I may have found my Maverick

So a friend of mine works with a guy that has a "Nice '73 Grabber Maverick". I get his number and talk to him about it. I'm told it's a '73 Grabber, solid floors, with only a little rust in the usual spot behind the rear tire in the quarter, and it needs interior work but it's not terrible. The drivers seat bracket is broken and needs replaced, and he took the carpet out to make it a street/strip car he says. Original 302 car with 289 heads and a .512 cam. He said it runs real hard. Now let me remind you this is his description of the car. It's Grabber red with a black stripe that runs along the bottom of the car, and black interior. Black vinyl top that he said could be replaced. Also has the Aluminium slots on it, I thought it'd be fitting haha.

I'm stoked, I set up a time to go down and look at it. As soon as he opens the garage my heart sinks. Passenger side door needs repaired, as it looks like somthing ran down the side of it. No torn metal, just a long sunken in dent. Rear quarters, well, since you can't get patch panels, need replaced. Interior, haha, well needs a dash pad, headliner, carpet, front seats need re-done, rears are okay, and probably a package tray. The hood is just a run of the mill hood since it's a '73, and there is a great big ding right in front in all the bends where it starts to get pointy on the nose, so that'll take some work to get out, or a new hood all together. The motor doesn't run! He started to switch it from points to electronic, and I noticed and OLD MSD box, and he said now there isn't spark. Floors do seem good since there is no carpet and I could see it all haha. That vinyl top, yeah, it's half off and needs to come all the way off now, either replaced, or left off and re-painted.

He was asking 2500 for it, and I thought this was a little steep, since now the car doesn't even run. Well he's moving to the west coast here in a few weeks and needs it gone. I think I'm gonna put in an offer in the neighborhood of half of what he's asking, since I think that's fair, and he's motivated to sell. Wish me luck, I hope I'm trailoring home a Grabber in the next week or so.

 

Perhaps it looks better in person? ... sounds like a $500 car to me ...

 

I agree...$500.

I paid $600 for mine and could have driven it home, if I would have tweaked the carb a little.

Unless your description is skewed toward the negatives...

 

This may be, there really isn't a Maverick market around here for me to gauge this off of either. Positives are all the glass is there, floors and trunk are great, front fenders solid, top is solid (no rust under vinyl) shock towers and everything are straight and solid, and bumpers just need re-finished. I do appreciate the input though, and will run it by him. If you guys could give me a few more examples of what you paid for what condition I'd really appreciate it.

I will also have pics up tonight too.

 

If you want it and you can afford it....then get it!!!
Sounds a little high to/for me.....but I am not you and it might be exactly what you have been waiting for!


(Worse case, :evilsmile by it for what you want/can....then lie to everyone about the price )

 

thats no kidding, they are few and far between around here. getting a solid body is the hardest part in this area. I went to the southern tip of misery to get my last one, trailered it back. total price was $350. had a great interior, and very solid body. personally I wouldnt give more than $600 for what your describing.

good luck on your search/ or purchase.

 

Haha I don't mind waiting for the right car, this is the first one around here I've seen for sale that's already a V8 car that isn't rusted in half. The only rust is really the rear quarters. Again, I'll take pics, post 'em up, and wait for input. I hate it when guys as questions on forums then go opposite of what the general concensus is, so I really want your input and thoughts. I've priced out all the interior parts, and may go with FOX body high back seats for cheap too. I've priced rear quarters, and I work for an auto parts store so I can get paint for a good deal. Also a friend of mine owns a body shop so he'll help me out on that end. None the less, I want your guys' input, that's why the post is here!

 

for $2500 there's been some pretty niice cars on ebay. look at the on just bought off of craigslist for $1500. if the guy needs to leave i'd offer him $500 TOPS. i bought a running sprint less than a year ago for $800. and a running 73 for $550.

 

Yeah, but you guys need to realize the market is not the same everywhere. The more cars available in that area, the cheaper they get. I agree, $2500 is way to much but if the cars are hard to find in that area, I would say it should bring somewhere between $1000-$1500 with $1500 being on the generous side. Pictures would help a lot here. You definitely can't compare it to the 71 Grabber that just sold for $1500 thru Craiglist. I would have paid $3-4 grand for that car in a heartbeat...that guy just got the deal of the century and we may never see another deal like that. Just remember, anything bought off eBay is likely to cost a good bit just to have shipped, especially with gas prices as they are. Anyway, good luck whichever way you go and keep us posted. Hope we've been of some help.

 

sounds like you have to invest time and money in that car and depends on your actuall goals are and intentions!! a running car is the way to go or a near perfect boby if the powertrain is shot but in this case you will be spending money on both issues !! take
500.00 USD in cash and a tow truck on standby. if the deal does not fall tru, take your money and run!! come back later and make another offer but do not give in untill you have a deal you can live with!! if mavericks are few in your area, so will be parts availlability!! it's up to you!! take a mechanic and fire it up!! also check for hack jobs done.

 

I'm not taking anything down other than my camera this time. He has to leave in I think two weeks so I'm gonna let him sit on it as long as possible. This isn't my first rodeo buying hot rods, but I wouldn't say I'm a pro as of yet.

Again, keep the input coming, I've had an idea what I'm going to offer, but after I get the pics up, and some more input from you guys (awsome replys btw) I will have the green in hand.


You guys have been VERY helpfull, and I really do appreciate it. When I get done with this thing it will be one evil ride. :evilsmile

Also, what is this Craigslist?

Thanks again,
Dustin

 

www.craigslist.com
It's a classified ads site.
Check it out, i just went on for the first time like last week, been on every day now!

 

Read this thread...this is the car we were referring to. This guy got an awesome deal!!!
http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=24410&highlight=grabber

 

Man that was a steal!

I see the Craigslist is a California classifieds area, but a nice place to look.

Thanks again fellas

 

They have a seperate classified for every area of the country ...

Go to http://www.craigslist.com ...