Need some help here guys... I drive a truck for TARGET and was on my way to a store near Omaha. I was filling in for a guy that normally has this route while he was on vacation. The original driver told me about a short cut on a side road that would save me about 15 minutes... I took the short cut and found a farm with about 25 or 30 old Ford laying around... 4 Mustangs, a few Fairlanes, a few Falcons and so on... On my way back I stopped and walked around with my mouth dragging in the weeds behind me... Near the center of the feild was a 71 Grabber with the v8 goodies under the hood, Grabber hood (with a little rust starting to peak through on the under side about 4 inches away from the latch area), bucket seats, 5 lug slotted wheels with center caps that had the Maverick logo on them. Bumpers can be saved and rechromed. One door has alot of rust, the other can be repaired with metal. Drivers floor board you can see through some near the gas peddle. Passengers side wasn't too bad. Rust near upper quarters near the back window and some down below. I couldn't get into the trunk. Missing about a third of all the chrome. Grill was still good. Front and rear valance is all good. Went to the nearest farmhouse and it was the owner. He said he still has the title to it and has two motors that he would sell with it as a package deal... one was a 89 5.0 out of a Mustang GT with 42,000 miles on it an I don't remember what the second motor was (it was not the original motor). I think he was just trying to clean out the barn by throwing in these two motors. Said he would take $1500 for all... by the time I left he was down to $1200 without me even asking if he would take less. What do you guys think? I want the bucket seats out of it. I think it could be a fixer upper for someone but, I'm not sure where you guys would normally draw the line as to much rust... "I've seen worse" so, to me it's questionable... Would it be a better parts car?
Auburn, I will take a stab at this. First thing I would have to say is a factory optioned V-8 Maverick with buckets is rarer than most in my opinion. I sure if the guy came down $300.00 without you asking then I would think you could get him to come down some more. It would be great if this car could be saved vs. being parted out. three areas that I would be concerned with would be the cowls, the torque boxes, and the floor pans. As you probably already know most parts and be replaced from donor cars. I would go back and somehow poor water down through the cowl vents and see if any water comes in etc., and then check out the torque boxes and floor pans real good. Then check and see if you can get a key to check out the trunk areas. Good luck and let us know how you make out. I am sure others will give you some feedback as well.
Thanks guys... I too had more in mind of it being a parts car but as I mentioned, I didn't know where you guys draw the line on a project or parts. I want to see where he's at for a final price. I asked my boss to put me on that run again for saturday... I'll know then where I stand. I think between the wheels, grabber hood and some misc. stuff, I should be close enough to having just enough in it for the seats... plus I already have a buddy who's into the 5.0 stuff and he'll take the motor off my hands for a few hundred. If all works out, I'll post some pictures and a list of what I can sell off of it.
There is no way I would pay that much for a car that's been sitting in a field rusting away. $500 tops. Again...my opinion.
I have to agree with Craig on this. I spend a lot of time in rural areas and the cars there left to pasture, and I cannot ever figure out why this is so common, are rarely worth the powder to blow them up. There are exceptions, however. Another thing I've experienced is a rural owner acting like the car(s) are like gold. It's amazing how often this happens. I've heard quite a few stories on this line. There's a guy near here that has two big bumper Mavs and a Torino. I stopped a while back to see if I can snag these and he wanted a mint for them. The saddest thing is that all three cars are far from unrestorable....yet. I was afraid to ask about the Torino. Haggle with the guy, but don't throw too much money at him. It too easily can be a losing proposition, even if it is a desirable car.
Let me ask you guys about the seats? They are the High Back Bucket seats... again, it's a 71. Would these be the same as 70 Bucket seats? I guess I was looking at spending at the most $700 or $750. ~I have the Mustang 5.0 motor that comes with it, sold to a buddy for $200 ~I would think the Grabber hood would be worth $200 or so??? (it does have a very small spot of rust about the size of a dime that you can see through. But VERY fixable) ~The factory wheels are the aluminum slots. They are in VERY good shape. Not a scratch anywhere. They actually impressed me... another $200??? I would still would have the V8 mounts, front and rear valance, both bumpers can be rechromed. I could take out the windsheild and rear window to keep aside. I'm looking at maybe breaking even while keeping the seats and rear spoiler. Let me know what a set of the seats would normally go for. I'm curious? And if they were in any other Ford models, like Mustang or Torino
If those wheels are the five lug slots with caps consider them sold. I'll takem for 200 bucks plus shipping
Those seats are NOT the same as '70, but should fit fine. They came out in '71 and were available in '71-'73 Mustangs and Mavericks/Comets. '70 offered only a bench seat. '70 Mustang bucket seats are different, but probably fit also...
I have a 70 mav with a inline 6 but i want something with more power. What would you recomend me doing.
Auburn I think you are on track, besides, if you want it buy it, most times farmer brown asks high price because he has been deluged with city slickers who think he is dumb as dirt and try to steal the stuff so they can line their pockets on a resale. It's called the wonderful world of business practices, IMO the guy owns the land and anything on it so if he elects to let it rust into the ground or ask a higher than normal price, just say thanks and walk away. There is a lot of stuff still out there to find, or tell him the truth as to your intensions and being midwesterners, I bet you can make a deal. There is a place here in Arkansaw! that has over 400 pre 60's cars of all types, owned by an elderly guy who spent many years acquiring them. Won't part with anything, just likes to stroll among them at times and remember the old days. Does not need the money so it's his way of hanging on to something he accomplished, I get upset because of it too, but have sat and talked to him about it, even had him let me take a part or two home because he and I had a good talk about things that he likes, not what I would like him to do with "His property" Stop by at the farm again and sit a spell with the gentleman, might be a learning experience, even if he still won't come down on the price. Have often paid more for something than it was worth on the market, but by god, it was worth it to me to get it. Nuff said.
i didn't see that this post was kicked up again. i passed on that maverick. and it is just that, a parts car. i want the seats so bad out of that car. the seats and the wheels are the best things on it. i just bought a new D**** Ram with that Hemi motor... I'd have to take the credit card just for the gas.
