I found it hard to believe this 1974 Ford Maverick Grabber wore original paint, but the detailed photos reveal that it seemingly does. The Grabber package wasn’t much in the performance department but was at least eye-catching; this example shows incredibly well with some interesting improvements made inside. Find it here on eBay for $15,995.
This is the shot that got me to believe, as it’s hard to fake spiderwebbed graphics on anything other than a carefully-aged surface. The graphics package was one of the main attractions of the Grabber offering, and limited additional trim features varied by year, such as a dual domed hood offered on the ’71 and ’72 models. This example thankfully has the optinal 302 V8, as opposed to the standard “Thriftpower” inline six.
Now, the seller references how original this Maverick is more than once, but the interior has clearly been updated. The thick bolsters on the lower seat cushion give it away, while the seat back does look like standard Maverick buckets. Although I love the improved seating support, a clearer picture of any other modifications would be appreciated here, given the way the Maverick is positioned as an “original” car. Still, the interior looks phenomenal.
While I thought a rear spoiler was also part of the Grabber package, many of the examples I’ve seen over the years do not have a separate wing affixed. Regardless, it looks better without it, and this Grabber also benefits from a rebuilt 302 with a “…Edelbrock aluminum intake and 600 cfrm 4 barrel carb,” according to the seller. Functional, cold A/C and power steering round out the list of options that this impressive Grabber offers; the option to submit a best offer is available if nearly $16K seems too steep.
Hard to resist that classic ford family styling. Those wheels just look so right on that car.Folks in California could give the rest of us a lesson in how to take care of them and make em last. If any body would have told me thirty years ago that Mavericks and Broncos would soon be collectable and valuable I would have not believed it .
Broncos I might have believed – Mavericks- never!
I’ll go ahead and get it out of the way for the muscle snobs.
“Post-71 smog smog smog crush it crush it crush it.”
Now, that said, eye-catching color combo on what appears to be a very driveable car. One of probably hundreds I’ve seen here that I’d make a third car.
This Maverick is in incredible condition, no matter what it is. Even here in “emissions choked California”, you will have no issue with “smog equipment”. A 1974 car is smog check exempt, you can put whatever motor heart desires. If it does not take too much surgery to put the pre-5mph bumpers on it, I might even throw a Fisker-esque Gas/Electric Hybrid in this car. A high RPM built 302 with electric instant low end torque could make a pretty fun ride.
I had the same Maverick show here but with mags and the rear spoiler which I loved. My interior was White and orange seats that were amazingly comfortable. I bought it off my Brother in law who must have juiced it up cuz I got a ticket for doing 110 with the accelerator only partially pressed. My favorite car and I wish I had kept it. Blew the engine and sold it in 82 . Still see it with original paint at a shopping mall where the guy who bought it works.
This is the exact car my girlfriend drove in high school in 1979-80. If that orange interior could talk! LOL
Not something I would consider, but hopefully, there’s someone out there who’d appreciate it. However, it seems waaaaaaaay overpriced.
I remember seeing one of these on one of the US ‘picker/trader/restorer’ shows and it was described as a ‘muscle car’. I couldn’t stop laughing, especially, thinking about my friends considered the Maverick Grabber was no better than a grabber of faecal matter (just to maintain decorum), and that was from the Ford fanatics! Apparently, ‘go-fast stripes do not a muscle car make’. ;-)
I never thought I’d say, “Man I LOVE that orange interior” especially about a Maverick, but Man, I LOVE that orange interior.
Those seats are the wonderful Lear-Siegler Multi adjustable buckets that Ford installed in many late 80’s/early 90’s Fox chassis Mustangs and T-bird/Cougars. Some of the most comfortable seats ever.
At least it doesn’t have the column mount shifter that would fall out of park when you touched it. Mods are well integrated.
After you change the front and rear highway guard rails you’d have a nice looking Maverick..Like Rod444 , I Love the interior
Love this. Drop a mustang 5.0 in this and have fun!
A buddy of mine damn near convinced me to buy one of these cars with the 302; he was going to buy one, too. The plan was to build a couple sleepers. Fortunately, my good taste made me think with a clear head.
Originally a six cylinder car. Worth about half of the asking price.
I never thought I’d say this, but here goes. I love this Maverick! It appears very original and not messed with. Not sure of the price or value. If Buffstang is right (I don’t doubt him) the engine swap may adversely affect the price. Whoever buys this car, please remove the 80’s billet crap.
Nice Maverick Orange color car. I knew a person
Who always was confused on mustangs
seeing Mavericks which got them nicknamed in humor the Mexican Mustsng😏
I like the color and the shape of this car. I knew someone with a red 302 hooped up one with a four speed. The car did well …
Oh well one misses the fords of yesteryear as the
new ford strategies are all guzzler trucks, SUV
and the mustang……what a lamo strategy and a design for future failure when gas ⛽️ prices creep up….
While I think this one is over priced…this is a eye appealing Ford!
Classic: creeping up they are. Oil closed at over $72 a barrel yesterday.
Part of the reason I keep company with 6s and fours. I lived through the 73 and 79 oil shortages.
It irritates me to feed a guzzler, personally.
What do you mean, “…when gas prices creep up.”? Here in DC area, they are already in the $3.00 per gallon range, with no relief in sight. Especially bad for us senior citizens. Not knocking you, per say, just mentioning the reality of things here.
Uh, think you can include Chevrolet and Chrysler(Dodge) trucks…..
There are no pictures of the engine bay. It’s a clean car, but the price is high.
Yeah, way too high
Jeff, the “spoiler” on the Maverick Grabber was a very subtle one.
The 74 Maverick brochure doesn’t mention a spoiler so it may well have been dropped by that time.
The 71, 72 and 73 brochures all include the spoiler as standard. 74 and up [Stallion package in 76 ] no reference to it or even whether it was even an option.
Looks like anything they wanted to accomplish was done with paint and tape, rather than a modest [I always wondered why they bothered] spoiler.
My Grandmother had the first one in the Chambersburg PA area: bright yellow. 200″ six and auto. No PS. Never phased Granny.
Skinny bumpers, headers and a nice exhaust, and I’m in. For some reason, I really like the Orange. Price is a little high but nice car none the less.
Were there even aftermarket tubular headers offered for these? I’ve read, that due to the large shock towers, they were nearly impossible to fit. Maybe a set of factory cast iron headers would fit.
Put a 302 in a ’70 Maverick. Used Sanderson “Blockhugger” headers that fit well with no mods necessary.
Bought a new maverick grabber 1975 white with blue stripes love that car.3695.00 new 117.95 a month thought I was in debt over my head sure Miss those days.
thiftmaster 6 is the a Chevy pickup engine late 40s early 50s
ck Car Craft mag, August ’11, for a local’s drag car article’s name – sompin like “Mad Mike’s Mav”. The article lists these vehicles as very light. He made an oem car’n motor (the 300 ci i6) under 10 sec for $5k.
One of the “hot ones” from Ford for ’74 😂. These were just fine for transportation cars, and heck, if it happened to look kinda sporty all the better. These weren’t muscle cars ever, pretty sure everyone knew that when they bought one new. Did make for some interesting hopped up cruisers though.
Like….yes a little high….but…like others have said…early bumpers might work…
Very nice. Great color.
Love that ORANGE interior! Great condition, if the paint/graphics were solid, maybe, MAYBE the price wouldn’t be too out of line. Maybe.
Look like my old car. I bought it in 75’ the right door was not straight on the bottom at the back just like in the picture. I was in the navy it was my first car that I bought.
That my father didn’t give me. It had a large 6 cylinder. Only difference was the seats were orange and white like the armrest on the door in the picture. And said grabber on the headrest I paid $ 4,500.00 for it new. It was not fast but I loved it