Maverick & Comet Year to Year Timeline

Back to the Grabber/GT page

1969

April 17, 1969. Maverick introduced to the world.
New "Maverick" colors added, such as "Thanks Vermillion."
Suspension upgraded, bigger brakes & spindles.
Ignition moves from dash to column.

Early 1970 Mavericks, aka 69.5 Mavericks, were based on the 69 Ford Falcon. They used Falcon spindles, axles, and brakes. This proved to be very light-duty, and after dealers had problems aligning the early Mavericks, the suspension was redesigned and "beefed up" for the rest of 1970 and beyond.

1970

1970 Grabber introduced.
250 6-cyl introduced.
170-6 powered 1970 Maverick weighs 2501 lbs.
A total of 578,914 1970 Mavericks (including 69.5) were produced.

The Maverick broke the first-year sales record set by the Mustang in 1965. It was Ford's most successful car launch ever.

1971

Mercury Comet & Comet GT introduced.
4-door model is introduced.
December, 1970, 302 V8 production begins. V8 cars get extra shock-tower bracing as well as an engine crossmember and double-hump transmission crossmember.
5 lug spindles/axles are introduced on 250 6-cyl and 302 V8 models.
All models get staggered rear shocks.
Grabber hood & Grabber grille introduced.
LDO (Luxury Decor Option) introduced, included driving lights in grille.
Bucket seats become an option.
Floor shift becomes optional (buckets only)
Front turn signal lenses become amber (1970 are clear).
Horsepower and compression ratio drop:
170-6 drops to 8.7:1 compression and 100 hp (from 9.0:1 & 105)
200-6 drops to 8.7:1 compression and 115 hp (from 9.0:1 & 120)
250-6 stays at 9.0:1 but horsepower drops to 145 from 155.
302-8 introduced with 9.0:1 compression and 210 hp.
302-8 powered 1971 Maverick weighs 2763 lbs.
A total of 271,897 1971 Mavericks were produced.
A total of  83,000  1971 Comets were produced.

With the introduction of the Pinto and the larger Mustang in 1971, the role of economy car was taken and the role of small & sporty was open. The Maverick gained a V8 and Ford began to promote it more and more as a performance car (though not a "muscle" car).

1972

Sprint option becomes avalible, for this year only.
FM radio becomes optional.
Compression ratio drops, Horespower now measured in "net."
170-6 drops to 8.3:1 and 82 hp.
200-6 drops to 8.3:1 and 84 hp.
250-6 drops to 8.0:1 and 98 hp.
302-8 drops to 8.5:1 and 140 hp.
302-8 powered 1972 Maverick weighs 2786 lbs.
A total of 254,964 1972 Mavericks were produced.
A total of  82,359  1972 Comets were produced.

1973

Front bumper gets bigger, rear bumper has different mounting.
All cars begin receiving 5 lug suspension.
170 6 cyl is dropped.
13" wheels dropped.
Grabber Hood is dropped.
Grabber stripe changes.
Comet GT stripe changes.
LDO & Grabber-type (w/driving lights) Grille becomes standard.
Comet gets new "criss-cross" grille.
"Halo" vinyl roof introduced.
Aluminum forged 5-hole wheels become optional.
Door panels redesigned with "grab-handle" armrests.
New bucket seats offered in standard & reclining form
Comets get front & rear ashtrays standard.
Vent design changes to rectangular-type.
Headlight & wiper knob design changes.
12/15/72 Glove compartment replaces package tray
12/15/72 New evaporator core design for glove compartment.
302-8 horsepower drops to 138, compression down to 8.0:1
302-8 powered 1973 Maverick weighs 2855 lbs.
A total of 291,675 1973 Mavericks were produced.
A total of  84,691  1973 Comets were produced.

Horsepower was down and weight was up in 1973. Finally the Maverick and Comet got an aluminum wheel option, and the dash was redesigned with a glove compartment.

1974

Front bumper is bigger still, rear bumper follows suit.
Grabber spoiler is dropped.
Grabber stripe changes again.
Disc brakes become an option.
Radial tires become an option
AM/FM 4-speaker system becomes an option.
Tail light panel applique becomes optional.
Dome light changed, now includes map lights.
Day/Night Rearview mirror availible.
Light Group becomes an option.
250-6 drops to 91 hp (from 98)
302-8 rises back to 140 hp (from 138)
Maverick breaks 3000 lb mark for the first time (4-dr)
302-8 powered 1974 2-dr Maverick weighed 2950 lbs.
A total of 301,048 Mavericks were produced in 1974.
A total of 125,695 Comets were prodced in 1974.

This big sales increase (mostly due to 4-door sales) was because of the fuel crisis. The increase prompted Ford to continue the Maverick/Comet line, which had been scheduled to be killed off at the end of the model year.

1975

Styled steel wheels become optional, standard on Grabber and Comet GT     (Magnum 500 type, except painted with trim rings)
Power brakes (disc only) become optional.
Speedometer changed to 85 miles per hour (down from 120).
"FORD" lettering added to the hood.
Electronic igniton replaces points.
Catylatic converter required with 200-6 only.
Fuel tank capacity rises from 16 to 19.2 gallons 10/75. (except CA).
200-6 drops to 75 hp.
302-8 drops to 129 hp.
302-8 powered 1975 2-dr Maverick weighed 2979 lbs.
4-door sales of both Maverick and Comet outnumber 2-door sales for the     first time ever.
A total of 162,572 1975 Mavericks were produced.
A total of  53,848  1975 Comets were produced.

Total Maverick/Comet production dropped 50% with the introduction of the Ford Granada and Mercury Monarch (based on the 4-dr Maverick chassis).
Many of the improvements in the 1975 Maverick/Comet line come from the Granada, such as power brakes and the 19 gallon fuel tank.

1976

Maverick grille changes, now has central divider.
Front bumper has dual inlets in place of singular inlet.
Comet grille now "blacked-out,"
Grabber & Comet GT models discontinued, replaced by Maverick Stallion   and Comet's "Sport Accent Group."
Stallion model introduced for this year only. ($329)
Sport Accent Group introduced this year only.
      Both packages included sport mirrors and styled steels wheels std.
Disc brakes become standard. (Power or Manual).
Foot-operated parking brake introduced.
Tape player becomes optional.
3/4 vinyl roof introduced.
Fuel warning light becomes optional.
A total of 139,687 1976 Mavericks were produced.
A total of  36,074  1976 Comets were produced.

With the introduction of the Cobra II in 1975, the Comet GT and Maverick Grabber are dropped. The cars are now billed as affordable family cars, so as not to compete with the Mustang II. 2-door production drops and 4-door production rises, and the Maverick and Comet are breathing their last breath.

1977

Last year for the Maverick and Comet.
302-8 gets Variable Ventri (VV) carb.
"Lacy-spoke" (Granada-style) aluminum wheels become optional.
Duraspark introduced, basically same ignition system as 75 models.
Wire wheel covers become optional.
4-way adjustable seat optional in Comet.
A total of 98,506 1977 Mavericks were produced.
A total of 21,545 1977 Comets were produced.

Maverick and Comet production stopped in the US after 1977. It continued in Brasil until 1979. Over 2.5 million Mavericks and Comets were produced for US sale.

Back to the Grabber/GT Page