Okay, need to decide - Talking out loud.

Thanks for letting me ponder here. Everyone is so helpful. I just need to make a decision and take a leap. Price is similar on each.

Option 1 - 1970 Maverick - grabber clone
Cons - Needs Transmission ASAP. Bubbling paint and some minor rust issues - door will need to be repaired due to rust. Interior is in need of major upgrade. No Air. Will require a hefty sum for tow home.
Pros - Grabber hood and spoiler in place, Engine decent. Son is happy with color and striping. Small Bumper. (no picture available)

Option 2 - 1974 Maverick
Cons - No Air, needs ball joints replaced, 4 tires and alignment. No grabber accessories. Big Bumper. Will require $250 tow home. Will need paint before son drives to school. Minor interior work.
Pros - Already had surface rust removed and primed. 302ci engine. Motor and tranny good.
(Can't figure out how to upload pic as it is in the 302 thread - craigslist athens tn)

Option 3 - 1976 Maverick
Cons - Alternator light is on - reason unknown at this time. Big Bumper. No grabber accessories. Interior will need to be dyed and outside painted before son will drive to school.
Pros - Body is decent shape, only minor surface rust. Engine runs well. Factory Air. Power Brakes. Interior in great shape except dash. Probably can drive home as it is only 20 miles away.(see below - craigslist Nashville)

If anyone has seen these car and has further info on them, please chime in.

 

Body and paint always cost the most to repair.


IMO go with the one with the least amount of body damage/rust repair. All the other stuff can be fixed in your driveway for the most part.


I like option 3, find the small bumper conversion and grabber body parts, swap in garage ( *ninja Edit* mother son bonding time), and send it off to paint and body. Fix the rest when time allows.

just my opinion


Another option if the price is right is buy 1 and 3 get all good parts off of car 1 swap car 3's parts on it and put it back for sale. Or offer the guy whatever your willing to pay for just the parts you need/want.


I would end up with both in the driveway

 

http://nashville.craigslist.org/cto/1854504621.html

This is close. $3500. Something to think about,,, Looks like this is ready to go! No tow, no paint, looks like your done! If you get the other cars, till you do the cons, this may be cheaper,,, just a thought

 

Buy the most solid of the cars.

 

Actually it would still need towed. It is about 2 1/2 hours away with a BIG mountain in between - truckers even dread this mountain. I don't trust a 35+ year old car to make it up and then down Monteagle Mountain.

$3,500 is out of our price range at this time. We did look at it on craigslist, but if there was anything wrong with the car, we would be out of luck. The other cars range from $1,500 - $1,800.

Thanks for the idea.

 

i'd say go with the 76 you can always find the grabber parts and small bumpers and install them later. i would say a solid car is one of the more important things then the second is car mechanicaly sound.

 

Option 3 all the way for a kid.

Power brakes and big bumpers ... keep the bumpers until he get more driving experience. I am hoping it has front discs, too. These cars need all the help they can get to be on the same roads with modern cars. Drum brakes are way too scary.

Factory Air ... I am from Florida ... a must! Given the recent heat wave there, I am sure it would be appreciated. Realistically, are you going to have it painted right away? This one sounds like you could live with it "as-is" for a year or two until you decide to lock the car up in paint purgatory ... which always takes a lot longer than you would think possible.

Sounds like it has the best interior and body.

Alternator light .... it is one of four things ... alt, regulator, battery or the wiring in between ... that can be sorted out.

Bottom line ... get the best car you can afford to start out with. It will prove to be enough of a struggle being almost 40 years old.

 

Yeah, the alternator light doesn't worry me. I think I can handle that one. Paint will probably be this spring. He is asking for paint money from everyone from Christmas and Birthday, plus I agreed to match it if he keeps his straight A's in school.

Just wanted to revist Monteagle Mountain for a second for a little musical interlude. Johnny Cash agreed with my assessment of the drive. He even wrote a little song about it. Here is a sample of the lyrics. I also added one of the highway signs that put it all in perspective.
---------
There's a stretch of Highway on Interstate 24 between Nashville and Chattanooga
That's claimed many trucker's life
And your life is in your hands when you start down that long steep grade
On Monteagle Mountain
...
Goin' down Monteagle Mountain on I-24
It's he** for a trucker when the devil's at your door
He'll tempt you and tell you come on let her roll
Cause the mountain wants your rig and trucker I want your soul

Edited so I don't get an infraction for offensive language.

 

I just saw all 3 cars had to be painted before school.

I would go with #3, always best to see rust and not one where someone "repaired" hid problem areas A/c is a big plus, even up in Pa!

Be a nice project and hope he gets all the A's!

Fords did have some problems with brushes in alt hanging up if car sits for some time. May just need a running but either way should be no problem fixing. Good Luck!

Always good to talk out loud,,, loud enough to drown out them voices in my head!!!

 

Go with the 76. It will have disc brakes, a big plus, and the a/c is also a big plus in the long run.

 

Well my no one has said anything about checking the cowls!! to me thats a biggie.

 

Sounds like #3 is the best investment. I go w/ those in favor of the disk brakes, minor rust and AC. I wud'nt worry abt paint initially - a pretty car thats hard to star, does'nt want to run, steering wanders all over the road and hard to stop shud be priority concern. IOW - safety B4 Beauty. IMO
Most 38+year old cars will no doubt require attention and $$$$ in most if not all of the above areas stated.

 

You are right about the cowls....be a deal breaker no matter how good the rest of the car is.

 

I know power brakes were standard on the 76, but were front disc brakes standard.

Thanks for the reminder about the cowl. That was on my list, but I definitely don't need to forget to do that.

 

THis is kind of tough for me because the kid in me is screaming 302 small bumper car with nice paint. THe wise one in me is saying cheap solid car, rebuilt 302 & conversion and beat the living daylights out of it. He will have a good car for highschool and college.