Would the removal of the halo top on a 74' grabber be a wise move(it is perfect but just don't like that look)Was that a unique option,Something worth saving or not? The resto. won't be custom other than 73 back bumpers,rear spoiler,tires and wheels.and paint.:confused: :confused: :confused:
vinal top fordnut, I would leave the vinal top alone if it is in good conditoin. It was an option on all Mavericks, at least in 1974. It was typical in thoughs days on a lot of cars. My car does have the vinal top, Ive grewn to like it. I ordered my first Maverick Grabber new with out the top to save money. It is just my opinion but, I think the car is a '74 it should look like it That includes the bumpers. If the data plate says vinal top I think it should be there, if possible. I now other people could care less espically if they entend to modify there car. And thats OK! My car looks Stock except for Cregar SS wheels. These cars are 30 years old now. There aren't to many left to show what that car was. If you eleminate top, you could make some money for thoses halo vinal top trim picses on ebay
I think you answered your own question. If you dont like it, get rid of it. Otherwise every time someone compliments your car, you'll find yourself saying, "thanks, but I dont like that roof" I hear this more than once at any show. Besides, if it really is perfect condition, now is the time to get rid of it before rust bubbles start popping up.
fordnut; I don't personally like the vinyl top look, and Dennis is right, remove it before rust becomes a factor, and you have to remove it. A smooth roof just looks better, imho. Good luck with it, either way you go. Earl
Production fordnut, Just thought you might like to know that there were 301,048 1974 Mavericks built, only 23,502 were Grabbers. A V8 Maverick weighed 2855lbs. Your vinal top was a $83.00 option!
That is just insane. Some of you people have way to much time on your hands. Well I guess I am in the same boat. I am doing all this research and learning now because I HAVE NO MONEY to work on my car. By the way where do you find information like that?
Maverick Information fordnut, My appraiser. Ron Monastiere supplied me with extra information when he appraised my car. He is a lawyer and he has ways to get lots of information. He appraised my car at $10,000 last year. He said the Maverick I increasing in value and popularity as did Hagerty collector insurance co. Your car is worth more than think. If you change anything, keep the orginal parts.
Hey FordNut, these kinda questions are the most difficult, you have alot of different people with alot of different opinions. Some that are Stock look fans, some are Modified fans, but one thing you have to remember is this is your car and if you are going to build it you might as well build what you want. Do it the way you want it the first time that way you don't have to do it again . You are the one that you have to please, not us, no matter what you do with your project there will be people that like what you did and those that don't. Just make sure you are happy with your choices This is just my .02 take it how ever you want.
Ok, I'm going to weigh in on this one... Several years ago I bought a Maverick with the intention of restoring it. It had a decent looking vinyl top on it but I decided that I'd remove it in favor of the clean look of the metal roof. So one day I remove all the trim and begin pulling off the old top, only to discover that there was another vinyl top (the original one) under it! I thought "oh *%#@, I'm in trouble". Well, trouble doesn't even begin to describe what came next. I finished pulling off the first top, then the second only to find the absolute worst rust I've ever seen on the top of a car. There were holes the size of silver dollars all over it and you could see down through to the headliner. A total loss. A previous owner had obviously spotted a rust problem and instead of fixing it, he just covered it up. I had to cut off the entire top of the car and replace it with another panel that was good. As fate would have it, I ended up installing a new vinyl top over the restoration because I intended to paint the car black and I was afraid that any imperfections in the seams where it was welded would show up in the sunlight. I also installed sub-frame connectors in case any structural integrity was lost due to cutting the top. My point you ask? After many hours and hundreds of dollars later, I ended up with the same thing I started with - a vinyl top. Now I'm not saying that I wouldn't have done the restoration because it surely needed it, but if your top is the original and it's in good shape, I'd be inclined to leave it alone, as you could be in for more than you bargained for. As for looks, many before me have already stated that it's up to your personal taste, and like my old grandpappy used to say, "do what you want, you're going to anyway!" Good luck! Sam
I agree with Grabber Joe- I have had cars in the past that were altered from their original appearance, but the older I get the more I feel that it is important to restore cars to their original appearance. It is the car's personality, and it is important to retain that, since there are so few unadulterated examples left. Here is an example.... I bought a beat 1969 Pontiac Catalina Convertible. It needed a complete resto, including paint and a new top and tires. The car was clearly an undesirable 60's shade of green car, and I could have chosen any color. after deliberating, I kept it the original color. It turns out that new paint is new paint, and it looks GREAT. Than came the top... I found out that it originally had a dark green top, but I wanted to put a black top on the car. I eventually talked myself into going with the original green top, The contrast between the green body and green top turned out to look AMAZING, I could not have known that from the condition of the car when I got it, and I never would have known if I put on the black top. It also turns out that other accents on the car now worked into the look of the car for a cohesive look... the side moldings matched the top color, and the seatbelts, carpeting etc also worked into the color scheme. I decided against the stock whitewalls... instead I put on white letters. But you know what? The tires never looked right on the car. I eventually switched to the stock BF Goodrich whitewalls, and let me tell you.... this car looks like it has been reborn. It looks the way it was meant to look, and it is a thing of beauty that young kids can look at and see an authentic old car, with the correct and popular color combination of the 60's, and whitewalls which are really a rarity in themselves nowadays. I think cars should be kept as true to their manufacturers' intended looks as possible, because I don't think we humble car restorers really have a better sense of style than the Detroit professional designers!! I also predict that unaltered cars will hold their long-term value better.... exactly BECAUSE one person's taste is not that of another, and who is to say that the future owner will appreciate your modifications. (Just some food for thought)!
when i got my 71 grabber it was still painted the original grabber blue color with a minor front end damage (yes including the grabber hood darnit!). i wanted to make the car into a black police style interceptor like in the mad max movies and that is what i did but i sometimes think what if i restored it to its original? what if i didnt remove all the chrome and powdercoat it black? im very happy with my car but it no longer looks like a grabber. it looks like a real mean machine ill post pics sometime! my point is really think about what you want. no matter what you will have regrets as all of us do. go for what will leave you with the least amount of regret. that rust problem described above sounds like a big regret. my oh my! good luck though!! mike
