I have lurked on this site for several years. I figure it is about time to a much needed restoration on my old Maverick. I plan to spend a bit more time on the site and post some questions in order to get the old girl where I want her. Therefore, I think it is time to introduce myself and my car. The details about me are rather boring. So, we will limit it to that I reside in Reno, NV. The car on the other hand is a bit more interesting. In 1971, my grandparents decided they needed a new car. So, they purchased a nice red Maverick from the dealer. Grandpa was a bit on the cheap side, so he got the 170 cid, three on the tree base model. When I say base model, I mean it: bench seat, no carpet, no radio, manual steering and no cigarette lighter. After picking her up from the dealer, they drove home to Yellowkinfe HWT, Canada. This is up in the Arctic Circle (think Ice Road Truckers). She spent some time up in Yellowkinfe, then Edmonton, Alberta and then a bit of time on Vancouver Island, BC. In 1981, I was 15 and got the Maverick as my first car. She had 36,000 miles and was in perfect shape except for the beginnings of rust in the rear quarters. One of the first things I did was to convert her to an automatic and make some attempt to repair the rust holes in the quarters. I drove her for several years until a youthful indiscretion caused me to wrap her around a pole. In the back yard she sat for a few years while I spent a couple years in the Navy. Upon my return, I got the hammer and chisel out and removed the hood, core support and center cross member. Back then, I just ordered the new parts from the dealer. I got her back on the road but it was not long until I kicked off a piece of ice on the rear wheel well and the lower quarter panel fell off. It was time to make a decision on saving her, again. Someone had also ran into the back of her one night when I was cruising downtown Reno. So, I cut out the lower quarters and the rear tail panel. I ordered the new panel and grafted new quarters from a donor. The whole car got a paint job and looked pretty good. The interior was redone and I got carpets installed. In 1990, I upgraded the 170 to a 250. In 1997, after some damage to the paint, it was time for a new paint job, Viper red with a little gold pearl in the clear. I managed to get a Grabber hood for $50 from a junkyard located between two whore houses outside Carson City, NV. (Last year, I got another Grabber hood from the same place, believe it or not, it cost me another $50! I was there just to visit the junk yard). I also got a rear spoiler from a Spirit Maverick. In 1998, my car was on the cover of the Auto Krafter’s Maverick-Comet catalogue (see avatar). The grandparents were surprised to see their old car on the cover. Since then, the Maverick took a back seat while I completed a ground up restoration on my 1963 Jaguar Mark X: http://www.jag-lovers.org/snaps/snap_view.php3?id=1227497181 Now the old girl has gotten a bit tired. Some idiot ran a shopping cart into her passenger door, the garage door hit the rear spoiler, the bench seat is tired, the 250 has 100k on it, the drum brakes scare me in traffic, the trans leaks like a sieve. In fact she is just plain tired with 210,000 miles. For the past 13 years I had a company car to drive to and from work. The Jag sits in the garage because I’m afraid to drive it. All this time, I consider the Maverick to be my daily driver. Now, what to do? This is how I see it. The engine, trans, front suspension, rear suspension and interior have to go. There are some mirror rust areas that need to be looked at again. With that, I’m leaning to a rotisserie restoration. This is the plan: 1) Disk brake conversion. (Just got ’74 rear and ’75 disks on Friday) 2) FI 302 – 385 to 400 hp. 3) Overdrive automatic. 4) Bucket seats from a ’72 Comet redone in black leather. (Have) 5) Original center consol. (Have with NOS clock) 6) Original floor shifter (Just got Friday) 7) Repaint to original color, red, with Grabber stripes. I will be looking for some answers to a few questions, especially the engine and trans upgrade. I appreciate everyone’s assistance. Thanks, Micah http://www.jag-lovers.org/snaps/snap_view.php3?id=991188502
Welcome aboard. What a great story. It is so cool after all these years, you still have that car. We love rotisserie restorations on here. Well, at least I do. It is hard to drive them after all that work, but it is still fun. Looking forward to your progress.
Welcome to the site as a member! Sounds like a great project. My Mav has been in the family since '69
Welcome to ...you have been here for over a year not sure welcome is correct. Love the back story, kinda wish I visited junk yards between whore houses... 100 bucks for 2 grabber hoods!!!
I got a good laugh that you felt you needed to mention that. Welcome ... I am pretty sure I have that catalog here somewhere. I like the plans for the car, and the fact that you have hung onto it so long. I am in my 20th year of owning my current Comet (the green one below). Had a Jag myself, in the early 80s ... a 1976 XJ12L ... best thing about that particular car was a Chevy V8 swap, and that wasn't done that well. The ex-wife just HAD to have it .... I was very happy to let her KEEP it too (I got the other two cars)... I like Jags, but that car was trouble .... suited her well.
