After having my 69 in the big Starbird show this weekend, I had gotten quite a few new contacts, and leads on cars. I'm not really in a "buying" situation, actually trying to thin the collection a little, however, as we were about to leave a guy started telling me about a 72 he had. He showed me some phone pics of a pretty decent looking Sprint. The price seems reasonable, but it has to be better than "reasonable" to keep me out of the dog house for bringing home another car. I type that to type this: I've always thought the Sprints were cool, but does the package really add any value to the car? I don't need another project, so it may be for resale. I am supposed to get with the guy this weekend, and will post pictures. So, Sprint fans chime in, should I figure in an extra 10%; 40%... 0%? Is it any more valuable than a base 200 Cid 2door? (For the locals: this is not the Utley car)
A few years back, I was looking a very long time for a sprint. I would have paid a premium if I had found a completely original one in excellent condition. I did not find any like that at the time, but I did pass on a few sprints that had been neglected. Just having a sprint because it was a sprint was not worth anything extra if it was a big project. Does that make any sense ......... I guess it is a bit like a grabber. A very original one in great shape commands a premium over a plain car. If it is a big project and missing some of the key parts that make it a grabber, (hood, spoiler, mirrors) it is not worth anything more than a plain car in the same shape. JMHO .............
As far as I know, the only unique parts for a Sprint is the grill and white with blue interior, Am I missing anything?
A sprint is pretty much the paint, special interior color, black grille and sport mirrors. Which is why to me, condition would be everything in the added value.
I didn't know the mirrors were standard. Good to know. I think I just have gotten myself caught up in the excitement of finding a special edition, and the vacation money is just laying there... (good thing I built the dog a big, warm house.)
IMO, if the car needs a lot of mechanical/rust repair work, and if the things that make it special (like paint colours and interior) are in need of work and/or redoing, then your money would be better spent painting and re-upholstering a Maverick that is in better mechanical and/or structural shape and making a Sprint CLONE. If the Sprint is in awesome shape and doesn't need much or any of this work, then to me, it's worth the 10-15% premium to get THAT one.
1972 Sprints hold a special place in history in the fact that they are the only models to bear the name "Sprint" that was based on a special event. They were a special Spring promotion set with a patriotic theme to commemorate the Munich Olympics, thereby the red, white, and blue color scheme and the flag on the rear quarter panel. My interest in them stems from purchasing a Sprint Mustang Sportroof back in '72 after spotting one in a Ford showroom. Fresh out of college, I thought it was the best looking car I had ever seen and had to have one. At the time, I never gave much thought as to them making a Maverick and Pinto version of the Sprint. Fast forward to 2004 and I found myself reliving my youth in the purchase of another Sprint Sportroof very similiar to the one I owned years before. Then, it occured to me that it would be cool to own the other models, too. I now own all 3 models and I think they are all pretty cool in their own right. Are they worth more than other Mavericks? To me, yes, to someone else, maybe no. I sold a solid Calif. Maverick Grabber to buy the Sprint Pinto. Was it worth it? To me, it was, because of the rarity and uniqueness of the Pinto. Everybody has an opinion on things. To me, a good Sprint Maverick is worth more than a good other Maverick. But that is just MY opinion. And you see, I have a sentimental attachment to Sprints. Jim
I like all the Sprints too and your post speaks volumes about the ideal buyer for these cars. IMO, that buyer is the minority of an already small minority. While I'm sure there are plenty of exceptions.. I think very few of the new generation car buyers would even care about special "Olympic Paint" code cars.. aside from their rarity/potential resale value being sought after by some collectors, not unlike yourself. Also, a V8 would definitely increase desirability and final value.. and more importantly the turn around time if you're not completely serious about another mid-long term project. All the hardcore guys have all been(many still are),. in your tight shoes when opportunity knocks and it seems far too easy to get caught up in the moment(which to me is much of the fun sometimes) and piss the other side of your bank account off. Pick your battles, man. PS. And not to be the yo-yo here.. but.. I could potentially see "upgrading current models" being applicable here IF the "barn finds" were actually better optioned cars than the ones you currently own(bigger CID with rare bells). Plus, wives seem to be much better mannered about our addictions when we're buying.. AND selling.. within closer timeframes of each other.
