Why is my 4door like this?

has anyone else ever encountered a car with a grabber grille from the factory, on a non-grabber car? well that's the case with my 1973 4door. its all original with 68,000 miles and was originally owned by my grandfather. when we passed it was left to me, along with all documentation with the car down to the warranty plate and the salesman card who actually sold the car when it was new. anyways, i just noticed that every other 73-75 maverick has the grey grille except for grabbers which has the black grille. well, my 4door has a factory black grille and i thought it was kinda unusual and different all at the same time. not to mention that the headlight rings are grey in color and not black. can anyone shine some insight on my odd-ball?

http://ford-maverick.tripod.com/id11.html see for yourself

 

If the headlight doors are grey...then so should the grill be...as they always matched each other. I would say:

1. Grill was changed at some time in it's life.

2. Grill was damaged at the dealership and replaced before you grandad bought it.

3. Wrong grill installed at factory.

 

well it's one of a kind! kinda neat thinking it might have been another Ford goof up, but i have thought about putting the correct grille and lights in it.

 

I'm going with Craigs Option 1 .....

Black Grills also came from the factory with blacked out grill light surrounds .. yours are silver ... no way it left the factory like that ... another clue is the silver headlight bezels ...

Either it has been replaced or painted ...... do you have any original pictures of the car in 1973? Perhaps your Grandfather saw the black grill on a Grabber and ordered one or painted it?

 

It may have been built on monday or late friday night at the assembly plant

However....
Craig and Dan are likely right. They know all that production/package stuff most of us don't even pick up on.

 

My 75 came with a black grille
Black headlight rings too.
Wasn't a Grabber.

 

there was only one picture of the car, back in 74 but havent seen it since he passed away...about 6 yrs now. best i can remember it has always had the black grille. i know that since i have been big enough to remember, it's always been black and never changed. sure wish he was around to ask i believe that it was changed at the dealership for some reason. maybe damaged upon ariival or something. i see alot of DOA (damage on arrival) everyday at the dealership i work at. but a person would think that they would have at least changed the headlight surrounds. well since the headlights surrounds are grey and these cars are suppose to have grey grilles, anyone else think i should swap it out? im open to opinions!

 

Brent Mulvaneys 76 and mine have different grilles, both cars purchased new by us. I ordered mine early in model year. Dont know bout Brent. Interesting.
Dan

 

yep i seen more then enough mavericks non Grabber with Black trim rings and grills... but they all seemed to be post 74 ones.

 

I think you should. I put a Grabber grille on my '72 before changeing the headlight surrounds and it didn't look right at all with the gray head light surrounds.

If you decide to swap it, I would be VERY intrested in that black grille if it isn't broke or anything.

 

my black grille is perfect. well, it's never been off the car or anything so i know it's not damaged in any way. there might be one crack on the top of it where it mount to the hood latch support. if i decide to sell, ill let you know Jamie

 

I have a Gray grill I can trade you for it if your interested. I can bring it to Round up if your going to be there. Let me know,
Thanks
Jerryfow2

 

Hmm...I know of a all original '72 Grabber that has a black headlight bezels, black grill light surrounds, and a grey grill with leading chrome. Who knows, maybe the grill has been changed on this car, but the interesting thing is all the factory retainers hold the grill on (the rivets).

 

I Have Plenty Of Grilles That I Can Swap Out, But Thanks For The Offer. Rando, The Black Grille In My 4door Still Have The Rivets In It As Well.

 

If a dealer swapped the grill they would have used factory rivets. Heck ... I used the factory rivets when I installed the grill on my Grabber during restoration ... They may have even come with a grill back in the day if you could have ordered them from the dealer ...