First off let me say it's good to be back after a five year hiatus (so technically I'm kinda new again) and it's nice to see a lot of familiar names still around. During my away time I went back to college and got my BS and pretty much lost interest in doing a restoration. So, the other day I was out in the garage prepping my mavericks for sale when I got the bug again and did a complete 180. I've decided to keep at least one and maybe two...but I need a plan. I've got 4 neglected babies out there, each with it's own issues... 1974 primer black Grabber (built to its current condition by someone else) pros: has a solid C4, 8" rear, 302 engine and early grabber parts. Interior is so-so but has some interesting items (like a glove box). Wheels and tires are decent but not quite what I want. cons: this car is a shade tree restoration of a salvage yard rescue (no offense) and the black primer is hiding a boat load of issues...don't ask why I bought it. The current pics don't tell the whole story. The old owner gave me his build book so just imagine that car in those early pics below with black primer on it and you know what's going on here. 1970 champagne Mav pros: Not a lot. However, this is the car my folks bought when I was three and I inherited in high school. See my gallery pics for what it looked like in '94...before my dad drove it into a deer a couple years later. I have an emotional attachment to this car...this Mav drove the streets of Tokyo in the '70s when my family was stationed there! cons: The roof. Surprisingly the car is pretty sound except the roof rust...it'll need a new one (which I have). A lot of the orange in the pics is old adhesive from the vinyl top, but the darker areas are totally rusted through. The front end needs work obviously, but I have all the parts and I think the frame is straight. How would I check this BTW? 1971 white Mav pros: donor car, never intended as a restoration. It has the roof and front end I need. 1970 purple Mav pros: Excellent Grabber clone candidate using the parts from the '74. Minor surface rust Wyoming car with good cowls. I bought this car when I sobered up and looked at the '74 a bit harder. cons: One minor ding on the right quarter and a bit more than surface rust at the bottom of the trunk near the quarter panel drains...not too bad though. So here's what I'm thinking...move everything good and Grabbery from the '74 to the purple '70 and do a full-on restoration. Chop the roof off of the white '71 and pull the other parts I want, then store those with the champagne Mav until I can get to it. The white '70 and the black '74 would then go bye-bye so I can free up working space in the garage. Two things kinda bother me. First, it feels like a sin to take the parts off a real Grabber to turn the '70 Mav into one. I doubt the Grabber would find a buyer so it would be off to Maverick heaven. Second, I don't know if I have the time or money to restore two cars...but I just can't bear to let the champagne '70 go. Thoughts? What would you guys do? -Mike
I'd say that's a pretty good plan. I would take what I didn't use off the purple car and put it back on the primer black one, primer it black to match, drop in a six or other cheap powerplant and then sell it as a running, driving car. Much easier to sell a driver than a shell. Several on here have done the roof transplant thing. I'd strip the white car, keep anything needed, sell parts and body that you don't need. It will take you a little time to do that, but you'll end up with two cars, your Dad's old one, and your Grabber clone. Other than the serial number 99% of the folks would never know you didn't have a true Grabber. I won't tell, because mine is a clone, too!
back to the forum, Mike As long as you have the parts to restore your Dad's car, that is what I would consider doing. Keep the one that has the most sentimental family value and sell off the rest
Build the purple '70. People think that a "Grabber" is so special, but it was nothing more than a trim package. Grabbers were not "muscle cars", and were not equipped with any performance advantage over a regular Maverick, and a car with minimal rust is far more valuable than a car with lots of rust. I'd grab all the best parts from the 4 Mavericks and put them on the one with the least amount of rust or collision damage. I think you already know what to do.
P.S.: you can transfer enough of the "heart & soul" of your family's old Maverick over to one of the others to retain that sentimental value and vibe.
back to the forum, from another recent re-joiner! I would build your parent's 70 into a champagne coloured clone with all the "Grabbery" stuff. You have everything you need to build an awesome car or at least part-out or barter for the rest of pieces you don't have already. I think you've already made up your mind, so I hope it all works out for you. Whatever happens, don't let the champagne one go or you will have a whole garage full of regret
Thanks for the replies! @71gold - Always been a BSer...wish it didn't cost so much to make it official! @ford84stepside - Definitely the way I'm leaning. I had planned to swap the rear and wheels just so I could roll the black one out...hadn't thought about actually making it run with one of the 6s. I'll have to consider this...might get a little for it. They're both automatics so that'll make it even easier. @mav1970 & Crazy Larry - Up until last week I thought the champagne '70 was a goner but then I started lurking here again and found enough people swapping roofs to seriously consider it. Before that I was prepared to just salvage what I could from three of them and build the fourth (purple)...and like Larry said, put enough of the family car in the build to have a link. This one is going to take some thought. Just in case, how much of the pillars should be retained on the recipient car? Should it be mostly recipient with just a inch or two of donor, or vice versa? I've looked at the article and that job appeared almost 50/50 but folks seemed concerned that the heights weren't staggered or that the pillars hadn't been reinforced. In either case, if I chop the white top I'll take as much pillar as I can and trim later. I also have some odd chrome trim on the doors of the black '74 near the window wells...I'll take pics later. Like the wheel well trim, it may be from a comet. @Paul - That option crossed my mind when I was writing up my pros and cons. I could definitely re-sell the the purple car with no problem. I only have two concerns...is the frame really straight or did Bambi tweak it? Also, can I (and my buddies) do a good enough roof swap to leave it bare...vinyl on a grabber doesn't appeal to me. It's still a really good idea. I just need to talk to my welding friend. Maybe this is what Frank and Bob were suggesting too but I didn't pick up on it.
Best body & parts are keepers... Unless it's completely cut out 99% of the time rust is going to come back to haunt you... I'd swap goodies between the '74 & the '70 clone to be... As already mentioned, assuming you have a good 6cyl, I'd get the '74 driving again(It's the only one that is v8?) and find it a new home... Maybe would be a good idea to put the champagne & white Mavs in storage for a month or two(maybe outside with a cover)? You'd have plenty of extra space and could bust ass to get parts swapped, then decide if you really want to redo the champagne... From what I can see I'd guess all the damage is foward of the shock tower, could be cut from the white donor...
@Krazy Comet - Yep, all are 6cyl except the '74. Purple and black are auto, the other two are manual. I guess I can start on the '74...I know for sure what I'm doing there. I can also strip down the family car and get a better idea of any non-roof rust. Right now it looks like it could be as good as the purple if you factor out the roof. @Larry - I remember now, you're in the Springs. In fact I think you (or T.L.) know these cars from Widefield.
It was TL you talked to (wow, that was years ago!). I remember him telling me about you when you (or maybe your parents) lived in my general neighborhood. I'd forgotten about that until you mentioned it. I've seen roof replacement, and it's a big job. A lot of work. You're supposed to replace the skin, not the entire structure.
Yep, it has been years. My folks are still alive and living over at the same place. I hauled the white and champagne cars up to Denver when we bought a house with a detached garage...a few years too late unfortunately. If they'd just had some cover while they sat outside...oh well. I'm guessing most everyone is familiar with this Mercury Cougar video: http://rustyrotten.com/rusty-roof-replacement-1968-cougar/ Is it basically the same procedure for a Maverick? Not saying it would be easy, but it looks do-able.
Definitely do-able, but a big job, and it needs to be done by someone with experience if you want it to turn out right.
