I was just wondering, aren't these the exact same 140 HP engines? Depending on the data source, the 73 Mustang with the base 302 did 0-60 in 8.8 seconds vs 9.7 seconds for the 302 Maverick. I would imagine the Mustang had a higher rear end ratio. Any thoughts?
Don't believe everything you see on net, no way a '73 Mustang with 302 had anything other than 2.79, 3.00 and maybe(doubtful) 3.25... Many of the listed ratios were not available in 8 or 9" rears. Maverick same with 2.79 & 3.00, I've never seen anything else. My '69 Fairlane has a 2.79, AC got 3.00 The 3.50(my Cobra), 3.91 etc were for performance engines. Because of weight advantage Mav should be quicker, stang time probably for 351. The '73 Motor's manual lists 135, 136, 137 & 138 Hp 302. No doubt all identical. Try this out for 0-60 times... https://www.automobile-catalog.com/...ext=3) in 1973, the model,h in 10.3 sec, from
Yeah I thought the Maverick 6 popper & 6 7/8" gear there was a 3.08 used. List is incorrect on many entries. I had a '70 Galaxie with 3.07 in the 8.5" rear, most don't even know what those are. Was basically early version of the 7.5"/8.8", no parts interchange with either.
All the 8-inch rears in Mavericks/Comets had either 2.79 ot 3.00. No exceptions. The early 7.25", C-clip rear had 3.08...
I had a 1972 Mustang Fastback. It had a 351c 2v in it. Nice car but run sluggish. Later I upgraded it to 4v and 4speed. There is no Maverick or Comet ever come factory with a 4v or even a 4 speed transmission. Now if you had the same engine, transmission and rear gears. The Maverick should win unless of course the driver doesn't know what he is doing. Why? The Maverick is lighter.
Because they wanted to sell Mustangs. The first 18 months of the Maverick sells, they out sold the Mustang's first 18 months on the market. Especially since Mavs/Comets where all over the drag strips once people found out how lite they were. My 72 Comet GT, 302, C-4, 8" bucket seats, weights in at 2775lbs. My 66 Stang, pretty much the same setup is 2900 lbs. 73 Stang was about 3350 lbs out the door.
Bogus-- Comet Was not introduced till the 1971 models. First two years 99.9% of Maverick buyers could have cared less about performance. That said, I have a friend who ordered a '71 maverick as soon as dealers were given green light to start taking orders. Was his daily driver, never modified or track raced it. First 18 months, Mustang sold 121,538, 64½ & 559,451 true '65, total 680,989. Maverick in its first 18 months sold 127,833 69½ & 451,081 true 1970, total 578,914. Before you start the happy dance over Mav selling more "½" models, note Mustang 64½ were built from March to August, Maverick '69½ from March to October. Or two additional months. Ford learned from Mustang Mania, only one plant was tooled for their build, expecting around 100,000 total. So many orders were taken, that by Aug started building at Jan Jose & by Feb '65 Metuchen NJ. Maverick started with two of Ford's larger plants tooled and ready to go.
"Comet Was not introduced till the 1971 models". Maybe you should have read his post before you start getting on your BOGUS high horse. It references 73 models. Gee last I knew, but then I'm not the "expert" you claim to be, 1973 was after 1971. Ford hated other models to out sell the Mustang, that is why Stang was only one to get the Boss 9 other then a few Cougars in 69. Another reason they didn't put Boss 302 into the Mav, because they knew it would hurt Stang sales. Then Ford hated that Mercury Cougars were beating them so they pulled race funding from them. When Prostock was started in 1970 you ddn't see Mutangs, rarely, Mavs and then Comets later on. People will always quote what you could "order" in a new car/truck. I know for a fact many dealership ordered HiPo parts for people when they ordered cars and put them on for them. Many you haven't heard of "dealer installed options"?
Ok, not to step on any toes. I had a 1972 Cougar convertible, this car came factory with a 351c 4v. It never lost a race. C6 transmission and the woman loved it. Really, what more could you ask for back in the day?
Really??? I did read it, you're babbling "since Mavericks & Comets were all over the dragstrips, 1st year Maverick were out selling 1st year Mustang". That's what I meant by bogus. What does dealer installed options have to do with discussion??? No one was having dealer install 4bbl, headers & dual exhaust on their '73 302 Stang. Maybe a few were sneaked on to Maverick. Due to emission compliance, by '73 it was illegal for dealers to install racing equipment on a street regestered car. On top of that, voided warranty. By '72 Fords racing parts were listed as "Off Highway". Parts dept would gladly sell the parts to allow customer do as they pleased, still voided warranty. Only reason the Boss 429 was in the Mustang was to make it legal for NASCAR. Prior to Bunkie Knudsen becoming president of Ford, it was going to be installed in Torino. Bunkie lasted around a year & half before being fired. There were a few Boss '9 installed in the stillbirthed '70 King Cobra Torino. About same number as Cougar. If you'd been running Ford, it'd long been bankrupt, the business is about selling all models produced, not glorifying Mustang. By the '70s selling cars wasn't about racing, Ford even pulled out of NASCAR.
Guess it never met up with my 428 Cobra Jet(yes I owned it in '73). A buddy had a '70 Mach I with strong 4bbl Cleveland(was hard into racing) it was lighter and had higher HP than your Cougar. Only way he could beat me was if I'd lose traction off the line & go up in smoke, from a roll, no contest. He wound up installing the Cleveland in a '70 Cougar. In our little contests that didn't work out well for him. Prior to the Mustang/Cougar he owned a 428 Torino GT, cam headers etc, I had no chance.
Ford has always been about glorifying the Mustang since it came out. That and proving a point on the race tracks everywhere. Old commonly known history there. They also put a Boss 9 in a Merc Cyclone GT. Just didn't want it to compete with the Stangs. Just as the "Twister" Torinos did against the Stangs in 70 when they made a small run of them.
Really, why do you think the Maverick V-8 The car wasn't about speed. It was about women. That car I would drive to the lake and within 10 minutes it would be full of women.
