New from MI - Looking for advice on 72 Grabber

Hi all,

Brand new to the forum. Looks like a very nice forum where people are focused on the cars and the fun of the hobby. I joined looking for some advice on a 1972 Maverick Grabber.

I am now in possession of a pretty sad 1972 Maverick Grabber. Looking for opinions on what if any value this vehicle has. Trying to decide if I just throw it on Craigslist as a parts car or try to take off a few key parts and scrap it. The story (kind of a sad one for car lovers):

For the last 10-15 year this vehicle belonged to a friend of the family (older single woman). She had bought the car at a swap meet (paid way too much) when her youngest son was in high school. She was looking for a way to get him interested in something (auto shop at school). It didn't work and soon the vehicle found a long term parking spot outside her trailer home. Every year she would register it so that the trailer park would let it stay, but it didn't move for over 10 years. Needless to say, 10 years outside in South East Michigan is not kind to these cars. Lots of rust.

I came into the picture a few months back when I agreed to bring the car to my place to figure out if it had any value. I have been cleaning it up some and had it up on my lift and the more I look the more concerns I find with the car. I hold the title, but any proceeds I get will go back to the family friend.

The best I can tell from the VIN it was an original Grabber package with a 6 cylinder. It had AC and power steering (both currently disconnected). Some where along the way along with 2 or 3 paint jobs it received a 302 V8/C4 trans swap. The engine spins freely, but I have not tried to start it yet due to damaged/cracked wiring.

My question; What would you do with it? What is valuable? If I were to list it as the full vehicle what do you think is fair?

 

It all depends on how much rust the car has. I see that it needs a driver's torque box and floor pan. Looks like it needs a passenger quarter panel as well. In my opinion, if it needs both quarters, both doors, both fenders, floor boards and both front torque boxes......it is a parts car. If it needs less than that....it could still be a "parts car". Fixing rust costs money. Mavericks are not "money" cars yet.

See this.
Fix THIS not THAT: http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=86787&highlight=fix

 

Well it sounds as though you are not interested in the needed repairs and it appears that there are many needed so with that said there are some people that would fix the car so I would offer it on craigslist as a whole car just so it could be saved but if you are looking to get the most money out of it parting it would yield you the most but it is also time consuming and having to deal with shipping and listing stuff.

You asked what is valuable here is a partial list of good selling items

Hood scoops, it looks like the hood lip is bad
Rear spoiler and quarter extensions
Rear valance
Front valance
Front bumper brackets
Both bumper, good cores
Rear tie down brackets
Front grill
Sport lamp switch
Sport mirrors
Marker lights
Engine and transmission
V8 conversion parts----frame stands,transmission xmember,under engine xmember,v8 throttle cable
5 lug rear end
Speedo gauge cluster
Head light bezels
Odds and ends

I would be very conservative and put a value of these parts alone at the $1,500 to $2,000 range but the little items not mentioned because of unknown factors such as does it have bucket seats, dash pad good,interior panels good etc, could up value a lot.

As far as selling price of car as it sits could be near the same as parting it so I opt to list it as a fixer upper and let someone else do the parting or hopefully repair it

 

from Northeast Pennsylvania

 

...

 

Welcome form central VA!

 

Welcome to the Forum!!! Congrats on the Mav

 

Thanks for the warm welcome to the forum.

Thanks especially to Yellow75 for the list of parts that are valued by Maverick enthusiasts. I think that my next steps are to finish cleaning up the vehicle and assess the condition of the parts and car and then decide what to do with it.

Thanks again.

 

@JOEXR793 would fix that!

 

I was actually thinking about Joe when I mentioned repair it, the shop has the best chance of fixing it with all the replacement panels they are coming out with

 

From the Photos I see,, Lets see what we can do for you,, Torque Boxes. Lets see what Else we have for that Project,, That's a Floor pan Kit. Just Incase the Aprons are a Tad Rough,,,, That will Fix both sides. Or Check us out on Face Book, @ Maverick Comet Restoration , Click Join,,


Thank you Every one,, Appreciate Passing our Parts On,,,

Joe

 

Welcome from Northern California!

 

Welcome from Oregon. Lots of good parts there.....sure you dont need a hobby? If you get interested after its halfway parted out, you'll be sad.

 

Reply to "Stumanchu", I already have a 1963 Lincoln that is wanting some attention. I think that it is getting a little jealous as I have been spending time cleaning up the Maverick and inventorying the good and the bad.

At this point I am leaning towards selling the Maverick whole. When I am ready, I will post it first on this forum to give those who know and love Mavericks the first opportunity. Personal goal... before I sell it, I want to get the engine started. Today I found that the starter cable was missing insulation in a few places.....

 

I think it is a wise decision to sell it as a fixer upper especially since it is a Grabber as it seems that most people want 71-72 Grabbers and not clones. I have 2 Mavericks but still want a Grabber dont know why I guess I am just addicted to these cars. Somebody will buy it if the price is right and that is a hard thing to determine.

Good luck with the sale and try and list it here on this forum first as there are many people that frequent this site and appreciate these cars and have a clue as to how to repair them and access to parts needed