Looking to buy this Maverick - What do you think?

definately check to roof. I had a comet that was perfect or so I thought. It had a vinal top and you could nearly push through it with your hand

 

You will need a jug or bucket for water and two catch pans, one under each fender. I would put a couple of quarts of water in the bucket, and mark the level. Pour the water into both sides of the cowl (driver's sides can leak, too). Take the water caught in the pans, and pour it back into the bucket. You can compare what you caught with what you started with.

You can test the windshield after trying the cowl vents.

 

I'd have a good look at the white one, it looks fairly un-molested compared to the black one. The black one looks like it's had a hard life.

 

Yea I was thinking the same. The color scheme isn't quite as nice but paint is alot easier to fix than 39 years of rotted metal.

That seems logical enough but how do I convince the owners to let me do all that?

 

you can always look under the dash on the passenger side and see if you can see any rust in the cowl there... my cowl is rotted but it didnt stop me from buying the car... just have to deal with it... but since I have it in a garage I wasnt too worried, its a summer time nice weather car... I dont drive it in the rain.. and when I get caught in the rain I bought one of those magnetic covers I can slap on.... but its always nice to get a car with a solid cowl area...

 

If they won't let you pour water in the cowl vent I'd assume they're hiding something.

 

some (most) people have no clue about cars, and if you ask them they will tell you that too... doesnt mean they are hiding something, maybe they honestly dont know, as the buyer you should look for these things and be aware that many older cars will have some degree of rust or deteriorating parts that will eventually need attention. Youre not buying a new car and for 1500 bucks you really cannot expect all that much.... but if you like the car and are willing to dump 100's of dollars and 100's of hours of your time into it...then get it! if you want to turn the key and drive then you will not find that car for $1500 you will need to spend alot more like this one for example >>>>>> http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=69301
either way, good luck

 

Sorry, I was looking at the white one. Interesting paint. What has he covered up? How was the rust repaired? the right way or not? Another thing I just thought of, are either one of those cars anywhere near areas that have had floods lately. Take a flash light and check the out of the way areas for signs of mud or water damage. Hopefully that is not the case, but something to watch out for. Happy hunting.

 

I'll keep the flood tidbit in mind when checking out. We haven't had a significant flood in Iowa since about this time in 2008. Unsure on Minnesota.

 

I am having mixed emotions as I type this message. While I enjoyed checking out a couple cars - White 71 Maverick and a Brown 75 Comet (link below) I am disappointed at how big a waste of time it was.

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/cto/1844303233.html

From the ad:

I have a 1975 Mercury Comet for sale. It runs and drives. The body is in pretty good shape. The interior needs some work but overall the car is in fair to good shape I would say. I put in a new fuel pump and did some work on the breaks. The owner before me did the exhaust. I wanted to work on this car but I guess I dont have the time for it and I dont want this classic car just going to waste leaving it parked. E-mail me back if you have any other questions. Thanks!!!

First off lets start with the White Maverick which was one of my orrigional intentions. I was really excited about this one from the jump off. After a few minutes of b/sing and haggling over the phone the owner agreed $1400 was acceptable which I offered if all info he gave me checked out. Well.....it didn't.

After getting there the car looks decent from a distance, get up close and you can tell the cheap paint job has been through hell. The car is parked about a mile down a pure gravel road which is never good. Not a big deal, paints easy. However, we come to other issues. The windshield is majorly cracked....Several bottom to top cracks spread across the entire windshield - something that wasn't mentioned before my long journey and limitless excitement.

Next we come to the electrical issues. The gas guage doesn't work, turn signals don't work, tires are over 15 years old and dry rotting, interior is soooooo far gone its not even funny. The lining of the roof was ripped out so I could see the metal of the roof. Problem there is in alot of spots I could also see the vynal! Pleanty of rust through on this roof which was very weak when pressed upon. Rear quarters had at some point been repaired which was obvious from the fiberglass resin/bondo thickly inside trunk in those areas. Torque boxes were a little eaten through but better than most I see in my area.

Seller made a point of letting me know he has never seen another one of these anywhere around him, then claims he could get me a new windshield should I decide to purchase?

....what a waste of my time...

Second was the 75 Comet which was amazing. It must have been opposite day when he posted it because his ad was 100% b/s. It should have read:

I have a 1975 Mercury Comet for sale. It does not run or drive and currently has no battery. The body is in terrible shape with rust eating through both driver and passenger floor pans, both fenders in multiple spots, the rear quarters and most of the trunk. The interior is total crap and its the nicest part of this car. I put in a new fuel pump and did some work on the breaks about 4 years ago. The owner before me did the exhaust. I wanted to work on this car but I guess I dont have the time for it and I dont want this classic car just going to waste leaving it parked like it has been for the past 4 years. E-mail me if your interested in wasting some time.