Mega-RPM '71 Maverick Stick-Shift Screamer | Coyote-Swapped NMRA Ford Factory Stocker

Mike Bowen gives us an inside look at his awesome 1971 Factory Stock Maverick that runs 10.0 in NMRA trim and has gone low 9s with a mostly stock Coyote. Plus it has a stick! Give it a watch and check out our other stick-shift drag car features. And please don't forget to subscribe, like and drop a comment.

[@CJColvin]

The old-school Maverick looks a million times better than the new Maverick truck does.

[@jeffschwartz5199]

Lol yeah but what is it 🤔 . The thing they're calling a Maverick . Kinda like the Mustang Spark "E" . Why is "that " a Mustang ?

[@CJColvin]

@@jeffschwartz5199 The new Maverick is basically a hideous crossover with a pickup bed and it's cheaply made in Mexico as well.

[@jeffschwartz5199]

@@CJColvin you kind of missed the point . I suppose the Mustang wasn't really designed after a horse , but it helped in sales with the horses (Mustangs) running along side

[@CJColvin]

@@jeffschwartz5199 True. Ford should've called the Maverick truck the Ranchero or Courier instead.

[@jeffschwartz5199]

@@CJColvin Rancheroo

[@dougpendleton1266]

I love this type of content, covering a hot rod that a working person can build and enjoy!!

[@jackflash6377]

Beautiful car! Love the sound of the coyote screaming, love the wheelie !!! To me that's real racing.

[@CJColvin]

Thats one badass little Ford Maverick and that Coyote V8 is definitely badass.

[@alexcorona]

When I was growing up nobody liked the Mavericks and always called them a pinto upgrade....it's amazing to see all the love they're getting now a days. I always thought they looked so good,( well 69-72 models). Wish I kept mine. I wrote several articles on the maverick forum that are still up, on suspension and other things.

[@suzyjohnson4667]

Just the opposite where I grew up. Everybody liked Mavericks except the GM knuckle heads.

[@MarcoRodriguez-lr2xt]

my dad has a clean 1970 maverick. Neat car. I have a 65 falcon 2 door sedan.

[@suzyjohnson4667]

@@MarcoRodriguez-lr2xt Cool cars! I have a few in my stable as well. Not to boast or brag, among them Ford GT'S. If you were around I'd give you a ride my friend.

[@merc-ni7hy]

i like mavericks too...dad owned 2 mavericks..friends have mavericks.,,i had a really cool 72 ...and a 70,,and took my drivers test in one

[@ljsites]

Funny how the pintos dominated pro stock in the early 1970s. Oh, and a 4 door maverick (Gapp and Roush), yeah that Roush, did pretty good too!

[@chuckselvage3157]

I always thought the Maverick was a great looking car and this one's a beast.

[@347mav3]

This little car is the coolest car in Coyote stock!!! Looks as good in person as it does here.

[@motownXJdad9565]

man thats a badass car!!! love the grabber blue paint. there was one that used to cruise Telegraph rd in Detroit the late 90s that could be its twin. i got lots of love for Mavericks. we street raced a real 72 grabber in Detroit, in the late 90s-2006. a full weight V8 Maverick from the factory was only 2700lbs. ours started as a 306 on nitrous, and evolved into a small tire terror with a 434w with high ports, C4 with brake, and ladder bar coil overs, it went 8.90 @153 at the track and was so light it would hook in a car wash. the car was a teal blue mettalic and was purchased by someone in Columbus Ohio. after our freind Tofie Haddad was killed me and my dad had no desire to street race anymore

[@aguyinnc2865]

Love this car! A friend of mine had one way back when we were in high school, same color. Intake, Holley, cam, it was legendary back then. Miss those days!

[@busslayer4790]

I love that the cars all wheelie in this class. It seems less common to see cars do that these days.

[@phitownhustler4802]

Miss the old Mavericks. Badass car. Had a buddy back in the early 80s with one that had a Boss 302 in it. What a rocketship

[@gimmefuel7268]

My first car was a Maverick Grabber & I’ve absolutely loved those cars ever since. 🤗❤️

[@henrys.6864]

Love that Maverick! Congrats on your win, Mike! 👍🇺🇲

[@billlittlejohn2331]

You pull some really good wheelies. I'm impressed with how after it comes back down the car plants and stays there! Well built car.

[@drtb69]

The LS and LT's are super nice old tech, but the coyote is so dependable and makes more hp per cubic inch in all the testing...the perfect air pump

[@tommyfrombama4834]

That thing sounds great at full song. I love this car. I would also love to see him do the Thunderbolt.

[@HoosierDaddy_]

Man, Evan, you know the best cars for us Ford fans! Another home run! Love these old Fords!

[@revanevan]

Thanks Brad

[@kramrollin69]

@@revanevan Great video. Love the Maverick/Comets, great cars. Thought you might like to watch an Aussie tv/cinema Advert from back in 2017, for a Auto parts group, that featured a nice tough Maverick. See if you can pick the cars ....Enjoy. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZLQlH-QgcajoJo

[@henchicken1]

Awesome! They were sleepers when equipped with the 302. I smoked many unsuspecting foes at red lights back when there were millions of Mavericks and Comets out there! Air cleaner lid flipped and turbo jet single exhaust it was badd ass...

[@rono3045]

I know that coyotes fast but I still like the sound of an old school 351 Cleveland or 460 pushrod motor better

[@curtclark5584]

Nice. First car was a 72 maverick. I ended up putting a 351w into it, a high stall conv and 4.11 gears. It pulled hard and was fun to drive.

[@joehawkins5166]

Looks like old friends of mine old machine. Roy pounds an son Jeff....they was fast and consistent.... Boaz, Alabama, hammer on brother,,,,, long rest Roy's soul, god bless.

[@Dooguy]

Another great shifter racer from PA! RIP Jerry Dick

[@donaldkerns1560]

It's sweet

[@jerryb9591]

Love the patina. Definitely one beautiful Maverick

[@humbuzztube]

My brother built and raced Fords for SCCA club road racing in Portland. First with a 2.0 Pinto (dual 48 mm side draft Weber’s, later single turbo) but that class included 350 corvettes… not competitive. By STOCK they mean it regarding the engine. Next up was a 71 302 Maverick. Grabbed Comet GT / Comet Police brakes & other parts. Same class as VW Rabbits. Faster on the straights but a beast to slow in the corners. The Trans Am Mustang mod books showed that the Maverick was essentially a Mustang, so he did all the Boss 302 Trans Am chassis mods. I’d love to build a 351 Cleveland Maverick as a tribute to my late brother. Mavericks suffered with a pedestrian interior and styling-wise overstayed its welcome while Ford slapped on hideous oversized bumpers. But early stying was snappy in the right trim and is a fairly economical alternative to a vintage Mustang nowadays.

[@dougsguitarlounge7927]

That's a great car! Mavericks never get much love, but I like them. Love that 5.0 too!

[@sydneymarie67]

My first car was a 71 comet. Loved those cars

[@rickriggs7233]

Great video!! Badass maverick!!! Kicking it old school and rowing the boat!!!

[@rickcooper2750]

Mike certainly has a Bad Unit !! Always enjoy talking to him at the track. Glad he was able to get some attention as it's not the cookie cutter coyote.

[@jdb-lu3bp]

Can't go wrong with the maverick! Nice pick.

[@jaredkish8716]

Bad ass! I use to have a 71 maverick grabber I traded a foxbody coupe for. I didn’t build it, but it Had a 351 Cleveland, C4 auto, 3k stall, 9” rear end, and ladder bars. Things hooked up and went! Never got to run it at the strip tho.

[@SpressoHead]

I had three Mav’s back in the late 70’s thru mid 80’s, including a ‘72 Grabber with a swapped ‘85 Mustang GT 302. Loved those cars. Would love to have one again. Beautiful car Mike!

[@theburnoutbox9736]

That was just awesome I’ve always liked Mavericks and this one has got some balls

[@onefortheroad2291]

Of all the videos you do, these are my favorite kind! Just a nice blend of entertainment and good info!

[@revanevan]

Thanks, they are fun to do.

[@Gracie289]

I bought a brand new 1971 white Grabber with a 302 and C-4 automatic. I loved that car!!!

[@gregkistner1955]

Had a 72 Maverick and a 74 Comet both nice reliable cars!

[@toddbob55]

71-72 Maverick Grabbers are good looking cars.

[@mimiandjoe632]

Grew up with Maverick, first car ever was $200, a '70' straight 6 stock from Michigan complete with body rot every lower panel. Rode it to Colorado, rode it to California. Love seeing this. Thanks Mike for doing this. Not many 71's left on the planet.

[@EvilSSP]

Evan: Talks about the suspension as if it's a handicap Car: Damn near does a backflip off the line.

[@revanevan]

It did come off like that, but it was more a comparison as to how well Foxbody cars work in the class and the fact that there are very few leaf spring stick cars in NMRA.

[@gloriamaletta8667]

Small tire over 2 foot wheelie launches and looks fairly stock love it

[@Wootangtw]

Awesome car… I’d like to drive it down the parking lot at work… doing a wheelie… lol

[@neilschlemeel5751]

I have a Hot Rod magazine from the EARLY 70's that features a Maverick racer "10-second six (cylinder)

[@joeyb6378]

I always Thought Mavericks we’re good cars I know some people dis, but light weight and came with a V-8 they were only one of the cool cars of the 70s .Out west they were always a prize for ford drag cars. Like the channel I’m a Ford guy and I’m a stick shift guy Thanks

[@arkhsm]

That's just one Fudge Caken awesome unit, what more can I say.... oh, I can also say well set up and driven !!

[@Brutalford]

Love the maverick wish there were more of them built and around..Ford Brazil built them I believe until the 80s

[@JC-gw3yo]

Impressive package... See what a little Ford faith will do !!

[@novawagon1965]

Cool 👍 always liked Maverick's and the Mercury Comet Wanted to order a 72 Comet GT in 72 but missed the order cut off date and the 73 had the ugly front bumper. I Like this Maverick it's bada*s!!

[@kylevantassel7259]

I love this freaking car..... It says everything you need to know about a Ford..... "What kinda RPM you turn ?" ALL OF IT...................

[@rustybritches6747]

this car is so sick! I've watched this video so many times, love the color!

[@mikecurtis2585]

I always liked Mavericks. That Coyote sounds great 👍. Thanks 😊🙏

[@revanevan]

You're welcome.

[@bartmormino907]

Had 1 when I was a kid and boy do I wish I had 1 today.

[@fernandochaves9665]

Beautiful Maverick...

[@gearhead682010]

My Dad and Mom had a 1972 Mod Maverick that was the same color as this one but it had the chrome side pipes and it was 302 Boss powered with the 4 speed manual gearbox. For being 100% factory stock I never seen or heard of a loss in a street race 😉

[@mitchellyardanoff4666]

Cool parents !

[@DonkeyEvo]

Awesome car, love the patina.

[@hangonsnoop]

I think that the Maverick was one of the best looking US cars of the 70's.

[@72MAV]

What a BEAST FORD MAVERICK!!!!! Love that car!!! AWESOME!

[@Marine2111usmc]

Local home town hero. Keep it up Mike.

[@coyoteslugger3936]

Such an underrated muscle car. There's stories out there Ford had to increase the price of the Maverick because they were outselling the Mustangs. The Maverick bloodline runs in my family.

[@lizzyobrien2376]

They were, it wasn’t even close. Not only that, and don’t tell the Mustang fans this, but on the streets, a mildly warmed over 200 or 250 I6 Maverick would beat V8 Mustangs and Camaros. While the Mustangs and Camaros would sit there and spin their wheels, the Mavericks would just drive across the intersection.

[@henchicken1]

I owned six or more over the years. They were so easy to work on it was almost fun...

[@scottvincent7666]

Enjoyed the 8.8/9” conversation.🤘🤘

[@njseashorechas2698]

Thanks Evan and Mike! Some more amazing fun facts! Keep up the great work!

[@carlhobbs6109]

My first car was a 71 maverick. 200 6 cylinder with the 3 on the tree. It was a good car!! Good on gas too! I wish that I still had it. I haven't seen one on the road in years.

[@michaelcarmean4906]

💥 Now That Car Runs… What a Sleeper💥

[@neilschlemeel5751]

Its fun to watch the Maverick beat all those mustangs

[@blainedyck3836]

I’ve got a 75 maverick I put a 429 auto with a big bearing 9” diff , thing is nuts .

[@ricksteffan1783]

the Maverick is one excellent looking car

[@BobbyOfEarth]

As a kid, warming a section of bench on Sat. nights and Sundays at Fremont drag strip, while my dad was making passes, it was his friend Ed Terry, that got all the attention, racing a 1962 factory Ford Galaxie w/406. Staying glued to the beach wasn't fun but, I also consider myself fortunate to have witnessed early drag racing before the Tree.. and, I watched the evolution of drag racing and learned about the cars, all the cars! Rented Hurst Mustangs notwithstanding, forever etched into my mind are the fastest door slammer cars at Fremont; Cobras, L88 Vette's, Grand Sport Buicks and Cobra Jet Mustangs. Even more significant, on a personal level, was watching Ed Terry race his Ford drag team 1970 Maverick, named "The Silver Bullet" ..I believe it was tuned by John Healey, Ed ran it at Fremont about every weekend.. it was just cool hanging around, dude was a real cool cat.. His shop in Hayward was like a museum of 60's/70's Ford cars and.. his double stack engine bay was something to behold.. dozens of the most highly sought after Ford race engines imaginable..

[@joenobody2580]

YEEEAH COYOTE 💪🏻👊🏻🤙🏻

[@douggruver3601]

Gen 1 Coyote, amazing!

[@1maydayme]

NICE RIDE !!!

[@georgecooke9010]

HOLY GREAT GRABBER BLUE MAVERICK BATMAN! GREAT CAR! SAW A STICK 302 MAVI AT CECIL CO. DRAGWAY RUNNING 12.2S SO I ASKED HIM WHAT THE NO2 DID? HE SAID WATCH AND RAN 10.2 SPINNING 1ST OUT FOR 30'. I LOVE MAVERICKS ESPECIALLY THE GAP AND ROUSCH DAYS AT YORK US30. GREAT VIDEO SIR!

[@josephnewcomb5670]

I remember watching this car run at Beech bend :)

[@deeda44]

The Girard boys Mike and Chris 1 and 2 way to go love to watch that maverick launch

[@victorxavier9977]

Cool car 😎👍

[@lhv8]

Nice, I love Mavericks

[@Freakingstang]

Glad to see beach bend hasn’t changed. Love that track. I believe the hard limiter is 8500

[@drtb69]

My first car was 70 mav! Congrats Mike you ran a great event in B.G.

[@bigretardhalo]

Great racing coverage, love it 👍

[@boatdoctor100]

Love It!! Good old 1/4 mile racing

[@paultucker1272]

What a cool car! There aren't many Mavericks over here in the UK, so that was great to watch :)

[@calvincooley1074]

Not a whole lot of them here either. Lol even fewer model cars available as well. If you find a kit it's over $100 and I've seen them up tto $350.

[@Enigma-Sapiens]

Great video, car & driver, thanks, Evan!

[@revanevan]

Thanks

[@stevefife7598]

This is one really nice Maverick, put together really nice. Really like these older fords Mavericks and Pinto's.

[@kevinschaan5678]

One cool car I still have a soft spot for maverick’s.

[@mustanghuey89]

Love the car! Who said old isnt better! Lol!!!!

[@gloriamaletta8667]

Not big on Ford but this coyote 5.0 in a maverick is pretty cool more simple than a new mustang and at least 600 pounds or more less in weight and electronics and you know no headaches cool maverick screamer like 60s 70s 80s cars

[@neildougherty3377]

Had one of these love the grabber blue

[@The_Performance_Laboratory]

Super cool car.

[@sergeantmasson3669]

Our 1971 Maverick Grabber could run such numbers too with slicks and open exhaust. It has a 5.8 HO engine, C6 transmission and 9" rear with Detroit Locker 4:30 gears. It turns low 11's consistently and has done high tens twice.

[@bigthunder2860]

Its nice when the driver knows how to work on the car

[@BeCoShooter]

Very cool!

[@gandhi_assuncao]

Bealtiful car

[@decremadenip1626]

Hello RE, Great car and video! God Bless!

[@revanevan]

Thank you.

[@smavtmb2196]

Sweet car I love Mavericks. They are unique and have great potential. I own a 69.5 Maverick I have big plans for it.

[@davidlong7265]

Kool ride! Love it.

[@Cookie-Dough-Dynamo]

Someone get the Maverick owner together with Uncle Tony!

[@86FxBdyCpe]

My first car in high school, in 1983, was a 1971 Maverick. Unfortunately it wasn't the super cool blue Grabber model but instead a super ugly mustard yellow version with a lame 200 ci six cylinder. Definitely no chick magnet. Even my grandmother's '72 was better with the optioned 260 ci motor. Love how you can still the outline of the door lock guards that were so popular in the 80's. Awesome car man.

[@DavidsPerformanceGarage]

Love this car. Need my maverick build to run like that

[@josephfriedling9190]

Great video Evan!

[@billstreber5194]

Boy he really didn't want to answer what he launched that car at did he lol

[@revanevan]

Nope, he rebounded well though.

[@markjettner2004]

Awsome !!!¡

[@henchicken1]

With some work this car would make an awesome pro touring ride..... After you make it the Mavzilla!