Gas Caps, Front Grills How to You Tell What Year?

My recently obtained :"77" Maverick was adv. and I bought it as "original". Now I am not disapointed in the purchase she is a very nice car but after sending some pics to some experts I was told that the "badge" on my front grill was only on ...... I believe a "72" Mav. (may be wrong on the year but definately not on a "77". That was ok with me but then I noticed I got two gas caps with the car. One with the "Long Horn" logo and the other which simply reads Maverick. I like the "Long Horn" but I am not sure what the right cap for the year is. So..............any web sites where you can see and compare the ....... let's say grill, gas cap, mirrors etc. to the year of the vehicle? Thanks.

 

That sure is a nice car! I dont think theres a website. But you can learn from just hanging around here.

I can tell you right off the bat that the fender badge is wrong. In 73 they moved it to the C pillar, by 77 they started to stop using badges as production was ceasing.

 

I realize that this forum is a wealth of information...but wait....this is some good stuff...you said the fender badge (Maverick) is wrong on my "77".....didn't quite folow you as to what it should be ..... little confused here....had a tuff day...

 

The fender badge is in the wrong location. On most of the later models the badge was moved to the pillar behind the windows my car came with the badge in that location as did many of the earlier cars

Here is an example of the badge on the pillar


But in all honesty I dont know when they made the switch, I have read somewhere that the switch was done in 73 but there are 73's with badges on the fender and 73's with badges on the pillar and I believe some later cars had either configurations too. For all we know it could vary plant by plant where they were located, but in all honesty I dont think anyone rightly knows.

 

I feel your pain. Sorry not gonna be much help, but I bought a 70 to find out it had a 72 grille.

 

I see, interesting. thanks.

 

Well., it really doesn't bother me, but it is interesting. I guess for the car being 34 years old throughout those years changes, improvements and whatever can happen. After sharing some of the talk with others on this forum I think I am going to go with the Bobcat taillights, so I will just be another changeing the car....

 

I had to go out and get the "original" Maverick brochure I recently picked up and take a look at it. It has a full page pic of a similar model as my "77", vinyl roof, pin stripe etc. No "badge" on the upper side....so I guess you are correct in saying possibly where they were made or even the dealers had something to do where the badges were placed. Also, my Mav. has the badge on the fender....one in the brochure doesn't....so..........Who Knows?

 

I DO!! I DO!! (holding my hand up frantically hoping the teacher calls on me)

Your 1977 Maverick should NOT say Maverick on the outside of the car anywhere. All 1976-1977 Mavericks have no identification on the outside at all saying Maverick. Not on the grill, not on the sides, not on the trunk, not anywhere. All they had on the front and rear were the letters F-O-R-D.

Somebody has added the emblems to the front fenders of your car as well as the grill. But if you like it...that is all that matters. I think it looks pretty good to me.

 

Thanks. Like I said I went out and got the brochure and it only shows a side view, but as you said....NO BADGES....can't see the gas cap good in the pic so not sure which is the one that it came with, the Long Horn loga cap or the cap that reads "Maverick".....either way, as you said I like the look. Also, the brochure shows the "Sport Mirrors", my Mav has the double small chrome type mirrors. Actually earlier this year spoke to The Maverick Connection and he felt the passanger mirror was an ordered mirror and actually a hard one to find....love finding out all this info, thanks again.

 

Yeah......the chrome mirror on the passenger door would not be a Maverick piece...like Chuck said from the Maverick Connection. Probably off another Ford....something that looks similar to what was on the driver's door.

 

He (Chuck) told me if I pick up a set of sport mirrors and remove the mirrors to look for a stamp on the bottom, actually forgot what he told me to look for but if I do I will contact him again. Ran across (not litterally) Chuck when I was putting together a 74 Merc. Comet. Living in Ohio I did the 200 plus mile drive down to West Virginia where Chuck was and picked up a trunk lid and some other parts....he has a very nice collection. While I was there I seen his "75" Mav., 4 dr. Gloss Black, 302, Interceptor stripes....for years I would think about buying it...then just this summer a friend of mine who actually rode with me when I picked up the trunk ended up buying Chucks Interceptor...beautiful car...

 

I wondered who ended up with Chuck's car. The new owner will have to get on here and give us some updates. I am curious what he will do with the car.



Here is a picture of Chuck's old car from the 11th Annual MCCI Roundup Nationals back in 2004. This was in front of the Texaco museum in Knightstown, IN. Unfortunately...it has now closed and everything is gone.

 

Well, here is the sad part about that sale. The buyer is a "Die Hard" Chevy guy. Use to have an engine rebuild shop, very good mechanic; has a 10 sec. Nova and built some nice cars. I believe he purchased Chucks Mav. simply to resale. Matter of fact him and I went to a few shows this summer and he has the "For Sale" sign on it....also he will be taking it to this years last swap meet in our area (Canfield, Ohio). I think (not sure) that he had a buyer when he bought it and that fell through. I was always talking up Chucks car and he would (the buyer) tell me to buy it, I didn't, He did. So, who knows where the car may end up, right now it is sitting in a garage in Girard, Ohio, next to a:
- 10 sec - Nova (74)
- 67 Camaro (being restored for the last 20 years or so)
- 66 Corvette (will never get done)
- 85 or someting Jaguar (350 swap)
I will keep you in touch

 

My Chilton Manual has a year identification chart, So I took a picture of it for you.