Fords choice of Maverick as a name

[MayerMR]

My 2 cents, and personal opinion, as a "younger" buyer (36), but also someone who has been a car guy for my whole life, is that the Ranchero name would not have been well-received. Again, speaking for myself, I have never understood the appeal that the Ranchero and El Camino platforms seemed to have held for previous generations. I mean, maybe it's just something you had to live through for it to resonate with you, but I've always been confused as to why anyone would want to buy a 2/3 seat car with a truck bed and (sometimes) incredibly powerful engines? Not only that, but why choose that when there are more attractive car variants available or more capable truck options available? Honestly, I'd be willing to bet my truck's down payment that Ford's focus groups were asked whether they liked "Ranchero" as an option and that it flopped in a stupendous manner.

Ford was able to lure me from my love affair with Ram with the Maverick, and truthfully, some of the appeal of the truck isn't just the name, but what the name means and how it is an actual representation of a "maverick" in its departure from these modern day, enormous, overly expensive, and overly luxurious trucks. I find that I really like that the name is an embodiment of what this vehicle is in the truck market, and strange as it sounds, that did actually factor into my perception of the vehicle when I began to look into it. It wasn't the deciding factor, by any means, but I would say that it was enough to hook my attention long enough for me to go from, "hmm, that's an interesting take on a truck" to "I think I want to go see one in-person". And once I did, they had me.

And yes, yes, I know I ordered a Lariat Lux model while bemoaning overly luxurious trucks - it's still nice, but she isn't a Platinum or Laramie Longhorn...

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[JimA]

You are too kind. You give Ford Marketing too much credit. Is it ironic that one of the major selling points of the Maverick in 1970 was $1995; and today, $19,995. I think Marketing was lazy and figured that no one would remember the Maverick. If you were around in the 70's, how could you forget the Grabber Carwash?

I wonder what that car and girl would look like today

 

[ShadowChas]

My choice of name would have been FUTURA (which was the vehicle that made the original bat mobile) however I do appreciate the Maverick name but love the whole concept no matter what it is called.

 

[ITSATRUCK]

As a younger buyer I have no connection to the name Maverick other than the current offering. So I like the name. I do have a negative feeling about the name Ranchero. Don't know exactly where the negativity comes from but obviously there.

Ford nailed the name.

 

[FriarPop]

Because Ranchero sounds foreign and of poor build quality, and Maverick sounds badass like TopGun.

 

[CenTexMav]

Ultimately, Maverick is a perfect name for the truck. In college I drove half way across New Mexico with a girl that had a Maverick... it had a tiny gas tank and got terrible gas mileage. We coasted into gas stations more than once. I remember the Grabber version.. more sporty but too late to save the car. Most folks associate the name now with the TV series or Top Gun... This was a good time to revive the name and give it some life. This truck really matches the name. It will be interesting to see how it evolves. I'm sure Chevy and Ram have something in the wings. This will be a hard act for them to follow.

 

[Turtle]

Great thread.
I'm an old(er) guy of 50 now and the original Maverick brings back memories of early 70s crud cars, and smog-era gutless turds, so at first I didn't get using the Maverick name again.

My first car was a 67 Camaro, so 60s/very-early 70s cars are where it's at for me. Ranchero would've been a great name, as that was a beautiful looking vehicle. Buddy had an early 60s Ranchero with a Boss 302 engine in it that hauled.

But then I started to think about it more, and really the name doesn't matter much to me, it's what the vehicle can do. Hell, I drive a C-Max, one of the dumbest sounding names there is. I'm fine with Maverick, especially as others have said, it kinda goes against the grain. Could name it Yugo and I'd still buy one just because it's a nicely appointed smaller utility truck.




I would be all over something like this. Love me some 'wood' paneling. Here's the 88 Grand Wagoneer I'm putting back together in my garage now:

Sweet - have you checked out the new Grand Wagoneer - awesome.

 

[Tundra2Maverick(?)]

Ultimately, Maverick is a perfect name for the truck. In college I drove half way across New Mexico with a girl that had a Maverick... it had a tiny gas tank and got terrible gas mileage. We coasted into gas stations more than once. I remember the Grabber version.. more sporty but too late to save the car. Most folks associate the name now with the TV series or Top Gun... This was a good time to revive the name and give it some life. This truck really matches the name. It will be interesting to see how it evolves. I'm sure Chevy and Ram have something in the wings. This will be a hard act for them to follow.

Guess that tells my age! I never made the "Top Gun" connection! I just remembered the old car and Bret Maverick.

 

[MaverickPR]

Maverick is a fine name. It conveys the message that this unibody truck is going a different route than the traditional body on frame trucks. It's a legacy name, but at the same time, only really old old timers remember the Maverick cars so it doesn't carry any preconceived notions for most buyers.

i’m an old timer Maverick driving the new Ranchero! Hence, as you say, the name.

 

[DarkStormy]

Guess that tells my age! I never made the "Top Gun" connection! I just remembered the old car and Bret Maverick.

This is such a great pic of James garner, I may just have to shrink and print it to fit in the back of the little dash cubby, kinda like a Easter egg in a video game.

 

[DarkStormy]

While not a fan of the Maverick name at first, it's kind of grown on me. I don't think the Ranchero name would have gone over well at all.
One thing is for sure, we can all be thankful that Ford didn't decide to pull the Pinto name out of the dustbin of history!
My first car was a 75 pinto, with faded orange paint, and fake wood siding... It was like a dwarfish country squire.

 

[handelong86]

i likw the name maverick but i like the ranchero too that would have been cool, bringing back a classic name like that. i know maverick is also a classic car my step dad had one in the 70's

 

[Tundra2Maverick(?)]

This is such a great pic of James garner, I may just have to shrink and print it to fit in the back of the little dash cubby, kinda like a Easter egg in a video game.

3 eggs! These can be used as an age detection device.

 

[DucFae]

I was today years old when I realized that the original maverick had a bed to it. I thought they just wanted to re-brand the name, had no idea the car it originally came from was the Bajas of Ford.

 

[BlueSnake77]

Definition of Maverick: "an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party".

I guess that would fit comparing the unibody Maverick to the rest of Fords body on frame pickups. It stands apart in that regard.

Ranchero ...... Ugh. The Maverick has no more in common with the Ranchero than it does with the original Maverick sedan.
Courier ..... again, Ugh. Sounds old and musty to me. I don't know but when I hear the name courier I picture a British man in a derby carrying a leather case full of documents in an old 1950's secret agent movie.

Maverick is a good name.

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