Finally got My MART REPORT!

Yea id like to cruise by Burch Ford next time im in LOS ANGLES

 

I worked for Goodyear in 1980. They had their Polysteel Radials in use for a few years before I got there, likely four, which would mean they started around 1976 with them. There may have been earlier radials, too, but the public was just warming up to them in this period of time.

Firestone was in a similar state of growth in radial tires at that time.

So it is possible that radials were available on the big bumper years.

I had an original tire for a spare for my white Comet back then and that was a tiny bias-ply numerical size tire with tractor ribs by the corners.

 

OK .. I'm at work and have the magazine ... here is what it says:

Optional equipment on two 1972 Fords, the Pinto and the Maverick, is new technology from Firestone: steel-belted radial tires, their first OEM use in the States.

They have two publicity shots one of a Pinto and one of a Maverick Grabber. Although the article says 1972 the Photo is of a hippy chick leaning up against a 1971 Grabber in the desert with a bunch of guys riding dirt-bikes in the background.

 

I bet she's hot.

 

My mom bought a 74 Maverick new and it came with Bias Ply tires. She bought a new 78 Fairmont Futura and it came with Radials. The Fairmont had a blowout on the highway during the dealer transfer.

 

if you have the only one with NOX emission equipment, then you definetely have a rare car. and i am not sure, but sounds to me like it would be a collectors car, if in fact it is the only car to have the NOX emission equipment.

 

That is cool. My '72 had the NOX emissions system, and some sort of exterior decore group, and white wall tires according to the history report from Ford. Wish the car was worth it enough to get a Marti Report. It's a Los Angeles car, also.

 

My Grabber is an LA car ... and also was a 200/C4 and also had NOX ...

 

But did it have bucket seats or floor shift?

I don't think that is what they are saying. I believe they are saying that of the 5 cars optioned exactly like his, his is the only one that had NOX. Not that it's the only '71 Grabber that had it, period. There are probably many '71 Mavericks that had it.

 

Nope ... mine had Bench and Column ... I was trying to find a corellation between the 200 engine and being sold in California as to why it had NOX emmission.

 

What exactly was NOX ??? different carberator? for emissions???

 

Actually Ford's first use of standard equipment radials was on the 1970 T-Bird. There were long lengthy discussions with the Michelin company about costs until one of the Michelin guys handed Ford a sheet with a price that was only $5 dollars a tire more than Ford's cost for bias plys. In some years (1975 for instance) radials were standard on Mavericks and Pinto's, but I do know for a fact that bias belted were standard equipment in 1976. Ford was trying to keep price increases in check and so went back to cheaper tires after 1975. Radials were of course still an option. I have here in front of me a sheet from the 1976 Ford dealer book that says:

"This is to advise you that suggested retail prices of Ford Divisions 1976 model passenger cars and light trucks sold in the United States (except for the Courier)
will be increased for vehicles released for shipment on or after January 5th 1976.

Price increases for cars and trucks are necessary at this time to recover increased costs for labor and materials including new goverment mandated safety equipment.
In the three model years preceding 1976, costs of more than $350 a vehicle have not been recovered with price increases. Further, our 1976 model price increase at introduction time recovered only about 60% of expected 1976 model cost increases, and even with this latest increase, we will not recover all of our 1976 costs."


There are attached two sheets showing that the "Following equipment which was previously standard will be optional in 1976" and sure enough, on Maverick/Comet 2dr/4dr models that change was listed as "Radial Tires". Radials were also dropped from the standard equipment lists of Custom 500, Custom 500 Ranch Wagon, and the Mustang II 2dr coupe and fastback.

The sheet also shows that the average price increase for the base vehicles will be 2.3% (an average of $95) and option prices would increase about 1.6%.

 

What they meant by the Firestone quote was that it was Firestones first OEM use in the United States, Before that all radials Ford bought were from the Michelin company.