Rarest Mavericks and Comets?

Except for competitive price comparing, I don't think anyone buying a Mav/Comet really wanted a 170, not avail with automatic sort of seals it's fate for popularity(A/C not avail with 170 either)... The 200 was only a $39 option, most would probably go for that deal, whether they were getting automatic and or A/C or not... The Mav with 170 was 2,175 in '71, that $39 pushed price over $2200, sounds like a lot more money(at least in '71).. I don't think dealers kept more than a couple price leader 170 in stock... The Hi/Lo automatic was avail with 170 in '70 but proved so unpopular it was discontinued in '71..

The only Stang to get 170 were the 64½(and 200 wasn't avail), true '65 got 200 as base engine... the 170 heyday was mostly in Falcon and early Bronco.. I believe the 200 replaced 170 in Bronco when the 302 replaced 289... Only optional engine for Bronco was the v8 over std 6cyl...

 

Interesting stuff. Yep, that Mustang was the '64 model.. '64 1/2..early '65 or whatever people like to call it. Those little engines are so small and meek feeling that you can barely even hear them running with such tiny pipes and restrictive factory muffler. Very rarely do I ever see or hear one without an aftermarket(non-OEM) style muffler these days.. so it's tough to reproduce what I remembered from back when my ears were still young and working correctly.

Makes me wonder if the exhaust system size was changed at all between the 170 and 200 equipped models?

Knowing Ford.. probably not. I would imagine that pipe diameters would surely have to grow a bit for the 250's higher mass-flow volume.

 

My grandpa was one who did not spend the $39. He regretted it and said it lacked power. So in '80 he bought a Ford Fairmont with the 200. Grandpa was always on the thrifty side.

Micah

 

Regardless of color, I do believe the rarest Mavericks were the 302 with 3 speed manual on the floor. My first Maverick (in HS) was a Grabber with that setup (Med. Blue Metallic / Gold) and I should have never sold it! I've never seen another with that combo in-person before or since in 35 years. Even after scouring wrecking yards in AZ in the late 80's early 90's they were not to be found. There were hundreds of wrecked Mavericks and Comets with 3spd/6-cyls, and hundreds of 302 C4's but never any 302/3 speeds to be found....

 

Ford already had the Mustang and I don't believe they needed something within their own company to compete with themselves hence the reason the best the Maverick/Comet got was a 302 single exhaust no 4 barrel and no 4 speeds

 

This Marti report says, for '72 there were 3009 302, 3 speed Comets built. If buyers wanted them, they would have been built. As stated most stick shift were 6cyl, buyers looking for best price, often did not want extra cost automatic.

I know someone that ordered a V8 Maverick as soon as they were introduced. To keep peace with wife, it was Automatic.

 

LOL, price for a '70 Boss 302 Mustang was $794 more than the Luxury Grande model with a 6cyl. I'd say it was rare to find a Maverick with $794 worth of options. Yes with A/C, it could be done, my Comet stickered for around $3600.

 

My 71 Comet that I owned in the early 1980s was a 302, 3 speed stick with a floor shifter, with a bench seat interior. No options except a radio and nice interior. The insets in the seats and door panels were odd too, multi-color Blue woven vinyl. Not sure that it was ComfortWeave because that material in Mustangs looked more uniform and single color than what was in that car.

It is a shame I don't have many pictures now. I would really like everyone to see that interior.

 

Scroll through this article to see the picture of the Boss 302 Maverick factory prototype. I'm guessing it is one of one, or maybe two. Probably went to the crusher.
Micah

Ford Mach 2 Concept