Hello from Sunny SOCAL, where the sky is always "Grabber Blue"

Hello. New member from Chula Vista, a suburb of San Diego. Always liked Mavericks, finally bought one. When I moved here in 1996, neighbor down the street had 3 Mavericks parked in a row on the street: one orange, one yellow, one Grabber Blue. Over the years the first two got sold off, so I figured I better buy the Blue one before he sold it too.

Neighbor is a big-time Ford guy. This Mav is a 1970 he bought new, but over the years he "upgraded" it with a 250 I6, front disc brakes, floor shifter, and better bucket seats...and a big '74 front bumper (OK, I don't consider that an "upgrade", some day I will reverse that). Car runs strong, the 250 moves her along nicely. People at car shows love to chat about it.

I was a Mustang guy years ago. I miss those days when parts were super easy to find, not so much with Mavericks! But I do think the Maverick is what the Mustang should have stayed: small, lightweight, classy. Anyway, that's a whole 'nother conversation.

Looking forward to interacting with you folks, there is always work to be done!

 

Welcome from north east Illinois !

 

...

 

I'm kinda partial to Grabber Blue '70's.

 

Use to live in ChulaJuana 30 years ago down off Oxford and Broadway. Wasn't to bad then, but can't imagine now. Brother lived in Imperial Beach. Use to go to the junk yards out east of there. Could find some good stuff back then. all gone now.
So where's the pics?

 

Thanks. This is about the best I can do right now, she's in the garage with radiator out for repair. Bad interior shot, too. Recently replaced the decrepit original steering wheel with a Grant, which I think looks good, but the install has some issues: could not get horn wiring to work, no big deal, and it clicks when turning full circle...I don't know if it's the turn signal cam or the ignition switch steering wheel lock trying to engage. Also, the instrument cluster lens is badly glazed; apparently you have to disconnect the speedo cable in order to drop the cluster, anybody ever done that? Thanks again, more better pics soon.

 

Nice! I intend to clone this one to be much like yours, have a '94 roller block 5.0 on the stand for rebuild now, plan to put aluminum heads and a T5 behind it. For now, though, the 250 gets me down the road!

 

Nice, another Grabber Blue beauty! I see your a Ford man through and through. Me too, the Mav shares the driveway with a '55 Fairlane Club Sedan. The Mav is in my garage with the radiator out for repair, so the pic above is the best I can do at the moment.
Yeah, Chulajuana is definitely not the same as 30 years ago. I also moved here the first time in '87, Navy brought me out here. Glad for that, but now I can't wait to get back to the USA, some day soon I hope.

 

Actually, here's another pic I dredged up, Maverick and Fairlane cozied up in the driveway. Note the trailer hitch on the Mav, former/original owner used it to tow his Triumph motorbikes around.

 

What's in the garage under cover -- Looks like a Shoe Box? Mav. looks to be in pretty good shape.

 

You need to do a little more digging. I question whether the car is truly a "1970". Here's why:

1. Front bumper is for sure a 1974 (bumper bolt on outside edge)
2. Dash has a glove box with pull type parking brake.....Late 1973-1975 only
3. Looks like the metal dash matches the glove box on the outside lower corners....Late 1973-1977
4. Wiper switch is lighted.....1973-1977 only
5. Maverick emblems on side roof pillar....1973-1975
6. Arm rest style is Late 1973-1977 style

It is possible a lot of these things were changed......but it would require a LOT of work for some of them.

 

What Craig said , vin number will tell you for sure. Still nice bones to work with and love Grabber Blue

 

The quarter end caps are 74-up and rear bumper/ mounts Are 73. Nice, clean looking car.

 

Yes, it was, a '49 Tudor Sedan. Pretty much all original flathead V8. Had it for about 12 years, then finally realized it needed too much for my limited shop space, so, regretfully, sold it.