Grabber & GT (Comet) prices and equipment

Discussion in 'General Maverick/Comet' started by MrGrabber, May 27, 2020.

  1. MrGrabber

    MrGrabber Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2017
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Location:
    WA
    Vehicle:
    1977 Pinto Cruisin Wagon
    I have been studying the two packages, and trying to find out what came standard and what option prices were.

    When Car and Driver reported on the 1970 1/2 Maverick Grabber, when it was just a package, they said it cost $194 and yet the GT package on the 1971 Comet was only $178.80. So what was the price of the Maverick Grabber in 1971 as a distinct model? I also can't find the price of the 302 V8 as a separate option.

    From what I can tell bucket seats were an option on Maverick Grabber, but standard on Comet GT. On either the D70 tires with 6 in wide rims were a separate option. From what I can tell even the Deluxe steering wheel was an option. It seems that what you did get standard with the Grabber or GT was a 14 in wheel with 6.45 -14 tires and trim rings. The only change from this seemed to be in the final 1975 model year when styled steel road wheels and white letter radials became standard.

    If anyone could help out with this it would be great, thanks.
     
  2. mvw66gt

    mvw66gt Member

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2005
    Messages:
    719
    Likes Received:
    90
    Trophy Points:
    163
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Arthurdale, West Virginia
    Vehicle:
    71 Comet GT
    Once I receive my books I’ll let you know for 1971. I’ve got both the Ford Car and Mercury Car salesman's pocket price list books coming. They detail each model and all base and optional equipment and their individual costs. I had one for 1963 that I had when I owned my 1963 Galaxie P code police interceptor. They are neat books if you can find them. - Matt
     
    MrGrabber likes this.
  3. RMiller

    RMiller My name is Rick

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2009
    Messages:
    4,124
    Likes Received:
    1,154
    Trophy Points:
    523
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Kennewick, WA
    Vehicle:
    1971 Maverick Grabber
    Love the EXP avatar, I wanted one of those in high school, they were a good looking econobox. What part of Washington are you in?
     
  4. MrGrabber

    MrGrabber Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2017
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Location:
    WA
    Vehicle:
    1977 Pinto Cruisin Wagon
    Thanks Matt, the magazines tend to list the price of a V8 starter coupe as one, and don't separate the 302's price. And articles on the Grabber and GT seem to assume items on the car are standard equipment, and I don't think that is always the case. I can imagine the bucket seats were standard on Comet GT, because Mercury was an upscale brand.

    The ads were so vague, no mention of what you got or prices. Given the high price of the 1970 1/2 Grabber pack it must have included Deluxe steering wheel and buckets, otherwise where did the money go? Then maybe in 1971-75 the Deluxe wheel and buckets became options on Grabber, but always std on Comet GT since it was higher class.

    I have always been interested in the EXP coupe, and would love to have the turbocharged one, but have never actually had an EXP sadly.

    Funny enough given my interest in cars, Coupeville, lol.
     
  5. RMiller

    RMiller My name is Rick

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2009
    Messages:
    4,124
    Likes Received:
    1,154
    Trophy Points:
    523
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Kennewick, WA
    Vehicle:
    1971 Maverick Grabber
    Seeing your avatar took me down a rabbit hole looking for one. Couldn't find a single EXP for sale! I imagine a more thorough search could turn something up though.

    Been through there once, we rode down to catch the ferry after leaving the Oyster Run back in 2011.
     
    MrGrabber likes this.
  6. mvw66gt

    mvw66gt Member

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2005
    Messages:
    719
    Likes Received:
    90
    Trophy Points:
    163
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Arthurdale, West Virginia
    Vehicle:
    71 Comet GT
    Speaking of EXP’s my cousin has one sitting at his house. his dad drove it up until2 yrs ago. It’s surprisingly not in that bad of shape. I thought about getting it from him, but parts are kind of scarce for those cars these days.
     
    RMiller likes this.
  7. MrGrabber

    MrGrabber Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2017
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Location:
    WA
    Vehicle:
    1977 Pinto Cruisin Wagon
    The EXP is another of those cars that you used to see around, but are now rare. Even though they said the styling was unusual back then, looking at the clip of a black Turbo EXP on MotorWeek it looks pretty sharp.

    MotorWeekEXP Turbo
     
  8. Craig Selvey

    Craig Selvey Indiana State Rep - MCCI

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2002
    Messages:
    18,218
    Likes Received:
    1,308
    Trophy Points:
    878
    Location:
    Albany, Indiana
    Vehicle:
    1972 Maverick Grabber - Color: Orange Also, 1976 Ford Maverick 4-door, 1977 Mercury Comet 2-door.
    A 1970 Ford Maverick Grabber never had bucket seats from the factory. NO 1970 Ford Maverick ever had bucket seats from the factory.

    Full details about the 1970 Ford Maverick Grabber can be found on my website (see below).
     
    BBMS18 and MrGrabber like this.
  9. BBMS18

    BBMS18 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2018
    Messages:
    890
    Likes Received:
    527
    Trophy Points:
    236
    Location:
    Grand Rapids, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    75 Comet
    16.9 second 1/4 mile:nailbiting:
     
  10. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2012
    Messages:
    7,561
    Likes Received:
    2,319
    Trophy Points:
    531
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Chesapeake VA
    Vehicle:
    1972 Comet GT clone 306 . 1969 Fairlane Cobra 428CJ 1988 T-Bird awaiting 331 ..
    Prices from 2nd printing(jan '71) 1971 price guide.

    Mentions green houndstooth vinyl roof & wheel lip mouldings are not available.

    Apparently Grabber had 200 std? It's mentioned in '71 Comet dealer album the GT had 170 std..

    1971maverickpricesnip.JPG
    1971maverickpricesnip2.JPG
     
  11. MrGrabber

    MrGrabber Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2017
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Location:
    WA
    Vehicle:
    1977 Pinto Cruisin Wagon
    Thanks Krazy Comet, you could really get beyond the initial 1969 $1,995 with those options.:D
     
  12. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2012
    Messages:
    7,561
    Likes Received:
    2,319
    Trophy Points:
    531
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Chesapeake VA
    Vehicle:
    1972 Comet GT clone 306 . 1969 Fairlane Cobra 428CJ 1988 T-Bird awaiting 331 ..
    For '69½ there were less than half the amount of options listed for '71. Only biggies were A/C & automatic.

    I have the introductory price list for '70 models(still $1995) but the '69½ listing(as '70) were in May '69 Armchair Estimator.
     
    MrGrabber likes this.
  13. RMiller

    RMiller My name is Rick

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2009
    Messages:
    4,124
    Likes Received:
    1,154
    Trophy Points:
    523
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Kennewick, WA
    Vehicle:
    1971 Maverick Grabber
    That's only 1.5 seconds slower than my 68 GTO in stock form, really wasn't a bad number for what and when it was.
     
    MrGrabber likes this.
  14. MrGrabber

    MrGrabber Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2017
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Location:
    WA
    Vehicle:
    1977 Pinto Cruisin Wagon
    In those days A/C on any car was very expensive, that's why so few had it, unless it came standard. That's why AMC made such a big song and dance about their std a/c on Ambassador.

    Yeah, I saw the Maverick 5 stewardesses TV commercial online, it said Maverick still only $1,995. They seemed to manage to hold that bait price until 1971 model year.

    Wow, from the '71 price guide it does seem the case Grabber came std with the 200 motor in 1971 and 1972, as a distinct model. By 1973 the 200 was std across the range anyway.
     
  15. MrGrabber

    MrGrabber Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2017
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Location:
    WA
    Vehicle:
    1977 Pinto Cruisin Wagon
    High 16s was what the 1971 Maverick V8 coupe could get, and Car and Driver got exactly 16.9 seconds when they tested the Firebird Trans Am W72 400 in 1977. I think MotorWeek’s SVO Mustang only did 15.9 seconds, so the little EXP was certainly spirited for the era.
     
    RMiller likes this.

Share This Page