Finally, a gem. I wrote up a Maverick last week that was going for, if I recall, around $6K. You Barn Finders seemed to agree that this was steep given the build it needed. Now here is a rather more perfect version of Ford’s 1970s car, a 1972 Grabber model, available on eBay for a current bid of $10,200 and four days left in the auction, which is happening with no reserve. You’ll be expected to show up in Artesia, CA to claim your new ride.
The Maverick in 2022 exists as a four-door compact pickup truck, and a handsome one, at that. This is something else. The original Maverick was a 1970s compact car, offered from 1970-77. It started out as a two-door Coupe and later was offered in four-door form as well. The idea was to have an import-fighter which could also serve as competition to GM’s Nova and Dodge’s Dart. The car in question came from the third model year, and is well-equipped with air conditioning (which needs renewing) and the Grabber package. A Grabber was a car equipped with the code 93 option, and the number appears in the VIN as verification. It allowed for larger tires, and added trim and graphics, plus a spoiler. In 1971 and 1972, the special “dual dome” hood was also a part of the Grabber. For this car, the package and options are plainly named in the included Marti report, so authenticity is beyond question.
The Maverick features Medium Bright Yellow paint, most of which is original. It appears, according to the seller, to have had paint on the front fenders and hood, which obviously suggests collision damage. You’d have to look under the hood and underneath to pick out any further damage. He lists no rust. This is, after all, a California car for most of its life, although one that has sat outside, apparently carefully covered, for years. It is nicely equipped with a 302-CID V8 with 67,000 miles on the odo and an automatic transmission. There is also a very cool mini-console on the transmission bump ahead of the front bench seat.
The Grabber is same-family-owned since 1974, when it was purchased in Georgia and driven to California for use on a daily commute. The car was put into backyard storage in 1986 and has not been registered since 1988. No back fees are due, according to the seller, and the car runs and drives, but it has not gone past about ten miles under current ownership, mostly as the seller has gotten it ready for moving on to its new home. He is clear that it’s not a car you can count on driving home if that’s not close by, or using as a daily driver before further mechanical reconditioning of systems like the brakes. But once you do some renovation (a process already partially completed), you’ll have an authentic and mostly original treasure to add your own miles to.
Beautiful survivor,Just get her road worthy and enjoy.And why Ford did you name the new pickup Maverick??? It’s nothing more than a new Explorer Sport track.
I’d rather the name go to a truck instead of something else. Like Dodge did with the Dart a few years back. Didn’t live up to the namesake.
I have to disagree. I own a Sport Trac, as well as newer Ranger. The Maverick is not even close to the Sport Trac.
I love my old Sport Trac. Has frame rot but I don’t have the heart to give up on it. Still looks and runs fine, and everything works.
IMO, a pickup should NEVER be front wheel drive. & NEVER be 4 door ONLY.
Period.
Sweet…….
Tire smoker
Cool
Very nice. Desirable Grabber model, looks good in yellow (even with the orange graphics). Clean and well-loved. Excellent ebay listing. Sounds like some maintenance yet to do, otherwise ready to enjoy. Won’t be cheap, let’s see where it lands.
Yeah,I always thought those graphics looked really cheesy.
That gauge package isn’t factory….is it?
I’m thinking no
Good eye, and that always says to me that the regular gauges are suspect. Sometimes not, but does beg the question.
I’d say, usually the case… however, for the Maverick, wasn’t there just a gas gauge, everything else idiot lights?
Maverick was not a complicated car, your correct gas gauge was it. Had a buddy in the service. He found a Comet, 302 three speed floor shifter, same car.. They came with 2bbl, he decided needed more power. Well a cam, intake, 4bbl and unplugged the three speed. Found a top loader and slapper bars, proceeded to go to work. Well after many hours of work it ran pretty good. Then it started to tear, didn’t have sub frame connectors and they’re not very thick steel. Wasn’t good, pulled the parts and off it went.
Hi I am the owner of the Maverick, as mentioned in the ad the gauges where added probably decades ago they are RAC vintage gauges & our time period correct for that time line & yes they still work. Thanks to all for all the nice comments!
Always liked the Maverick/Comet design. Kind of a Pinto on steroids. It provided everything the Pinto didn’t. The gauges are aftermarket, but I believe the clock/console was an option. For the record, Ford wasn’t the 1st to use the Maverick name. In the early 60s, Willys offered a “Maverick” wagon, in honor of the TV western, featuring James Garner, as they were the sponsor. It didn’t do much for sales, and are extremely rare today. The Ford Maverick, was a car for the masses. I read, over 2.1 MILLION Mavericks were sold, almost 600,000 in the 1st year( 1969), and on par with the Mustangs 1st year output. It’s an outstanding find, like 3 people in the world kept a Maverick, and what bamboozles me, among other things, is someone is wiling to pay $10gs for one of the most basic cars to come out of Detroit, that gets half the mileage of a modern car, if that doesn’t tell you something, I give up.
Love is blind, Howard.
The first year for the Maverick was 1970 , although they were of course introduced in late 1969 , and they were a huge hit , like the Mustang just 5 years before it
It tells you people are nostalgic for the common, simple things that remind them of a simpler, more easygoing time.
These cars are wonderfully styled, IMO and were an excellent value. Good thing I didn’t win the lottery as today’s featured cars was a cornucopia of stuff I would like to buy.
I don’t know how anyone can have fond memories of one of these. I worked at a pharmacy when I was in 72-73 during high school doing deliveries at night. They had a 318 Maverick with three on a tree as delivery car. Quite a forgettable car. Horrible shift linkage, crappy ride and just a really plain looking car. And it was only two years old !
A 318 Maverick? Maybe a 302 Maverick, or the car was a Chrysler product, ’cause they offered a 318.
yes, a 302. I have had quite a few dodge’s with 318’s. Shoot me. :)
Well Glenn, I’ll tell ya’, there were lots of cars, all metal and plastic, it’s the stories behind the cars, that is worth saving. My late ex-mother in law, had a 4 door Maverick. It was a step up from her Vega, and got her to her job at Sears everyday, in the worst Wisconsin weather. When the heater quit, she was quite a sight all bundled up, but unlike me, never complained. She was a remarkable person, and I( and the world) miss her dearly.
The Maverick was similar in design as was the Duster. A cheap corporate sibling of a sportier car (Mustang, Cuda) yet a notch above the more vanilla models they were based on. Both sold well as they looked good and made economic sense to buy.
The A body Duster was a sibling of the Valiant, not the E body Cuda
Amazing how much better the Maverick looks with the pre ’73 small bumpers. Being from NE Ohio most every Maverick I saw as a kid in the ’70’s and ’80’s was a turd. This is a great example
Nice little car. Just not me.
In 1972, I never would have guessed in my wildest dreams that someday this car would be collectible.
What’s a “318 Maverick”? Maverick was an inexpensive car- but they were quite serviceable, and nicely styled, in my opinion. The chrome railroad tie bumpers of later models were an eyesore, and the 4 doors with the huge bumpers were frankly embarrassing. Still functional- just homely. I can speak from experience that both the straight sixes, and small V8s of this era, were durable and reasonably economical. This is a very cool car-even if the color combo is a little off-
I agree with Glenn. My dad wanted me to buy one of these exact models in 1980 and dump my MG Midget. Granted not an apples to apples comparison but I was driving 30 miles to VA Tech and back a few times a week for school. 1/4 of the trip on dirt roads, 3/4 on pavement. Lots of curves The Maverick had poor handling, bounced all over the road and slid back and forth across the gravel. And got something stupid like 14 mpg. The MG just tooled along the gravel roads, rubber held the curves on the paved roads and got me 30 MPG. It did not make my father happy when I told him no dice. A year later I took a 2 week trip after graduating and my Dad sold the MG right off the farm. I suppose he signed my name on the title. All I know is when I got back, he handed me $1400 and said, go find a car to buy, the MG is gone. I still miss the MG, never missed not buying that Maverick for a second.
PS Pretty sure that 72 Maverick was this same puke orange/yellow as this one. Also, everything rattled in it (granted, dirt roads, anything not tied down rattled). Glove box door especially. Gosh amazing what you can (or think you can) remember when you have visual or audio cues.
I think this car is awesome I always liked 2dr post cars with an 8 cyl in most makes just me I guess. The Maverick with duels and a small 4 barrel and frame connectors was just enough to have fun with and better on gas if you keep your foot out of it…But thats not any fun is it? Or is it? LMAO
I’ve been considering a local, two-owner 1973 Maverick sedan (yes, the ones with the 5 mph bumpers) with vinyl roof, and inline 6 with factory air! Very plush interior, not spartan at all. Seller needs to knock a few pennies off the sale price for me to pay cash for it, though. Sedans don’t look too bad if they wear the deluxe trim, wheelcovers, and have been well-maintained. Lots of Maverick sedans languished in salvage yards years after they lost their usefulness.
I love the yellow because today’s vehicles are predominantly dull silver, dark gray and anemic white. Wish the car had bucket seats. The realist in me says an air conditioning “renew” sounds expensive (switching to non freon, compressor etc). The brakes sound like real money real fast especially to convert to a power disc system. The nostalgia factor is there: Mavericks were everywhere on the road when I was young. Never drove one though but did drive a Pinto and Bobcat and liked the bucket seats and rack and pinion steering on the smaller Fomoco cars back then.
I special ordered a ’71 Maverick only for the Bright Red paint and a 3 speed on the floor and the 200 ci 6, don’t think Ford had the V8 in ’71; if they did I couldn’t afford it anyway. Biggest problem was 2 cylinders, I think when the engine was built they forgot the rings on the pistons. I’d have to pull and clean the oil off the fouled plugs about every 500 miles. Finally put “spacers” in ’em and that lasted almost a 1000 miles. Had enough after 40,000 miles and traded it for a used ’73 Dodge Dart, but that’s another story…
Love the limited edition “Smith Corona” center console.
Sharp!
Under appreciated design.
The three quarter rear photo says it all.
Fastback with a small trunk spoiler.
Great design for an economy car.
The only thing missing are buckets and the floor shift.
Wish this was in my garage.
I had a white 6 cylinder Grabber, nice little car, although under powered