Ford Mavericks are replacing the Wildwood Tramcars and South Jersey is not happy

It’s happening. The rumblings are real. Starting Saturday, May 10th, the Wildwood Tramcars — the clunky, iconic, mosquito-fogging trolley rigs that have been ferrying boardwalk drifters for more than 70 years — are being replaced by…Ford Maverick hybrids.

Ford Mavericks are replacing the Wildwood Tramcars and South Jersey is not happy

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A post shared by Wildwood Boardwalk (@wildwoodboardwalk)

Voice behind Wildwood’s iconic ‘Watch the tram car, please’ plans to file lawsuit against the beach town

“Watch the Maverick, Please”

The video that set South Jersey ablaze was posted by Joey Contino, who basically serves as the unofficial internet mayor of the Jersey Shore. The Ford Mavericks — compact hybrid pickups that look like the little brother of the F-150 — are seen cruising down the boards, towing the classic yellow passenger trailers.

According to Cat Country 107.3, these new rigs are set to go into action this weekend. The move, unsurprisingly, has sent the internet — and longtime boardwalk loyalists — into a full-blown existential tailspin.

Why the Change?

It seems the OG tram cars are just, well… old. Like 1950s Disneyland prototype old. I couldn’t even imagine trying to find the right parts to repair a broken down Tramcar. They must be impossible to find, right? That maintenance must be a nightmare.

That being said, Wildwood had to get with the times eventually but that doesn’t mean that anyone has to like it and judging by the comments under the Instagram post above, they absolutely hate it.

Things South Jersey Residents Would Rather See Than This Change:

• Philadelphia Flyers NHL Draft Lottery Results
• Ownership of the Philadelphia 76ers
• Alcohol bans on the boardwalks
• Rigged Boardwalk Games
• Meaningless Toll Promotions

Basically, anything but this.

Nostalgia vs. Modernization

Wildwood isn’t just a boardwalk — it’s a time capsule. People want it to smell like saltwater taffy and cigarettes. They want Doo Wop neon, loud speakers blaring “watch the tram car, please,” and the faint hum of something that feels vaguely radioactive idling behind you as you dodge your third spilled slice of Mack’s pizza.

Swapping that out for a Ford Maverick, no matter how fuel-efficient, is like replacing the Wildwood sign with a QR code.

Here’s an idea. Maybe just kill the Tramcars all together so they can stop killing people. According to the always trustworthy comment section, a couple years back a two-year old boy was killed by a Ford Maverick Tramcar down in Ocean City Maryland. It’s hard to believe that someone will not suffer the same fate on the Wildwood Boardwalk.

No doubt that the Ford Maverick version will be safer than whatever clunk of metal that Wildwood was previously using. They probably will be more efficient too. Is it worth the backlash from Jersey Shore patrons?

The tram cars were always more than just transportation — they were part of the vibe. The kind of thing that made a Wildwood night feel like a scene out of a Bruce Springsteen song. And now?

“Watch the Maverick, please” just doesn’t hit the same.

We’ll see how people react this summer. But if someone doesn’t bring back that annoying recorded voice on loop, we riot at the fudge shop.

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