1971 Ford Maverick....possible 'LDO' option concept vehicle?

http://www.gordieboucherford.com/ce...e0a0e0ae80954dfcc529e4904.htm?searchDepth=1:1

This is weird one, folks. For those who aren't up on the Ford Maverick, in 1971 they brought out a 4-door version. In 1972, they debuted a 'Luxury Decor Option', with some speccific trim items - color-matched vinyl-insert side moldings. color-keyed wheel covers, nice 'leather-look' vinyl bucket seats (from a 1st-gen Mercury Capri), etc. Quite a good-looking rig.

Well, this one here is a 1971 model, and looks like an 'LDO' option vehicle, but with some differences. The seats look like real leather, and it has a rear pillar 1/3 'opera' window, that looks like it came off a '77 LTDII sedan - never offered on the Maverick.

What's going on here?

Can somebody help me with posting pics? They only show up for me as HTML pages.

 

If I didn't know any better, I'd think someone 'customized' it to its current setup, then added much newer goodies to it. Those 'opera' windows do resemble the LTD II windows, so it's possible they were added as part of the customization. Also, it says '4-cylinder;' did someone shove in a 2.3L while no one was looking? I could swear the 2.3's were only in the Pintos. Hell, customization? It could have a Ranger 4-cylinder drivetrain.

 

It says, 1.6 liter which never even appeard in a Pinto. Pintos all had 2 liter Capri engines. The Maverick was one of the worst handling vehicles I had ever driven. The power sterering fed nearly no roadfeel back. It had the modern bumpers. The one pictured, being lighter, could only have handled better. Especially, if it doesn't have the power steering option. The one pictured is, in my view, the best looking series. Bumpers make quite a difference. I like the extra glass, also. We like extra glass on Vista Cruisers and old German buses. So, why not?

 

It has a 302 under the hood, if you scroll through the pics. I have no idea what I'm looking at here.... It has a sliding sunroof, Mustang steering wheel with a Maverick emblem, Capri seats, those weird 1/4 windows, chrome Mustang wheels...weird. This had GOT to be someone's add-options that "could-have-been" custom car. It's interesting, and well done, but now $20K well done. It's maybe $6-8K well done.... Maybe. The ONLY reason it would be worth more is if it's some kind of a factory-made show car.

 

Right. But a show car, built when? I say it's much newer.

 

I swear it must be me, but does it seem like the wheelbase is longer than a standard sedan Maverick?

 

It's you.

 

It's now been verified as a real Ford 'concept vehicle' called the 'Maverick LTD'

http://mavericknahistoria.blogspot.com/2016/10/1972-maverick-ltd.html

 

Nice. I wonder if they tweaked the suspension to suit? Then again, if rack and pinion steering was installed, they'd likely tell us in that article. All good ideas. But, for which market? Were they planning an early world car? In any event, it's worth the 20 grand, if 100% complete. An inflatable doll in the image of that model sitting in there should guarantee at least the asking price, at auction.

 

That's sweet. If I were a Maverick nut, I'd be all over that.

 

Did you tell us the story of your GSX before, Brad? That's quite a car! Was it done in-house by the Buick team, or by an outside firm, like ASC?
And how did you wind up as its owner?

 

Very interesting. Wondering why Ford did not go all the way with PW and more.