A Real Maverick

The 1960s are seen as a time of great strife in the USA. Any number of social and political issues were boiling up and being played out as a semi-revolution on our televisions. Driven by a new sense of freedom and fueled by music, this turbulent decade has become a symbol of change in this country.

Not only was Detroit embroiled in violence, they were also facing a number of threats from both the east and the west. Since the end of World War II the big auto makers had been turning out large, powerful machines that ruled the roads. But suddenly smaller cars coming from Europe and Japan were beginning to show up in driveways.

Ford had been rolling out their version of a compact car for much of the decade. The Falcon had seen a steady decline in sales as competition from foreign manufacturers and even another car from Ford's own stable lured potential buyers. The Mustang not only invaded the Falcon's potential buyers but it also showed that people not only wanted a small car but they wanted one that was sporty.

So for 1970 Ford replaced the Falcon with a new hybrid style car. The Maverick was considered a subcompact but had sporty features and the ability to show a little muscle. Most of the Mavericks (and the Mercury equivalent, the Comet) were two door coupes but a four door was also available but, for most people, lacked the sporty look of the two door. Ford never really intended these cars to be long term solutions. Plans were in the works to replace them in 1975. They lived a little longer.

Initially the car had either a 170 cubic inch Thriftpower inline six engine or the 200 cubic inch version of the same power plant. By mid-year, Ford realized the need for speed as the onset of muscle cars was showing high sales. To follow this trend they introduced a 250 cubic inch inline six. But they weren't done. A year later they upped the ante on this small, light car that weighed in at around 3000 pounds by dropping in a 302 V8. Now you were talking Mustang power.

The mix of light weight and power would have normally drawn in a sizable group of potential buyers. Unfortunately for Ford, those folks who favored this marque flocked to the Mustang and the Maverick wasn't able to pull buyers form other manufacturers. The car lasted through 1977 when it was replaced by the Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr.

I actually passed my drivers test in a Ford Maverick and drove it through much of high school (when I wasn't driving a VW Beetle) and into college. Mine came with the 200 cube straight six but I managed to find a used 302 V8 that I dropped into it. Of course that engine was "doctored" with a little bit and quite a few people were surprised by how quick it was off the line. The car had decent handling, not on par with the European sports cars of the day, but it could hug some curves if you were familiar enough with it.

That Maverick took a number of trips around the country. Mostly it went south to North Carolina and Florida but it traveled west to St. Louis and I took it up into Canada and northern Pennsylvania and into New York state. It was a fun car to drive and easy to keep rolling. So when I saw one at a show recently it brought back a lot of good memories. Oh, yes, the back seat was a lot better on a date than the Beetle.