Ford's Marginally Successful Four-Door Maverick

By 1971, Chevrolet and Ford were each marketing a number of models based on different-sized platforms.   Chevy's set was Vega, Nova, Camero, Chevelle, and standard-size Chevrolets plus the Corvette sports car.   Ford's was Pinto, Maverick, Torino, Mustang, Thunderbird, and standard Fords.

Ford's Maverick, which I last discussed here, debuted as a 103-inch (2616 mm) 2-door coupe/sedan for the 1970 model year, and sold well.  A 109.9 inch (2791 mm) wheelbase four-door sedan was added for 1971.  Mavericks were discontinued after 1977.

Four-door Maverick production totaled 595,904 units over its seven-year run, an average of 89,129 cars per model year.  Mercury's Maverick-based Comet sales increased that total by 211,658.  So even allowing for the comparatively low prices of these cars, Ford Motor Company probably did not lose money on the Maverick 4-door.  I should add that aside from front ends and perhaps firewall-cowling structures, the two-door and four-door Maverick bodies were essentially different.  Moreover, in the earlier years of production, the two-door cars outsold the 4-door models.  Let's call the four-door Maverick a qualified sales success.

One problem was bland styling, making the cars forgettable.  (Though Chevy's competing Nova looked pretty bland as well, with sales similar the Maverick's.)  Researching this post using Internet searches, I noticed that I was finding fairly numerous sporty-type 2-door Mavericks for sale, but hardly any 4-door models.  Seems like they were simply purchased, used, then discarded following a few rounds of being passed down to other buyers.

Most of the images below are from Ford or its advertising agency.

Gallery

A 1971 four-door Maverick sedan.  Its horizontal chrome strip that curves over wheel openings was continued for upscale Mavericks through the seven-year production run.

Entry-level '71 sedan.  Though not a beautiful design, it is a presentable, professional styling job.  The flowing fender line reduces blandness and is nicely contrasted by the angular side-window framing.

Rear-quarter view of an entry-level '71.  Nothing much to criticize aside perhaps some of the detailing on the panel with taillights.

1975 Maverick with those heavy, government-mandated bumpers.  Side trim is more elaborate, and vinyl is added atop the passenger compartment.  Maverick sales began to sag noticeably starting in '75.

Final production year.  Due to decreasing sales levels, this car is almost the same as the one in the previous photo.  The various detail add-ons detract from the clean early Maverick lines.

A for-sale entry-level 1975 Maverick lacking the vinyl and other trim items seen in the previous two images.  The horizontal character line seems to have been de-emphasized.