1971 Maverick Grabber

Ford's Maverick debuted for the 1970 model year as a compact intended to compete against the likes of Chevy's Nova and the Dodge Dart. It was initially only available as a base two- or four-door sedan, but for the 1971 model year, a sportily-styled version was introduced, known as the Maverick Grabber.

While it came with snarly-looking scoops on the hood and a ducktail spoiler on the decklid, it was all bark and no bite. The scoops were non-functional dummies and the base motor was still the 170 cubic inch pushrod inline six with a one-barrel carb making a bare hundred horsepower.

The base transmission was a three-speed manual. Optional engines for '71 were the 200 and 250 cubic inch sixes, rated at 115 and 145 horsepower, respectively. With the bigger sixes, a buyer could also order a three speed C4 SelectShift automatic.

Late in the model year Ford finally offered a V-8 option for the Maverick, albeit a two-barrel 302 Windsor rated at 210 SAE gross horsepower. Hot Rod magazine tested a 302 Grabber with a three-on-the-tree in April of 1971 and recorded a best quarter mile e.t. of 17.1 seconds at 85mph. 

The example in the photos, in Medium Yellow Gold, has lost its original grille and front bumper. Since the grille is where the turn signals were mounted, the current owner has rigged amber lamps in the dummy hood scoop inlets to serve as front turn signals.

This one was photographed in Peru, Indiana in April of 2014 using a Canon EOS Rebel XTi and an EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens.

2009 Buick Lucerne CXL

With Oldsmobile getting shuttered in 2004, Buick's portfolio had a bit of room to expand into sportier territory, but this happened at a time when the US auto market was careening SUV-ward at an increasing pace.

In response, Buick shrank their sedan selection by half. The midsize Century and Regal were replaced with the W-body LaCrosse, while the full-size LeSabre and Park Avenue nameplates were binned in favor of the new Lucerne.

The Lucerne shared the G-body front wheel drive platform with the Cadillac DTS. For the 2009 model year, the base version was known as the CX, and there were optional CXL (like the Crystal Red example in the future) and Super packages, with the former being luxury-oriented and the latter more sporting.

Riding on a 115.6" wheelbase, the engine in the CX and CXL was the 3.9L corporate pushrod V-6 rated at 227 horsepower. The Super buyer got the 4.6L DOHC Northstar V-8, making 292 ponies. 

Buick was on one of its heritage styling kicks again, and so "Ventiports" were back on the front fenders, three per side in six cylinder cars and four each on ones with the Northstar. MSRP for the Lucerne CXL was $32,520 which is about $50,600 in current dollars.

This one was photographed with a Nikon D4 and 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR zoom lens in July of 2026.