I just brought my Maverick in for an inspection and had to hear YET AGAIN the same silly question:

WHY A MAVERICK? Why not a Mustang?

Well, after hearing this for about the 20th time my answers came very easy. Here is some ammo for the next time your asked...

1. Everyone has a Mustang, but you took NOTICE that this was not one!

2. It's called a Maverick for a reason Buddy, to be different from the rest of the crowd!

3. It's preserving a piece of Ford history that doesn't follow the crowd.

4. If you smash your Mustang, another is $500 away in a junkyard. Mavericks are a breed apart and take CARE to maintain.

5. Maverick owners KNOW what a great car it is and don't have the Pony Pack telling them what they *should* buy.

6. How about the six (count 'em 6) classic Mustang owners that wanted to trade me my Maverick for thier ride. No thanks.

7. Last, but not least, the $19,000 offer from the owner of the inspection station for my Mav. Sure made me feel good, but no thanks, I built this for me, and my son after me. Get your own

* * * * *

So far I have over 5 years and in excess of $11,500 in this car and I put it about halfway from where I want it to be. I purchased it for $500.00 off a freeway used-auto shiester with a worn-out 250 engine that fumigated all of Houstons' mosquitoes for a year on the drive home.

I've endured untold friends, family and aquaintences that said to give up on this "heap", get a Mustang and join the "crowd". After all of this time, effort, bloody nuckles and sweat these same people are wondering why it's not "done" yet so they can drive it (!).

Recently, a friend I've not seen in awhile stopped by. In doing so he was amazed at the progress to date but acted ho-hum. When I opened the hood he almost fell over. Shiny new 302 gleaming back at him (he owns a Mustang Fastback, not sure what year). He rode my butt for the better part of 1/2 hour about what a waste of time a Maverick is compared to his 'Stang. Then I let him drive it.

Guess what?

That now makes seven (7) Mustang owners that have offered to trade.

No thanks, I'll keep my "heap".

Why do Mustang owners want a nice Maverick? I suspect it has something to do with "getting away from the crowd". To bad they figured out too late what us Maverick and Comet owners knew all along.