifold,227899.html
Many thanks for everybody’s help! I learned something new today!