So I have a 72 Maverick that was my very first car. Unfortunately it has some pretty bad spots, mainly the trunk and rear frame rails as well as the tail light panel. It was also bondoed up pretty good by my cousin when I bought it.Basically I have to find a whole rear clip from a donor car and put it on mine. This is a little hard to come by since there doesn't seem to be many Mavericks out there anymore and the ones that are seem to have the same problems. So in the search of this donor car, I found a 72 Grabber in really good shape. No rust in the floors or trunk, only a little surface rust and a little in the quarter. The car was actually given to me, so no money spent so far. The only problem is that this car was wrecked in the front. Really no damaged except the bumper brackets were bent in from the impact on the bumper. The ?radiator apron? is also rusted out right in front of the battery box. Obviously this car is just waaaaay too nice to chop up. So I've decided to fix it up as well but it will be needing some replacement parts. I have been a little discouraged by many with them telling me that my first car will take too much to fix and I should just let it go, everyone is telling me to use it as a parts car for the Grabber I picked up. I find it hard to grasp this and it kind of brings a tear to my eye to think about. Just a little upset about it at the moment but I just wanted to get some feedback. Am I really being unreasonable with not wanting to let go of the first car I ever owned???
You'll hear varying opinions here, but I say you are NOT being unreasonable. If you are emotionally attached to the car, then build it. I say this because you'll be fixing it for more reasons than just financial. Will you have more money in it than it's worth when you're done? Yes, probably - but that's true of many Maverick builds. I also plan on building a car that many say isn't worth it - my first '76 Maverick which originally belonged to my Dad. I say....BUILD ON... I'm not sure I'd use the Grabber as a donor though.
If a car is REALLY rusty (any car) and reproduction parts are non-existant.....then it should probably be scrapped. Some car are just TOO far gone. Post some pictures of your first car, including the problem areas...and I am sure we can make a better judgement. You can always re-create YOUR car by using a different car. That is what I did.
Emotion is tough way to make a decision about a car.I finally sold my first car allmost 2 years ago.It stunk to sell it but...It was langushing and I needed the space for my re-do on my blue 72.I still miis it but,I got over it.Heres an idea for you (well a perspective anyways) You can part your first to save your new one...You will still have the attachment of the original by, the parts from it going on the grabber and you will have a good solid car you can enjoy when done.Also,you can allways say your first one donated the parts to make this one whole and you will have still done it all your self.I dont know your skill level but,its' easier to do a fender apron and a core support than a whole trunk floor and frame rails.Either way I wish you luck.
A couple of things come to mind. You say it's your first car, but how long have you had it? If it's been 20-30 years then it may be well worth restoring no matter what it takes. I have a 71 Grabber that I bought in 74. The car got flooded over the roof by Katrina but I will save that car...no matter what it takes! But as Craig says, please post some good photos, especially of the rusted areas and we can surely help you make a decision.
Maybe Pro Street the first one? That takes care of the bad frame rails and trunk floor... and keeps another Maverick alive.
Thanks guys! I've only had the car for about 8 or 9 years, since I'm only 24. I will try to get some good pics taken tonight and post. I really don't think it's too far gone. I believe what I'm going to try and do is work on the Grabber for now, it's the easiest and cheapest fix right now and I could be driving it within a matter of weeks. Well technically it runs now with a 289 but it's not very reliable and I'm going to be dropping a 302 in it. In the meantime I can cover my first to keep it from getting any worse as I look for the parts to fix it. I hope to have them both fixed sometime down the road, hell I have my whole life to do it, right.
if its really rotten, then cut it in half, take the engine out and make a nice barbecue grill with the front half, and build a nice sofa with the trunk area, that way you coul make party´s with beer, your friends and your car.
Ok I figured it out. These pictures are of the inside of the trunk, as you can see the rust goes all the way through the tail panel and into the frame rail below. This is the extent of the damage with the exception of the driver side floor pan. I tried to get pictures of the whole car but it was dark so it didn't show up well.
