Well, being 2 months behind where I want to be, here is where it stands. The car is getting ready for paint. After then, the front suspension parts go on. I changed some of what I intended to do to it. Now, it is going to be a full fledged K9 police cruiser rather than an unmarked. I found an NOS lightbar and rear seat cage from the '70s at a dealer I found in Cincinnati. The door graphics are on order. The era appropriate siren and radio are sitting here waiting for installation. I joined a national group call the Emergency Vehicle Owners & Operators Association. They are all guys who own various years and types of restored emergency vehicles. I am told nobody else that anyone knows owns a Maverick patrol cruiser and many had no idea that Ford even offered one, which they did. If all goes well, it'll be unveiled the weekend of October 14 in Fairfax at the group's East Coast event. Another first for our Mavs!!
Wes, sounds like a great idea!! Can't wait to see it, any chance you will bring both cars to the round-up next year?
Never mind I answered my own question after a visit to their site. Virgina. Take lotsa pics I love them old cruisers. The big body fords are my favorite followed by the big dodges .....
That'd be cool. We can video tape it and watch you "assume the position". Since it'll be a K9 car, I can let Jessie Lee take care of you. WOOF!! (For those of you that don't know, she is my german shepard) I doubt that I could bring both cars to the Roundup. Joy doesn't want to drive either of them so it'd be one or the other. Likely, it'll be the cruiser since I brought the Stallion this year.
Hey Wes, after you get the Mav and the Fury done. How about making the F-150 or the Bronco II into US Border Patrol vehicals? We could always use more law enforcement on the borders OH and I'm not worried about Jesse... I'll just make sure to have a tennis ball or stick handy
Very cool. I can't wait to see it. I was about to start working on the same idea a few months back, but I took on another project, so it'll have to wait. Someday I hope to do that. I've got the old radios, siren & stuff all waiting to go.
Here's a little info on Ford Maverick Police Package cars: Ford produced about 350 police package 1977 Mavericks. It may be one of Ford's most collectible and rarest police cars. The police package offered either the 250-ci, 1 bbl Six or the 302-ci, 2 bbl V-8. Both engines were mated to the cruise-o-matic trans. and 2.79:1 rear gear. The package included a heavy-duty suspension, certified speedometer, 61-amp alternator, 875 CCA battery, special body-to-frame reinforcements, extra heavy-duty seat fabric, extra capacity fuel tank, and extra capacity cooling system with three-core radiator and six-blade fan, and front disc brakes. It was used as a detective unit by NYPD, as a patrol car by the Fort Dix, NJ, Military Police and as a Highway Patrol cruiser by the Ontario Provincial Police. Complaints about the car as a police package were so numerous, mostly because of the car's light rear end, making handling poor on wet or snowy roads, that Ford halted production of the police version by mid-year. This info is from Ford Police Cars 1932-1997 by Edwin Sanow. I'd sure like to have one of them. Anyone have any photos of one?
Ford also had a problem competing with the Nova police package. GM offered a real performance and handling package inclusive of a small block screamer of a motor. We used the Novas here in Pittsburgh for a while and my partner ordered a 2 door version back in '78. It was an awesome performer for what it was. As much as I dislike GM, I have to give credit where it is due.
Some good news. It's going down to the body shop Monday. My friend who owns it is going to help with the remaining prep so it can hopefully have a better chance of being done on schedule. I found more Bondo than I believed it had on the back quarters so it needs more work than I originally anticipated.
