I read somewhere and maybe someone can back this up, but Ford's intention with the Maverick was to bridge the gap between the Pinto which was still on the drawing board and the larger less economical cars of the time. The Falcon was much larger in the 69-70 years and the Japanese and Germans were marketing tiny little econoboxes in the US market. The Maverick was supposed to be discontinued after 72 but sales were so good, they kept it going until stringent safety standards and tighter emissions did our favorite little car in. I'm going on memory here, so I can't guarantee how accurate this was. Seems like it was a Motortrend or Car and Driver article from the early 70's
I think Ford just needed to freshen up the very successful but old-looking Falcon line, and at the last minute some marketing types decided to change the name to Maverick. We've even seen pictures of early Maverick prototypes with Falcon badging. If you think about it, the Maverick squarely hit the segment where the Falcon was prior to '70. I think the Comet being the sister-car to both the old Falcon and the new Maverick supports that theory. Then for whatever reason they kept the Falcon name around a little longer but gave it to a completely different car. I think either they did that in case the Maverick was a flop, so the Falcon wasn't entirely discontinued and they could hold on to some name recognition for a popular car, or they just did it to further distance the Maverick from the Falcon. ("NO this isn't just the same old Falcon in a new skin, no it's nothing like the Falcon, see? The Falcon's over there! That car! See? Nothing alike!")
History of the Maverick I bought a 2008 Collectible Car magazine that had a great feature with lots of history on the Maverick, how it came about, etc.. Check out this link and use your computer skills to be able to read the whole story: http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=71682
I've got the paperwork, showing that the "Maverick" was originally designed as the 70 Falcon in 1968. The market was changing, and they simply changed the name and launched another model. Also, when the Pinto was designed, it was called "Special Maverick" Simple stuff still happens today. I've also read, that the designers were told to build an ugly/cheap car, and they did. Collectible Automoblie, has a few items of information that are wrong, I'll have to read mine again.
There's no doubt the point of the life-cycle the Falcon was in played a huge role in the Maverick coming about. That's bolstered by how many parts that were lower than "waist high" could be used on either car. Plain and simple, people get tired of the same old cars. The Falcon was boxy, didn't look sporty at all when compared to what GM and Dodge were doing and competing with a red-hot Mustang on the same showroom floor. Collector Car sites competing with VW several times--they (VW) were starting to gain enough market share in the US to put the big three on notice. Bugs got great gas mileage, were small and a relatively simple vehicle (when compared to typical American cars of the day). The early Maverick missed on all three. So I don't know if the VW references are based on any real evidence. I'd also tend to think the Mustang honcho's knew the Ghia Mustang was on the way. (Maybe not as early as 69.5) but definitely once the "oil crisis" hit. Not many people (especially Mustang people) know that Maverick outsold the Mustangs during those Ghia years. So why did it come about.......just a part of the great circle of life. Hakuna Matatah
Yea, Mustang guys don't like it when you mention that the Maverick outsold the Mustang those years. I'll have to go back and check some info, but they were pretty close the Mavericks' first years out too.
I think its true that VW was doing well and Ford and GM wanted to fight for market share. In the day my sister had two VW Bugs and my friends dad had one. They were well liked. We also made a dune buggy out of a VW. Back then GM had the Nova and you could order a SS396! AMC had a Gremlin X with a V8 option. Ford needed the Maverick for market share and and an entry lever car. Most Novas were 307V8, some a 350 but if you saw that SS in your mirrors, you knew not to look! As for Mustang II in '74, someone at Ford knew something because when the gas crisis came I believe they sold more Mustangs than ever before. If you needed room for the kids the 4 door Maverick looked good to!
Fighting the VW with a Maverick is a lot like Fighting a hamburger shop with a deli-sandwich store. Two completely different groups of folks and completely different menus, tastes and bills. I never have liked fast-food and I do like my Mavericks. By the way - VW won - look at the prices for old bugs and transporters compared to Mavericks.
The Big 4 (American Motors being the fourth for you who are too young to remember) were battling the Volkswagen in the late 50's. This is how the Falcon, Corvair and Valiant got on the drawing board. The 69-70 Falcon is the same size as a 66 Falcon.
