Ford Maverick (United States)

ford
Ford Maverick Coupe (1969)
Maverick
Production period:	1969-1977
Class :	Middle class
Body versions :	Limousine , coupe
Engines:	Petrol engines : 2.8-4.9 liters (54-104 kW)
Length:	4557-4925 mm
Width:	1791 mm
Height:	1344 mm
Wheelbase :	2615-2790 mm
Empty weight :	1092-1383 kg
Previous model	Ford Falcon
successor	Ford Fairmont

The Ford Maverick is a compact class automobile . It was manufactured by Ford from 1969 to 1977 in the United States, Canada and Mexico for the North American market. A largely identical version for the South American market was produced in Brazil from 1973 to 1979.

A Ford Maverick was offered under the same name in Europe, a compact SUV from spring 1993 to mid-2007.

North American version

In the model range, the Maverick was positioned between the small Ford Pinto (which came out a little later) and the mid-range Ford Torino . The name Maverick in English generally means an outsider or price breaker .

Model development

Initially, the Maverick was only available as a two-door hatchback coupé with in-line six-cylinders with a displacement of 2.8 or 3.3 liters; in the summer of 1970 a 4.1-liter straight-six was added. Initially there was only one version of the model, from early summer 1970 also in a sporty version called the Maverick Grabber with decorative stripes and rear spoiler. The grabber version was omitted in the last two model years.

For the 1971 model year, a four-door sedan with an extended wheelbase was added to the coupé. At the same time, the Maverick could now also be ordered with a 4.9-liter V8.

In the 1972 model year, Ford also offered the Maverick with a Sprint package; This had a special red-white-blue paintwork and a matching interior. In the summer of 1972, a luxury package was added to the range that included sports seats with adjustable backrests and synthetic leather covers, carpeting, wooden foil on the dashboard, radial tires, chrome hubcaps and a vinyl roof .

From 1973 to 1975 there were minor changes to the Maverick every year. In 1973 the 2.8-liter was dropped, making the 3.3-liter the basic drive, the brakes were also improved and the chrome grille, which was previously subject to a surcharge, was now standard. New extras were stereo radio and aluminum rims. In accordance with the new legal safety regulations, the Maverick received a stronger front bumper. From model year 1974 a safety bumper was also installed at the rear. In 1975 only detailed changes were made to the Maverick, for example the Maverick logos on the bonnet and trunk lid were replaced by Ford logos.

For 1976 the Grabber dropped out of the program and was replaced by the Maverick Stallion with special paintwork and sporty equipment; the Stallion package was also available for the Pinto and Ford Mustang II. The Maverick received a new grille and standard front disc brakes; the parking brake was no longer operated by a lever under the dashboard, but by a pedal.

1977 was the final year for the Maverick in North America. A special police version was introduced, but only sold just under 400 times.

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  Ford Maverick Sedan (1973)

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  Rear view

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  inner space

production

As early as 1975, the Maverick was to be replaced by the newly presented Ford Granada , with which it shares a number of technical components. However, as the demand for compact cars rose sharply as a result of the oil crisis, Ford kept the Maverick in its range for three years alongside the Granada. For the 1978 model year, the Maverick was finally replaced by the Ford Fairmont , which - like numerous later mid-range models from the group - was based on Ford's new Fox platform.

Ford Maverick production figures
Model year	Fastback two-door	Sedan four-door	total
1970	578.914	-	578.914
1971	198,689	73.208	271,897
1972	181.278	73,686	254.964
1973	281.293	110,382	484,512
1974	163,320	137,728	301.048
1975	99.168	63,404	162,572
1976	60,611	79,076	139,687
1977	40,086	58,420	92.506
total	1,603,359	595.904	2,199,263

Derivatives

In the model years 1971 to 1977, Ford's sister brand Mercury offered its own version of the compact car under the name Comet . The vehicles were largely identical technically and externally. The most noticeable distinguishing feature was the radiator cowling: while the Ford Maverick had a straight, simple grill, the Comet had a protruding grill with a modified bonnet, which took up the style of the Knudsen grill, which was at times cultivated at Ford. The Comet did not reach the production numbers of the cheaper Maverick. In seven model years, only 487,182 Comets were built, which was less than a quarter of Maverick production.

Production in Brazil

A Brazilian maverick

From June 1973, the Maverick was also produced in Brazil in hardly changed form, where it was supposed to compete with mid-range cars such as the Chevrolet Opala .

However, the Maverick struggled in Brazil, especially after gasoline prices rose as a result of the oil crisis - the Maverick was not an economical car. In April 1979 its production was finally stopped after it was slowly selling.

Before the market launch, Ford Brazil presented three models to a select group of 1,300 people for assessment, the British Ford Cortina , the Maverick and the German Ford Taunus , which the plant itself considered ideally suited for Brazil. However, the preparatory measures for the production of the Taunus would have been very time-consuming and would have dragged on until 1975; But since Ford urgently needed a mid-range model, the decision was made to instead produce the technically undemanding Maverick, in which one could also use the existing Willys Overland engine, a company that Ford Brazil bought in 1967. That decision saved Ford an estimated $ 70 million.

In order to bring the aging three-liter low-compression six-cylinder under the hood of the Maverick, some technical changes were necessary. In addition, the Maverick was available with the 4.9-liter V8 imported from the USA.

The Maverick family initially consisted of the base model Super, the Super Luxo (SL) and the GT. Super and SL were available as a coupe and four-door. The GT represented the top model and was equipped with the V8, which developed 195 gross or 137 net hp.

In 1975 front disc brakes became standard, plus there was a new entry-level engine, a 2.3 liter four-cylinder with 97 hp; the Willys three-liter was dropped. At the same time, the front seat bench and steering wheel gearshift on all models were replaced by individual seats and a center shift lever.

In 1977 the chassis, radiator grille, seats and rear lights were revised and the GT received air scoops on the bonnet. Air conditioning and automatic transmission were available for both the four and eight-cylinder versions.

By April 1979, 108,106 Mavericks had been produced in Brazil (85,654 coupés, 11,879 four-door and 10,573 GT).

Web links

Commons : Ford Maverick  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Information from Langworth: Encyclopedia of American Cars 1930–1980, pp. 329 ff. And 463 ff.
2. ↑ Including Grabber and Stallion versions.