1976 Maverick No Recalls!

[MavStangVa]

Oh the memories. My wife had one back in the day. I loved the levi's interior but hated the car. Sold it within 6 months after we married. For those not around in that era, here's a pic of the seats i found online

And people complain about the poor storage in the Maverick center console

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[Lone Ridr]

To finish the story on my 70 Chevelle SS 396. Cris and I were traveling east on 66. Sitting at the light at the intersection of 61, Cris asked how fast will this thing go? I turned north toward Boonville saying "Lets find out." After about 3/4 a mile, Cris yelled "How fast are we going?" I glanced down at the dash and replied "I don't know." He said "Why?". I said "Look at the dash." He leaned over to take a look and crossed his legs onto the bucket seat. The speedo and tach needles were pointing straight down at the floor, the wind and exhaust noise were deafening. I shouted "Why are your legs under your ass?" He said to avoid the flywheel if it comes up through the floor. I thought about it and pulled my left leg under me, keeping my right foot floored on the gas pedal. The road made a slight bend to the right and I turned into it. The wind caused the left front wheel to lift off the ground and the body of the car was flexing upward an to the right. I quickly let off the gas to avoid a rollover. The front end slammed down hard on the concrete. The oil light flickered for an instant and the engine was knocking. I cooked the number 6 rod bearing due to the oil rushing forward in the crankcase, allowing the oil pump momentarily to suck air. I pulled over to the trouble lane and shut it off. Cris and I got out laughing so hard tears were streaming down. How fast were we going? IMO, Faster than any late model street Maverick truck can go. I was 28 years old. Around 3 years later, I was demoing an Iron Head Harley I had for sale. The Harley went air-born on a small hill while I was doing 90. The would-be buyer pushed me forward onto the tank when the bike landed 60-70 feet further down the road. I turned my head yelling for him to scoot back as I let off the throttle so I could regain my seat. I never saw or heard from him after he left my driveway.
Fortunately, I have lived long enough to develop a little common sense. I don't abuse the Maverick. I treat it well.

 

[Steve W]

Had a 1976 4door Maverick for 12 years and 217k, but it was the biggest money pit ever. What a poorly made piece of crap. But fun to drive.

 

[MaverickDragon]

Later additions deserve their own "Fond wrecks of yester years" thread.

 

[Cherokee]

And people complain about the poor storage in the Maverick center console

Yeah back in the day we grew up to be men. We left the toys behind, no need for storage cubbies.
Gun in the glove box, with some reloads.
Bottle of whisky under the passenger seat.
I kept $500 cash stashed deep in he trunk.
That’s about it.

 

[babytruk]

Oh the memories. My wife had one back in the day. I loved the levi's interior but hated the car. Sold it within 6 months after we married. For those not around in that era, here's a pic of the seats i found online

They were not the “stone washed” or “pre-washed” modern jeans. They were classic dungarees. You needed to break them in.

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

Ran across this by accident. Pretty nice vehicle, but no more room in my shop! Meridian Idaho, not far from me. If this is posted in the wrong place, admin, just send it where it needs to be, thanks.

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If You change the bumpers to the small 70-71 bumpers and recover the seats, it would be much nicer.

 

[Tom 71 Maverick 24]

Woah, that's a real gem. And with a 302, a very buildable engine.

I hate to even think of how rough my 71 Maverick was in comparison. Rustbucket.

 

[Blue_Max]

Woah, that's a real gem. And with a 302, a very buildable engine.

I hate to even think of how rough my 71 Maverick was in comparison. Rustbucket.

A very low-compression 302. You won't really add much power unless you change to higher-compression pistons.

 

[Suzukiridr14]

Had a 1976 4door Maverick for 12 years and 217k, but it was the biggest money pit ever. What a poorly made piece of crap. But fun to drive.

Money pit? I guess you never owned a BMW, or Jaguar. You would have ran out of money before you hit 100K with either one.

 

[Joester]

The main reason I generally stuck with Mopar back in the day was because the parts were cheaper. :XD

FWIW I did the Dukes of Hazard jump in my 1969 Cuda. On a paved road.
A raised rail road crossing was our launch ramp.

In the air I looked out the side window and directly next to me was a transformer can on a power pole.
The chassis under the engine scooped out some asphalt when it hit.
The hood rippled,
Glass broke,
Not drivable after that.
3 AM, woke up every one down the street.
We took off running and reported it stolen.

I retired or caused so many guardian angels to quit I didn’t get any more after I turned twenty.

It totaled the car but hey making memories was worth it.
I had two buddies in the car with me,
The guy in the back seat screamed like a little girl.
We never let him live that down.
He’d walk into a bar or a party and we’d all scream like school girls.
F A F

I did the same in a 73 Ranchero. Broke the frame on both sides just under the firewall. Used a come-a-long from the front bumper to the back underneath to ratchet it up to "drivability" and drove it home.

 

[Joester]

A very low-compression 302. You won't really add much power unless you change to higher-compression pistons.

...and with very little machining you can mount 302 Cleveland heads and start out around 400HP.

 

[Blue_Max]

...and with very little machining you can mount 302 Cleveland heads and start out around 400HP.

Do you have a good source for Cleveland heads?

 

[Kenv24]

Here’s my dad in his new ‘72 Comet. I drove it my senior year in ‘83. 302 V8 sleeper. This was a little rocket. Puke Yellow.

 

[Joester]

Do you have a good source for Cleveland heads?

Years ago, yes. Now, not so much.
But the Internet makes things easier to find.

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