Where did all the Comets and Mavericks Go?

Discussion in 'General Maverick/Comet' started by coutangman, Feb 11, 2017.

  1. coutangman

    coutangman Member

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    I read a recent thread that eluded to the vanishing number of our cars and members. It got me thinking, where did they go? So, tell us stories about your cars and why you don't own them today.

    Jim
     
  2. Powerband

    Powerband Member

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    ---- 1976 Comet --- 1974 Maverick- - '61 Comet T'Bolt Six ---- 'quite a few projects ...
    Often asked "what is that thing - Camaro., Firebird, Barracuda?" ;

    "NO. It's a Ford Maverick , if you ever owned one, you know why there are very- very few around intact ..."

    I own two early 60's Ford compact cars I used drivetrains from dissolved 70's Mavericks. Always felt that the Maverick body was Ford's achievement to get rid of almost anything steel not essential to getting them off of the dealers lot. The early 60's Fal/Com/Stangs are actually heavier than the mid 70's Mav's.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    have fun
     
  3. coutangman

    coutangman Member

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    Here's my story. In 2004, I purchased a 1972 Mustang Sprint Sport roof like the one I special ordered back in 1972. My goal was to have all 3 Sprints, including the Maverick and Pinto. In 2006, I found a relatively rust free Maverick Sprint in Ga and towed it home. Having the Sprint Maverick inspired me to acquire a red 1972 Comet GT complete with a 4 door LDO Comet parts car and a 1971 Grabber from the same person in Ga. 3 road trips. Later, in 2008, an opportunity came up to buy a Pinto Sprint, so the Grabber went to a local fellow, Ken, who I had become friends with through a purchase of parts from the LDO car. The LDO car went to several members here and finally to the junkyard. Later, I got the opportunity to buy a gold Comet GT and drove to Greenville, SC to purchase it along with a boat load of parts. After surveying it, I decided it was too big a project for my abilities, took the engine out, and sold the car to my friend, Ken. He later sold the body to someone else locally. When I decide to make the move to NC from Fl, I sold the Maverick Sprint to my buddy, Ken to move it to finish, which he is slowly doing. Ken helped me put the gold Comet GT engine, along with a 4 spd in the red Comet GT and I towed it to NC, where it resides now. This next week, I hope to finally get it running and moving under it's own power and finish my long journey of the car projects. We'll see.

    Jim
     
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  4. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    Except for '74 with 250/three on tree & a '75 four door with 250/automatic Mavericks, prior to my Comet I've never owned one of these cars... Both of those were bought to "flip", didn't stay around long...
     
  5. yellow75

    yellow75 MCCI Oregon State Rep Supporting Member

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    For me it all started back in 2002 when I was building a 61 Falcon for drag racing, money was tight and the wife told me that I was going to have to find a way to pay for the parts I needed for the build. One day a friend ask me if I could help him get a Maverick that he got for free as I had access to a trailer so I helped him get it home it was a Sprint that was not in good shape. He ended up parting it out and made a few dollars and I thought to myself that was an easy way to make some bucks.

    Now after going through craigslist and seeing several Mavericks and Comets listed the search was on, actually about that time I joined this site and did some reading and up popped a free car in the Seattle area that someone here posted so after contacting the owner I made the trip. The car was a 69 1/2 and the person was the original owner nothing wrong with it body wise just wouldnt start, it came with some yardage of original material to replace the backseat top. I didnt feel right getting the car for free so I gave them $100.00. Got the car home and all it needed was a set of points. I ended up selling it to a person just a few miles from where I got it from for $500.00.

    From that purchase things got interesting as my friend was now in competition in the search for Mavericks I used to joke with him that he could have all the big bumper cars, he also had another friend that was into Mavericks and Comets but he was into making them road worthy again so now there were three of us scouring the countryside. I put an ad on craigslist wanting Mavericks or Comets and was immediately hit with several cars at that time I deemed most of them parts cars as that was the best way to make money from them. I did this as a business and kept track of each car, price paid, parts sold and how much was made on the part, expenses for gas, food and lodging were deducted and paid back to the bank (wife) the only thing I did not keep track of was the vin and now kick myself in the butt for not doing. At that time all the parts were sold on ebay

    Well wouldnt you know it after so many cars I had parted I decided that I wanted one so the search was on for a keeper of which there were several but each time I found a keeper another one popped up that I liked better the first one was a yellow75 Grabber hence my screen name, then to a 70 Maverick,then a 72 Grabber and then another 72 Grabber then a nice 75 Grabber that was a rare paint code of black and white and one more 72 Grabber that I kept until my current car the 72 plain Jane Maverick.

    In the end between the three of us that were collecting the cars ended up with well over 100 cars, when I look back I feel ashamed of myself for destroying so many cars that many of which were in better shape than a lot of cars I see for sale today and for not keeping some of the best parts for myself. Thats my story and yes I am an addict and still look for them everyday but not to part out but to help others in their quest of cars or parts
     
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  6. coutangman

    coutangman Member

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    One thing I can say about Mike's parts. They are as advertised and fairly priced. And you always win the long distance award for Gatherings. Truly one of the great ambassadors of Mavericks and Comets.


    Jim
     
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  7. Hotrock

    Hotrock Rick, an MCCI Member Supporting Member

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    Owners and cars come and go on this site. As far as the owners, they seem to have lost interest, changed e-mail address and therefore no longer receive activity notifications, sold their cars or just moved on in life.

    But what has happened to their cars?

    There have been many outstanding examples of our cars displayed on this website never to be seen again unless some member of this site remembers a thread and resurrects the car for a brief period. The supercharged V6 owned by an automotive mechanic and posted by Frank is a great example! I would love to see and read more about that beautifully engineered Maverick conversion.

    Hear it run through the following link second page:

    http://mmb.maverick.to/threads/supercharged-v6-maverick.91327/

    The owners have moved on; but where are their cars?

    Just another reason to post your car in the Garage.
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2017
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  8. mavgrab302

    mavgrab302 MCCI Florida State Rep

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    My maverick life started back in 1978. I wreaked my 68 Pontiac Catalina and got a insurance draft that I could not cash, so I found a car dealer in Sarasota,Fl. willing to take the draft. He gave me two choices to pick from. A old 60 something ford van or a 71 maverick grabber, I chose the grabber. It was a 200 six with three on the tree Dark green with a black bench seat interior. I loved that car and drove it for years. Fast forward to 1981 I moved to Ocala,Fl. and while my car was parked at the apartment it was hit so hard by a drunk driver that it was totaled. It was 1999 before I got another one, a 1974 grabber factory v8 automatic bench seat dark green/green interior. It was very rusty but I didn't care I drove it all the time up until I met my now friend Jim and bought his 71 grabber so he could make room for the Sprint Pinto. I stuck it in the garage and Jim and I pulled the 302/c4 out of my rusty 74 on Thanksgiving morning 2008. I am still driving the 71 today and have upgraded it along the way. When Jim moved to NC. I bought his 72 Sprint maverick and it now sits in the garage waiting its turn. Maverick Life gets in the blood for sure...
     
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  9. coutangman

    coutangman Member

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    And, as Paul Harvey used to say" Here's the rest of the story". Friends and cars, it's what we do !


    Jim
     
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  10. groberts101

    groberts101 Member

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    Cool story. Brings back many fond memories of wrenching and bench-racing with friends and family around the holidays.

    Car passion is like sex.. intertwines with and eventually becomes part of a true car enthusiasts life 24/7/365. No names here, but I've heard "car passion" is how some folks even came into existence in the first place. And also that many people often dream about both simultaneously too. :biglaugh:
     

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