New Grabber Guy... About the car? Maybe someone's seen it years ago in Minnesota?!!?

Hello again to all.

This is Dan, I live in San Diego. I recently picked up a ‘73 Grabber which led to this board and all of its knowledgeable Maverick/Comet fans. I'm stoked to meet so many good people who share their fondness for these mechanical creatures.


I’ll tell you what I know of the car and if nothing else, will create a history (moving forward anyway) of this particular 1973 Maverick Grabber:

I purchased the car locally in San Diego from an Ex-Marine. He had purchased the car as a project toy from a ‘car-guy’ in his old apartment complex (around 2007) after seeing it set under cover for a few years. The gentlemen he bought the car from conveyed little of the car’s history; he seemed to have only acquired it amongst other projects and it had sat since. I understood the wheels and tires had been added already (17 inch, Mustang?).
This marine was single at the time and worked on the car when he could with friends. He didn’t know much about cars, so he had another ‘smarter’ Marine [(uh-oh)…..I can say that as an Ex-sailor!] work on it.
The tranny had ‘issues’ (not sure exactly what) so he had it inspected at a AAMCO. AAMCO (surprise!) said it needed a $3800 C4 Tranny (they make theirs of gold you know). The marine got a rebuilt unit Auto Zone for $800 and had it installed. He seemed to recall they used the same torque convertor(?), tho I haven’t confirmed. After replacing the tranny, they determined the car was running crappy because the carb was just too much (750 dual feed), so they put on a used 600. He says he put MAYBE 25 miles over the course of a those years.
He has since gotten out of the marines, married, and expecting a child with his new lovely wife. I recently purchased the car not running, with the 750 carb in the trunk, and as a complete unknown.
After a quick going over, it needed a fuel pump. $26 at Auto Zone and it was fired off. After some earball tuning, the car sounded like a friggin moon rocket ready to rock. I was crapping my pants as it sounded awesome and had a rickety assed cam.
My guess is it (the cam) doesn’t like much under 3000, but I’m guessing at this point. I dumped 5 gals of fresh pump booze and limped it around the block. It ran like a drunken and bored pig. My guess is that it wasn’t built for the street, but again… I’m guessing. I’ve personally never had a car with a radical cam, so I am making some blind conclusions.
Either way, I was hesitant to push it as I was unsure of the brakes and the car’s overall mechanics. It was a little ‘wobbly’ (tires with flat spots needing some air for sure); I’m not as stupid fearless as I once was. I had noticed the carb secondary linkage sticking while driving and someone had stolen the registration sticker, so I stayed conservative to test it under better circumstances.
The tranny seemed to shift fine, the car just seem to be falling on its face and very out of its element. We put had put a timing light on it but didn’t see a timing mark, but we had both agreed it sounded mean sitting still!


I have a few questions as I’m trying to figure out what it is and what it’s been. Unfortunately, I don’t have much previous owner (knowledgeable anyway) history. I’m hoping maybe someone who is lurking around this website recognizes this old Maverick and can help me figure it out! I’m sure it was probably a weekend warrior as it has no cage, but it would seem to have spent at least part of its life at the track as it has a host of older go fast goodies:
· A (block year unknown, mayble original) Roller motor
· A very snotty cam (specs unknown) that doesn’t like to idle, lol.
· MSD (older) ignition with Accel Super Coil
· 9 inch rear (I believe)
· Ladder bars with snubbers
· Nice full operational gauges (tho older)
· Line-loc set up
· B&M floor shifter
· 750 dual feed Holley in trunk (now has 600 Edelbrock)
· Nice custom headers with removable ‘track dumps’ before the muffler


It has been local to San Diego for some years (six or so at least), so it is definitely a transplant. It still sports the original paint with the exception of the lower body white touch-ups. It still sports a sticker from a dealership: “RD Miller’s, St Cloud, Minnesota” (used car dealer I believe in Minnesota which I think is still in business), so I at least have a clue. Also interesting, it has ghost outlines on the trunk-lid (vinyl stickers?) saying “Thanks to: with a list of names of sponsors or people who helped with the car???? Maybe from race days I’d presume. There’s another on the roof over the door, with what looks like maybe the cars track name under the (touched-up) white paint around the rear tail light panel.



It now says 6,000 and some change on the odometer. I know it sounds crazy, but I don’t doubt it’s actually 6,000 original miles. Sit in the original buckets and I swear they they feel as pert and supportive as the day they left the factory (as much as any ‘73 car did anyway). The seams between show cracking from age on the seat, but the vinyl, headliner and seemingly original carpet is in excellent shape otherwise.
The hood has, what appears to be original ‘Grabber’ decals with ‘cowl’ (or ram air) induction. I’m no expert, but I understand this to be a 73 hood with earlier cowl type likely added on based only on my limited research on this site. It still sports what I think to be its original paint. The cars body is extremely straight with some corrosion under the car, basically just forward and under the footwells.

Admittedly, I haven’t had the time yet to fully go thru the car as I’m a pretty busy person between work and family. I’ve decoded the trim tag the best I could with limited knowledge and understand it to be a real Grabber with the correct paint and interior. The rest is… left to be determined. Any thoughts or comments from all would be appreciated! I will put some photos up in the next few days. Thank you again to all for any thoughts or support!

 

Sounds like an interesting car. We love pics, the more the better!

 

Sounds like a great project to bring back to its old glory. But we gotta see the pics.

Just noticed you have some pics in your other thread http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=84415
It looks like you are missing the front lower valance, from fender to fender below the front bumper. This may be hard to find because 73 is a year of its own fo rthe front bumper and valance panel. I happen to know where a 73 valance panel is but I dont think shipping it from here to there would be a good option.

 

I believe there are some of the pieces in the car. I know that sounds completely ignorant, but in the very limited time I've had to spend on the car... I was focused on hearing it run. Will collect a bucket of pics to post/reference.

 

If the 3rd and 4th number on the vin# is a 93 it is a Grabber. If it is a 91 it is a regular 2dr. Would love to see some pics of it. Welcome to the board.

 

to the board...

 

Pics of Door (Sill) Tag and Dealer Tag (Minnesota)

These are the only pics I have on my phone (I took them the 1st night when I bought the car). I will get post more as I'm planning on spending some time working on it today. I'm hoping no one will forgive for not detailing it first.

Should I be in the wrong forum for posting too many pics and info... my apologies.

 

Welcome from another So-cal member!

Your list of cars sounds awesome

 

Wow, that's a low number car, my Green 73 is 3K93F106473, it was built September 1972. Yours is pretty early, Nice!!
Yours is the lowest sequential number Kansas built 73, I've seen.
You should get a Marti Report for it, www.martiautoworks.com

 

Yeah... 'those' cars---Thanks!
Every time I start to get started on one, something else comes along and you gotta have it. I spose it keeps us outta trouble... till we get caught driven them sideways.

 

Thanks for that suggestion. regarding the Marti Report. Just ordered it, should take a few days.
Is it appropriate to post results for all to see? I don't see why not... anyone could get the report if they didn't mind shelling out the $$.
Is there any downside (potential) to posting pics of the vin/doortag? I think it's cool to share, but is it inviting trouble?

 

I "personally" would not post the complete VIN...but that is just me.

 

I don't think it's a big deal, some guys worry about everything. If some goes to that much trouble to steal a Maverick...
I did change my screen name, after a few weird phone calls....

 

Update: "CRAZY HORSE"

For anyone curious, I took a good look at the car's name under the white paint likely painte over years ago at a used car dealership, likely so it DIDN'T look like a race car.
Anyway, the car's name is CRAZY HORSE (or was anyway). I will attempt to post pics, but to get them to fit, the resolution will probably suffer, so you won't likely make out the letters as I was able to.
On the top of the car, it looked the drivers name over the door was "CRAIG." Not sure if anyone around ST CLOUD, MINNESOTA has any memory of knowledge of a car fitting this description... it's interesting non-the-less.

Have to roll at the moment, but will post pics for anyone who might be interested later.

 

Received Marti Report...Thoughts?

Received the Marti Report, hoping to be able to attach. This is my first time reviewing one...Thoughts?