Reviving the Undesirable: The Maverick Makeover of the World’s Most Hated Ford
The Ford Maverick Guilty Pleasure: Meet the Truck That Was Meant to Be a Modder’s Dream
As you might expect, joining a Facebook car group can be a wild ride. Just ask Vincent Bertucci, who recently acquired a heavily modified Ford Maverick. His new ride has a tuned 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine, a 57-millimeter turbo from a Ranger, and Focus RS brakes. For those familiar with the Maverick community, this truck was once the go-fast hero, capturing eyeballs at SEMA and snagging magazine features at every turn.
A Truck Born from Controversy
However, the story surrounding this truck is anything but simple. It was once the property of Ivan Gonzalez, the founder of Fast Mavericks, a company that has been at the center of a highly publicized controversy. In 2020, we published a report exposing the company’s questionable business practices, with multiple customers claiming they were scammed out of thousands of dollars.
From Pariah to New Owner
When Bertucci acquired the truck, he was met with a less-than-stellar welcome from the Facebook group. One commenter quipped, "You just bought a sh*tbox," while another grumbled, "I wouldn’t even want that if it was gifted to me." Not exactly the warmest of welcomes for a new owner.
A Complex Situation
As Bertucci recently had the truck up on a hoist to inspect the suspension parts, it’s clear that not all modifications are holding up well. There are some potential concerns with the front brake lines and a gap above the digital gauge cluster, which was swapped in from a Ford Escape. However, Bertucci seems to be having a great time with his new truck and plans to address these issues in the future.
A Second Chance for the Maverick
While this truck may have a checkered past, it now has a new lease on life under Bertucci’s ownership. Only time will tell if it can turn from a pariah to a celebrated member of the modded Maverick community once more. For now, fans of the Maverick will continue to keep a watchful eye on this truck’s transformation, eager to see if it can redeem itself.
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