Truthfully now, would you buy a Maverick as a collector car? Well, you just might, for 70's cars are the next big thing and with a slumping economy and high fuel prices a simple, economical compact would be good value. The Maverick was introduced in 1969 in 2-door fastback and 4-door sedan configurations, as Ford's response to the Volkswagen Beetle's ever-growing popularity. It was a completely new unibody platform, not a derivative of anything else. Power came from Ford's trusty 170 c.i. inline six, delivering 105 hp through a 3-speed, fully-synchronised manual transmission with semi-automatic and Cruise-O-Matic options. Suspension and brakes were conventional but adequate for their time. Buyers could also move up to a 200 c.i. six with 120 hp. Shortly after introduction a 155 hp six became optional and a year later Ford offered a sporty "Grabber" appearance package. Much-needed bucket seats and a floor-mounted shift were next to arrive and eventually a 210 hp V-8 made its way under the hood though the extra weight compromised handling. By the time it went out of production in America almost 2.1 million had been made yet Ford's sporty-looking compact never did knock Volkswagen off its perch. You can buy a Maverick in excellent condition for a mere $5000-7000. If, that is, you can find one.

Note: Collectible Automobile has an extensive history of the Maverick in its August, 2008 issue.