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Photo of a Ford Maverick

Ford Maverick

The $1,995 import fighter that got a 302 V8 for 1971.12

Researched November 9, 2026 from 24 sources

Also called

  • Simple MachineA sales pitch to import-minded buyers, centered on easy purchase, ownership and running.3

At a glance

0150300
100–210 hpPower
012.525
6.5–21 s0–100 km/h
0125250
150–205 km/hTop speed
07501,500
1,134–1,366 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.356

Engine
170/200/250ci I6, 302ci Windsor V8; Brazil: 2.3L four/3.0L six; Mexico: 289ci V8367
Layout
Front engine, RWD; 2-/4-door wheelbase: 2,616/2,791 mm3
Gearbox
3-speed manual or C4 automatic; Brazil GT: 4-speed manual346
Built at
Claycomo, US; Talbotville, Canada; São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil; other plants3
Units built
2.1 million in North America; about 100,000 in Brazil26

The story

Ford's $1,995 answer to imported small cars arrived in April 1969. It kept costs down with Falcon and Mustang hardware, then wrapped it in a two-door fastback body with a long hood and short deck.123

1969: $1,995 debut on April 1719691970: 578,914 sales and the first Grabber19701971: Four doors and a 210-hp 30219711972: Sprint and Luxury Decor Option arrive19721973: Brazil picks Maverick over Taunus19731974: Oil crisis earns a production reprieve19741976: Stallion replaces Grabber19761977: North America's final model year19771979: Brazilian production ends1979 Ford Falcon (first generation): 1960–1963Aero-Willys / Itamaraty (Brazil): 1960–1971Ford Falcon (second generation): 1964–1965Ford Maverick: 1969–1979Ford Fairmont: From 1978Ford Fairmont 1960197019801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones2361213
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1960–1963Ford Falcon (first generation)
1960–1971Aero-Willys / Itamaraty (Brazil)
1964–1965Ford Falcon (second generation)
1969–1979Ford Maverick
From 1978Ford Fairmont
1969$1,995 debut on April 17
1970578,914 sales and the first Grabber
1971Four doors and a 210-hp 302
1972Sprint and Luxury Decor Option arrive
1973Brazil picks Maverick over Taunus
1974Oil crisis earns a production reprieve
1976Stallion replaces Grabber
1977North America's final model year
1979Brazilian production ends
  1. 1969

    $1,995 debut on April 17

    Ford times the 1970 model's launch to the Mustang's fifth birthday, with a $1,995 base price aimed at import buyers.13

  2. 1970

    578,914 sales and the first Grabber

    The Maverick records 578,914 sales in 1970. The $179 Grabber appearance package adds stripes, larger wheels and tires, and a blacked-out grille.34

  3. 1971

    Four doors and a 210-hp 302

    A four-door joins as the optional 302 V8 brings 210 hp. Grabber becomes a distinct model; Ford builds 73,208 four-doors for 1971.234

  4. 1972

    Sprint and Luxury Decor Option arrive

    Sprint marks the 1972 Olympics. The spring's Luxury Decor Option adds a vinyl roof, reclining vinyl bucket seats and woodgrain dash trim.35

  5. 1973

    Brazil picks Maverick over Taunus

    Brazil launches the Maverick on June 20 after research favored the Taunus; access to the inherited Willys six helped sway Ford.6

  6. 1974

    Oil crisis earns a production reprieve

    Four-door output reaches 137,728 as the 1973 gas crisis lifts demand. Ford cancels the planned 1974 retirement and moves Granada upmarket.23

  7. 1976

    Stallion replaces Grabber

    The Stallion package takes over after Grabber's 1975 finale. Front disc brakes become standard, and the Luxury Decor Option is dropped.34

  8. 1977

    North America's final model year

    The last North American model year closes a run of 2.1 million cars; the Fairmont takes over for 1978.23

  9. 1979

    Brazilian production ends

    Brazilian production ends, with approximately 100,000 Mavericks built locally.6

Every generation

  • Ford Falcon (first generation)
    Ford Falcon (first generation)1960–1963
  • Aero-Willys / Itamaraty (Brazil)
    Aero-Willys / Itamaraty (Brazil)1960–1971
  • Ford Falcon (second generation)
    Ford Falcon (second generation)1964–1965
  • Ford Maverick
    Ford Maverick1969–1979
  • Ford Fairmont
    Ford FairmontFrom 1978

Power over the years

From 105 hp to 210 hp in 1 year.

0100200300 19701972 hp 1970 · 105 hp · 170 six-cylinder1970 · 120 hp · 200 six-cylinder1971 · 100 hp · 170 six-cylinder1971 · 115 hp · 200 six-cylinder1971 · 145 hp · 250 six-cylinder1971 · 210 hp · 302 V8 option 210 hp 302 V8 option 105 hp 170 six-cylinder
25
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
1970105170 six-cylinder
1970120200 six-cylinder
1971100170 six-cylinder
1971115200 six-cylinder
1971145250 six-cylinder
1971210302 V8 option

Versions

10 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Special

    Interior Decor Group

    1973

  • Special

    Luxury Decor Option

  • Special

    LDO (Brazil)

  • Grabber

    Special

    Grabber

    1970–1975

  • GT V8 (Brazil)

    Performance

    GT V8 (Brazil)

  • Special

    GT 2.3 (Brazil)

  • Sprint

    Special

    Sprint

    1972

  • Special

    Stallion

    1976

  • Quadrijet (Brazil)

    Racing

    Quadrijet (Brazil)

  • Special

    Shelby de México demonstrator

    1972

How to spot one

Look for

  • Two-door cars have a fastback roof, a long hood and a short rear deck.3
  • Look for the Longhorn-head fender badge; Brazilian versions omit the horns.36
  • The factory fuel cap sits centrally between the taillights.1011
  • Two-door rear quarter windows pop outward; front doors lack small vent windows.3
  • Four-door sedans keep a roof profile similar to the coupe's.3

Year by year

  1. 1969 production

    Early builds have a dash-mounted ignition and partial horn ring; cars built after September 1, 1969 move the key to the steering column.3

  2. 1973–1974

    The front bumper grows for 1973; the rear follows for 1974, giving later cars bulkier bumpers at both ends.23

  3. December 1973

    Early dashboards have an open shelf beneath them; a glovebox was added in December 1973.3

  4. 1975

    FORD lettering appears on both the hood and trunk lid.3

  5. 1976

    A center divider splits the redesigned grille.3

  6. 1977 (Brazil)

    Brazilian cars gain a new grille and taillights; the GT adds two dummy hood scoops.6

Don’t confuse it with

  • Photo of a Ford Maverick
    Maverick
    Photo of a Mercury Comet
    Mercury Comet

    Mercury Comet

    Look for the Comet's different grille and hood, plus four separate taillight pods; most of its body is shared.3

Against its rivals

  • Plymouth Valiant (1971)

    Maverick vs Plymouth Valiant (1971)

    Base price lower is better

    Maverick$2,234
    Plymouth Valiant (1971)$2,392
    14
  • AMC Hornet (1971)

    Maverick vs AMC Hornet (1971)

    Base price lower is better

    Maverick$2,234
    AMC Hornet (1971)$2,234
    14
  • Chevrolet Nova (1971)

    Maverick vs Chevrolet Nova (1971)

    Base price lower is better

    Maverick$2,234
    Chevrolet Nova (1971)$2,405
    14

Prices

Price when newAuction sale
$0$5K$10K$15K$20K 197019801990200020102020 1970 · $1,995 · US base two-door 1970 · $1,995 · US base price, 1970 model year 2004 · $2,800 · 1972, restored; father-to-son sale, Private sale2022 · $13,500 · 1976 Stallion 302 V8, 82,935 miles, Auction2023 · $5,400 · 1977 250ci inline-six, 38k miles shown (TMU), BaT2026 · $18,250 · 1970 302ci V8 swap, 57k miles shown (TMU), BaT $18.3K BaT, 2026
159222324
Show the numbers
YearPriceAmountDetail
1970Launch price$1,995US base price, 1970 model year
1970Price when new$1,995US base two-door
2004Auction sale$2,8001972, restored; father-to-son sale, Private sale
2022Auction sale$13,5001976 Stallion 302 V8, 82,935 miles, Auction
2023Auction sale$5,4001977 250ci inline-six, 38k miles shown (TMU), BaT
2026Auction sale$18,2501970 302ci V8 swap, 57k miles shown (TMU), BaT

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 10 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 14 stories from its legend
    • “8.92 seconds for a four-door Taxi”
    • “The Maverick title was IHRA, 1974”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 5 generations

  • Market

    • 4 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 24 sources
  1. Business: THE MAKING OF THE MAVERICK time.com
  2. 1970-1977 Ford Maverick: History, Specifications, and Options news.classicindustries.com
  3. Ford Maverick (1970–1977) - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  4. What was the Maverick Grabber? | The Daily Drive | Consumer Guide® blog.consumerguide.com
  5. The Ford Maverick Page - Year to Year Changes fordmaverick.com
  6. O FORD MAVERICK - AUTOentusiastas Classic (2008-2014) autoentusiastasclassic.com.br
  7. Máquina del Tiempo AP: Ford Maverick autopista.es
  8. 1972 Ford Maverick Grabber - Maverick Manifesto motortrend.com
  9. 1976 Ford Maverick available for Auction | AutoHunter.com | 18981813 autohunter.com
  10. 1971 Ford Maverick - More Than Just A Name - Car Craft Magazine hotrod.com
  11. American-Ford's Conception of a Small Car April 1970 - Motor Sport Magazine motorsportmagazine.com
  12. Ford Falcon (North America) - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  13. Willys Aero - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  14. 1971 Plymouth Valiant sedan impressed media more than buying public - Indie Auto indieauto.org
  15. Competition Plus and the ‘Taxi’ | Gapp Online gapponline.net
  16. $25,000 The First Quarter-Mile hotrod.com
  17. 1975 Press Kit – Biography information | Gapp Online gapponline.net
  18. Brush with garage greatness | NHRA nhra.com
  19. Sung Kang Partners With SEMA and Shell for “Project Underdog” | Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) sema.org
  20. Project Maverick hotrod.com
  21. '72 Ford Maverick fordracing.com
  22. 1972 Ford Maverick - Some Kinda Blue - Popular Hot Rodding Magazine hotrod.com
  23. 302-Powered 1970 Ford Maverick 2-Door Sedan for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $18,250 on April 25, 2026 (Lot #239,499) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  24. No Reserve: 1977 Ford Maverick 2-Door Sedan for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $5,400 on January 11, 2023 (Lot #95,469) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  • time.com
  • news.classicindustries.com
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • blog.consumerguide.com
  • fordmaverick.com
  • autoentusiastasclassic.com.br
  • autopista.es
  • motortrend.com
  • autohunter.com
  • hotrod.com
  • motorsportmagazine.com
  • indieauto.org
  • gapponline.net
  • nhra.com

Photo credits

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