Rarest Mavericks and Comets?

Hi guys. I searched and didn't see much other than talk about Sprints and 75' Grabbers. Aside from the elusive Shelby Maverick(which strangely looks more like a Comet), I'm guessing Bearcat's and Stabber's would surely be ultra-rare these days. Kinda interesting info for any collector types, maybe it could be made into a sticky?

Anyways.. was hoping some of the quick learners or longer term Maverick and Comet veterans would chime in about the rarest engine/trim/color combo's anyone has ever seen?

Just caught wind of my "late-mailed" Marti Report's personalized stat's showing only 36 Red Tweed vinyl tops being installed on 71' Comet GT models. Only 1 member around here ever recalled seeing a Red Tweed topped 1971 Comet GT but it didn't have a red interior like this one does.

Haven't hardly ever seen any Comet's, GT or otherwise, much less any Maverick Grabber's with Red Vinyl tops and they might be even rarer yet. Any input, speculative or otherwise, is much appreciated.

 

I am building this one right now..... http://www.maverick.to/grabber/MaviGT.html
http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/memb...0352740575/1970-01_HR_Maverick_Hop_Up_1-3.pdf

 

Well out of 1165 black 1971 Comet GT's only 248 had black bucket seats and black vinyl tops according to my Marti report. I would say that's fairly rare, but maybe not necessarily valuable. - Matt

 

Add Stallion to the list.

 

year right.. forgot about the Stallions too.

I bet this yellow GT with white top and matching interior was another pretty rare combo too.

http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/...Mercury_Comet_GT_lime_sVr_mx__zps240e3043.jpg

I can easily imagine not many ordered every potential option on the list to end up with triple color combos. Seen a few and would think that triple black could have been at least mildly popular for anyone wanting the vinyl top option.. but triple red and triple white I have not yet seen.

 

My 77 is a triple black car. Haven't ever looked into it's rarity, but I'd imagine they weren't too common. Don't know if there were a lot of black cars made other than the stallions.

 

I was told my 75 comet gt was the least produced year of all years as far as extra trim codes to make it even rarer I dont know but its orange on black. out of 20+ mavericks and comets this is the first orange one Ive owned and only the third original orange maverick or comet Ive seen in person and one was repainted so I dont know if it was originally orange

 

Problem(maybe advantage?) with these cars is there were no real performance options available and visual package or odd combos without the power to back it up not going to generate big $$$ interest... Sure woulda been nice if there had been a 4 bbl, 4speed, dual exhaust option... But then these cars would be in Nova and Dart territory, even the 6cyl flavors have interest as it's easy to install a big inch small block or even big block in those chassis...

 

Have you guys seen many others post pictures of their Marti reports around here?.. or maybe at least layed out those numbers in various threads?

It would seem to be a potentially helpful and valuable resource for all those future Comet and Maverick owners to pool from. Maybe something kinda like Paul's VIN# compilation thread.. but more towards tying those VIN's together with actual production numbers for various combo's. Basically.. a "Marti Report" statistics thread, so to speak.

I would certainly agree the cars market valuation is lower than it should be because Ford was stupidly trusting their bean counters to design cars, especially for some of the really nice restomod's out there(which more and more people are doing these days). But it's only a matter of time before that changes as more get abandoned, wrecked, parted, and scrapped away and these cars become rarer and rarer. And as the rare ones get hoarded and more popular models get built/restored, prices will continue to climb.. and inevitably the bottom of the market gets lifted in valuation as well. Then add to that more beginner hobbyists will build on the platform due to affordability and its lighter weight.. true survivors and pure-stock restorations will diminish in numbers.. and all the most extreme purists out there will have gained value for their cars in the process.

IMO, the ones who will really kick-start the market on these cars is greater aftermarket reproduction of those hard to find and expensive original parts. Dynacorn's new grabber hood is just the beginning. The professional builders also have a lot to do with this cars public image as well. Might be a while.. but mark my words here.. eventually you'll see one of these forsaken little cars at one of the big shows with a Carbon Fiber wide-body kit simply because the typical Camaro and Mustang has been done every which way to death and back. Or maybe one day Foose will decide to shake things up even more than his latest Riddler Corvette/Impala marriage did and retrofit one of these bodies onto a Ferrari or something exotic. Hey.. I always wanted a rear engine'd old Ford.. so don't squash my dreams. lol

 

The 1972 grabber I started with was 1of 7 per the Marti report. It has to do with the paint and trim code.

 

I think we'll forgive you "ruining" such a "rare" car... LOL

 

Wish they would have had a Boss 302 option

 

Not me.. cause then I wouldn't have been able to find as solid car such as this one which I could actually afford.

Plus, a boss powered Comet or Grabber would have EASILY kicked the boss 351's.. AND 429's.. and ALL the scj's proverbial asses to become highly desirable from a performance standpoint alone. Can you imagine the numbers such a car could have been running back then in fully prepped, even factory backed, Superstock classes?

I'd guess solid 11's in hot weather even running up in the mountains. lol

 

I think more like 13's, based on the state of hardware and tune the Boss 302 Mustang's had. In NHRA B/SM trim, they were somewhat quicker.

 

This is my first "toy car" in 25 years. I have never had a Ford V-8. I didnt set out to buy a Maverick/Comet, Mostly wanted something pre 1975 so I could modify without emission testing. But, I wound up with someones unfinished V-8 swap Comet. I am amazed that I can get parts at U-pull-it....maybe from a Granada, but 40 year old parts non the less. I am amazed at the weight (small) for a car this size. I always thought the styling was good on these, but I didnt fully appreciate it until I bought one. Honestly, I have not even driven one yet. LoL, I hope I like it after all.

So.....If I want to paint this car orange, what is the correct orange to use? My car is beyond "restoration" and am just doing what I want to it. I think you are right groberts101, these cars are a bit overlooked and undervalued. They are discount muscle cars, and the more they roll around the more attention they will get.