Hello everyone! I need you help on the direction to go in on my Maverick project but first some background. I bought my 72 Maverick 5 years ago out of a barn where it had been sitting a long time. It's a 2-door,302 auto w/air and light brown int. and ext. Once I started on this car I began to realize how much rust I had (both qtrs,doors,front fenders and even the lip on the hood!) and got it in good running condition first but only did minor body work. 2 years ago a friend told me of another Maverick and I bought it for the body. It's a 2-door 77 with 6 cyl, auto,black int and white (orig silver) ext. The body has several dents but no major rust problems. My plans where to put the driveline of the 72 into the 77 and then sell the 72 to a friend who wanted to make a drag car out of it. Now Joe has come along with all his plans to make the patch panels and etc I need to get the 72 into shape! A rod builder friend has told me that the 72 would be a rare and more valuable car because of the options and miles(49,000) on it even though it will take more work to get it right!! So, what do you guys think? I could always put the 77 on the back burner for a while and then do a driveline swap but most of the body work is done and in primer on this car. With the 77's black interior, I have many options for paint color but fewer on the 72 with its brown interior. Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated!! Scott
Finacially the better body would cost less to finish up.You have all the swap parts you need to put the 8 in from the rusty one.The old ones value would be greater only for the options?? What kind of options??? is it a grabber? V-8 mavs are a bit scarce compared to 6 bangers but not uncommonly rare.It is your money but I would put the 72 on the back burner(dont strip it for parts) Get a later 302(roller motor) and trans and V-8swap parts(frame stands/double hump trans crossmember)for the clean one and build it up the way you want.Save the rusty one for a rainy day and perhaps do a stock resto on it some day.Jmo but if I had two to play with I would do it that way.Good luck whatever you decide.
I'd use the '72 for parts and swap the small bumpers and everything over to the '77 body. A nice Maverick is a nice Maverick, if it isn't a Sprint or Grabber, then the year of the body isn't going to make much of a difference if the car is done right. The same goes for the factory options it came with. V8 and A/C were relatively common options on these cars. Of course, if it's in one of those states that still require emissions, and '72 vs. '77 is the difference between weather it would have to pass emissions or not, then you would want to give some thought to that. This would also depend on weather you plan to do an all stock restoration or are building a resto mod or something. I'm looking at this from a resto mod point of view. Doing a total stock restoration of a '72 Maverick with a '77 body would be kind of pointless obviously. Could always use the '77 to repair the '72 body. Lots of things to think about. JMO..
Financially if both cars were in perfect, show-room condition the 72 would be worth twice what the 77 would be in the same condition. That means using repair panels to replace the rust - no more bondo then a new car has and all the factory parts and markings. As daily drivers they are worth about the same.
EASY!!! Swap everything over to the 1977 body. Even with all kinds of body panels being made.....rust repair is expensive.
It all depends on how big your wallet is...If you want to spend the money repairing the 72, once the panels come out, do it, If your on a Budget, use both cars to make one nice one, you should have everything you'll need between the 2 of them, then sell whats left over.
Thanks for all the replys guys!! I'm really starting to lean back to my original plans and can't wait for it to warm up so I can get started!! Thanks again!! Scott
