The Maverick is a well-known nameplate coming from Ford. It has been around for more than 50 years. We've got to hear about it again recently when the iconic automobile manufacturer introduced the 2022 Maverick pickup truck. The new vehicle should compete on the market shaped directly by customers' needs for compact and hybrid pickups, which only reminded us of how it all started.

When Ford introduced Maverick, it did so to compete with the other compact cars that stole all the show in the 1970s, mostly those coming from Nissan or Datsun, Volkswagen, and Toyota. The Maverick grabbed attention early on and achieved everything Ford hoped, which resulted in 579,000 copies made in 1970.

Over the years, the Maverick experienced quite a few changes and included several trims. Among the most desirable ones was the Grabber, a package coming with the sporty coupe you can still find on sale today. Are you eager to find out more about it? Today, we take a closer look at the 1970s Ford Maverick Grabber.

A Brief History and Overview Of The Ford Maverick

The 1972 Ford Maverick Sprint.
Via: Wikimedia Commons

Before we dive into the Grabber, let's first explore the Maverick in general. Introduced in 1969 as a 1970 model, Maverick was marketed as a subcompact "import fighter." Its predecessor Falcon was not doing so well in sales against the Chevrolet and Dodge rivals, so the Maverick came to remedy that and give Ford a new competitive edge.

The Maverick performed its mission very well. The timing was everything. The gas prices were up, and people looked for compact and practical cars to cut down costs. Maverick was a perfect choice. With a long hood, fastback roof, and a short deck, Maverick resembled muscle cars yet provided the practicality of compact ones.

The testimony of its success lies in the numbers. With around 579,000 units produced in the first year, the car came pretty close to the Mustang sales, which was all very logical. At the time of the oil crisis, who would complain about a muscle-looking (and performing) compact car with solid gas mileage that comes at just about $2,000?

Moreover, the first Maverick models came with two engine options. There was a 170 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine rated at 105-hp and a 200 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine with 120-hp. The even more powerful third option arrived in 1971.

Take A Closer Look At The 1970s Ford Maverick Grabber

The 1969 Ford Maverick.
Via: Wikimedia Commons

The Grabber was introduced as a performance package and nothing else, but it quickly became a somewhat separate model within the family. This particular trim included everything the base Maverick had and some extras.

Throughout the second year of production, the more powerful 250-cubic-inch six-cylinder engine

was included with the Maverick. In 1973, you could even get the Maverick Grabber with a 302 cubic-inch V8 engine that produced 220-hp. In terms of power and performance, it seemed Ford made customers' wishes come true.

Other than the muscle-car specs, the Maverick Grabber also had a unique styling for its kind. The vehicle accommodated fatter tires and a louder exhaust compared to the standard Maverick trim. It also had a dual dome hood (highly sought for today), air vents on the sides, and other extra detailing. There was also a unique spoiler and five specific colors (two yellow shared, green, blue, and more) that made the Grabber stand out.

In summary, the Maverick Grabber attracted all the eyes on the street with its styling between 1970 and 1975. Unfortunately, the sales started to drop in 1975, which is why Ford replaced the Grabber with the Stallion, a special package with new grilles and equipment.

Where To Find The Grabber And At What Price

The 1972 Ford Maverick Coupe.
Via: Wikimedia Commons

If you wish to have the Ford Maverick Grabber from the 1970s, you'll be pleased to hear many models are still available for sale. Depending on the time of your search, you may need to wait for the best model to come out on the used car market, but it shouldn't be for too long. Considering the Maverick was made in many copies, there should always be one or two Grabbers out there.

Now, the ones we spotted on some lots were priced somewhere between $20,000 and $25,000. Be aware, though, that the Ford classics at this price were perfectly preserved. You also have an option to get a Grabber at a much lower price, but you'll have to work on it quite some (think rust and deteriorated parts).

Still, this could be a great option for collectors who enjoy spending time in their garages and building vehicles from beginning to end. Along with being cost-efficient, the building process can be fun and let you show off among friends.