Cruzin Illusions Secret Build for Dad

I decided that I would start a build thread so everyone can keep up with the progress of the build.

Here is some history on this build:

This was my first post on this forum. (02/04/2008) I have learned quit a bit from everyone on here in the short time I have been introduced to the Maverick world.

I am new to the Maverick world, actually being thrown into it. I recieved a phone call from my brother asking if I wanted to go in halves with him on purchasing a 1972 Maverick Grabber for our dad. My dad owned a 1971 when he was younger and he was quit attached to it. My brother found this Grabber and thought it would be nice to restore it for him. I actually thought it was a great idea because my dad is not really into cars, but for some reason he loved that Maverick. The questions I have are as follows:
Are parts readilly available?
Are body parts available?
What is this car worth?
Should I look for some other car to start with?
What would the car be worth after it was restored?

I have attached a few photos of the car. I would rather find out that this car is not worth it before jumping in with both feet. I have a pretty good fabrication back ground and have put a few award winning show cars together. I have worked as a mechanic at a couple of dealerships and am currently a maintenace supervisor for an airlines. This is a little quick backg ground on my skills and experience. I have no doubt about getting a car up and running and looking good. I just don't want to spend a fortune on a car that will be worth very little in the end or pay to much for what I am getting. I have not done much back ground work on this type of car and am looking for the fast track info on it.

Thanks for your help and comments.

 

After many of the questions that I asked where answered my brother and I went into a holding pattern trying to actually purchase the car.

Here is a copy of the post after we just obtained the title and brought it home. (08/25/2008)

Well after 9 months of trying to get this 1972 Grabber it has come home. The guy we bought it from acquired it in an estate sale. He owns a used car lot so to speak and had it on the side of his business. There were some problems with him getting the title so the whole deal sat still for the nine months. Finally after some escalated discussion with the people he got the car from the lady signed the paperwork releasing the car to him. So after 3 attempts at getting a bonded title he succeeded. Now the work begins.

When my dad came back from Vietnam my mom and my dad purchased a 1971 Maverick. My dad loved that car and speaks of it frequently. My brother came accross this Grabber 10 months ago and said something to my dad about it. So my dad went down and looked at it and fell in love with the car. Everytime he goes to that part of town he drives by to see if it is still there. My brother called me and asked if I would be interested in restoring the car for my dad. Of course I agreed. So thats when the battle for the car started. I am hoping by Christmas 2009 we can give him a restored 1972 Grabber for his Christmas present.

I had a friend who did bodywork for a living come over and look the car over and said that the car was in great shape and had very little rust. He gave me a list of the major parts we will need and we have started to look for them. (Lower front valance and a rust free grabber hood) We already have acquired the left front fender. We should have it completely torn down in a couple of weeks and have it sent to media blasting to find out what is left.

We have not decided if we are going to make it fuel injected or leave it as is. We thought it would be nice to have the car look basically stock on the outside and interior but have a modern day drivetrain under it. The color will probably be Grabber Yellow since his original Maverick came in the lighter yellow.

Well here are some pictures of it at it new home for the next 1 1/2 years.

 

After posting up our intentions to change the color and install a modern drivetrain many of you had your own opinion on the rarety of this car. So after a few suggestions on getting a Marti Report I thought it would be a great thing to do to answer the questions about the color and trim.

Come to find out it was a rare car for having that particular paint and trim code combination. It turns out that the car is 1 of 7 Grabbers built in 1972 with that Paint/Trim Code. Because of your guys suggestions and help we decided that the car would stay bone as delivered from the factory.

Marti Report Numbers:

Your car was one of:

1,748 With this Paint Code
7 With these Paint/Trim Codes
15,861 With these Engine/Transmission Codes
577 Order from DSO
5,232 With Interior Trim Option

For the 1972 Maverick 2-Door Grabber

 

That is a really cool car, the color combo is awesome. Pretty much everything you need to know can and will be found on this site, use the search feature, and when that doesn't answer the questions you have, ask!
A decent rust free Grabber hood will cost you, they are getting harder to find, maybe you body guy could repair the one you have? Mine has had the front lower side totally replaced, and it turned out great, as for the lower valance, used ones shouldn't be hard to find.
You need to get a Marti Report on that car, it's worth it.(oops I was posting at the same time as you)
Keep the car those colors!!!!

 

We decided that we would do a complete rotisserie restoration and needed to have the car torn down and sent to Media Blast before the snow started to fly here in Colorado. So to work we went being careful to inventory, label and file all the hardware and pieces.

 

Looks like a solid car to begin with. Good luck.

 

The more pictures I see, the better it looks!! That a nice solid car, well worth the work your putting into it.

 

Nice solid car to work with. You got that stripped down fairly quickly.

 

I figure we are about two hours away from finishing the tear down except for the suspension. We will remove the suspension once I get the rotisserie to the garage. We will then take it down and have the media blasting done and I guess we will what is left of the car. It is a really clean car from what I can see which is most of it.

I do want to thank the ones out there helping locate the parts I need. You are all a great help. Our goal is to have it completed by Christmas 2009.

 

Very cool!!! Personally, I wouldn't care how rare it was. Its still just a Maverick and I would build it any way I wanted. JMO

How much does it cost to have a car media blasted?

 

It will cost use around $750.00 to $900.00. When it is done you will definately know what is wrong with the car. All the paint, bondo, and rust will be gone.