Simple to drive, simple to park, simple to repair, simple to own: Ford marketed the 1970 Maverick as The Simple Machine.
The 1970 Maverick was introduced to the American public on April 17, 1969—five years to the day after the record-breaking launch of the Ford Mustang. Clearly, Ford was reaching out to recapture the magic of the Mustang, which is often cited as the most successful U.S. car rollout in history. And according to Ford, the Maverick actually outsold the Mustang at introduction. Thanks in part to a long production run, Ford sold nearly 579,000 Mavericks in the 1970 model year, propelled by 22,600 orders in the first three days.
Like the Mustang, the Maverick owed a lot to the compact Ford Falcon underneath. But while the Maverick’s styling was sassy and up-to-date, the equipment list was surprisingly brief: For the first few years there was no glove box. Ford marketed the new compact as “The Simple Machine,” but the top line of the Maverick sales campaign, a Lee Iacocca classic, was the price: $1995. That was several hundred bucks more than the leading import of the moment, the VW Beetle, but as we see in the Ford spot below, the company was banking on the Maverick’s six-cylinder engine and roomier interior. Ford’s more direct competitor to the Beetle, the Pinto, would arrive the following year. Video below.
The exterior styling was flawless and the interiors were unforgivably cheap.
I had a ‘70 Maverick… Grabber package, auto trans, WSW tires, AM radio, knitted vinyl bench seat, and 200 CID I6. It was very, very easy to maintain. Early Gabbers included the Mustang’s 3-spoke rim blow steering wheel with wood-like accented rim. Modifications were easy… aftermarket AM/FM/cassette, rear speakers, and rear window defogger (generic Ford part). I added a digital clock in the instrument shelf, trimming a black plastic mud flap as a mounting face.
The car was highly reliable and economical. And it looked much more modern than the Falcon or Nova or Valiant/Dart.
Poor mans Mustang! What most people don’t realize is the underpinnings are the same as the Mustang, so what works on one works on the other. While Ford limited them to automatics or three speed manuals, top loader 4 speeds bolt right in with a little work, and with a 302 V8 were spirited performers. Even a 351W goes in, albeit a tight fit. They have quite a following as a alternative collector car to the higher priced Mustangs of the era.
Yep! My first wife had one! No glove box,… just a “TROUGH!” At that time,… cigar lighters were “optional!” Brake pedals returned height were (surprise!) high. (The “GRABBER” with non-functioning twin hood scoops came out in 1971) The 6 cylinder was rather anemic,.. (no pun left unturned) and rather hard to “STEER??!!!”
I suspect there is an opening still for a similar car.
Many people do not want all the electronic marvels in modern cars. TV screens on the dash, hot a cold running b/s that is often too difficult to work out [including me]
Though it would have to have at least aircond and power steering and auto or simple manual trans for some. And I guess a working glove box!
Though probably no cars to base it on now. From any major manufacturer.
Actually discussing this on the weekend with an English friend,, he wanted a Morris Minor with disc brakes and a heater