Ford Granada

The Ford Granada was the name for several cars produced by the Ford Motor Company. A series of cars was produced under this name in Europe, while an unrelated automobile used the name in North America.

File:2001.ford.granada.2.8ghia.x.arp.750pix.jpg

1982 Ford Granada 2.8 Ghia X in the UK

Europe

In Europe, the Ford Granada was produced at both its German factory in Koeln (Cologne) and its British factory in Dagenham from between 1972 until 1976 when production switched entirely to Germany until it was discontinued in 1985. From 1985-1994 the Granada name was used in the UK only.

Ford of Europe Granada Mk1 (1972-1977)

File:The Sweeney Stoppo Driver Ford Granada.jpg

The Ford Granada Consul GT V6 3.0 litre, used in The Sweeney, seen here in the series one episode Stoppo Driver.

The 1972 release Granada succeeded the English Ford Zephyr/Zodiac, and the German Ford 17M/20M/26M, as Ford's European executive car offering. Apparently Granada Television were not happy with the choice of name for the car and considered legal action, although they soon backed down.

It soon became common as taxi, fleet and police usage. It was also converted into limousine and hearse versions by the British companies Coleman Milne and Woodall Nicholson. At first, lower models in the range were called the Ford Consul, but from 1975 on they were all called Granadas. It was best known for its appearance on the television series The Sweeney.

Mechanically, the European Granada conformed to Ford convention, the initial range using the Ford Essex V4 unit in 2.0 L displacement, and the "Essex" V6 engine in 2.5 and 3.0 L capacities. German models employed a Ford Taunus V4 engine in 1.7 L displacement, or the 3.0L Essex V6, or, more commonly the "Cologne" V6 in 2.0, 2.3 or 2.6 L capacities. The V4 was later replaced by the Pinto unit. The car generally followed mechanical layout of its predecessors Ford Zephyr/Zodiac, utilizing a coil sprung independent rear end, although front McPherson struts were replaced by double wishbones, introduced 18 months earlier in smaller TC Cortina and Taunus. On the other hand the Granada - like Ford 17M/20M/26M - featured drum brakes at rear, as opposed to the Ford Zephyr/Zodiac rear disc brakes.

The cars were available as two- and four-door sedans, a five-door station wagon (Turnier) and two-door fastback coupé. The early (1972-73) Coupé had slightly different sheetmetal; a more pronounced "coke-bottle" line. In 1974 the coupé was revised, with more straight lines. The "coke-bottle" coupé was never sold in UK. The revised coupé was sold only in Ghia-trim in the UK, elsewhere in all trims with all engines available. This was the reverse of the situation with the TC Cortina and Taunus, where the British model had the "coke-bottle" styling.

In South Africa, the Granada Perana V8, built by Basil Green Motors, was available through Ford dealers with the 302 in³ Windsor V8 engine, developing 220 DIN HP.

Ford of Europe Granada Mk2 (1977-1985)

The square and straight-lined Granada'78 appeared in 1977 and was produced until 1985 following a mild facelift and attention to drivetrain NVH in 1982. It was a development of the previous car, the main differences being the "Cologne" V6 engine in 2.3 L and 2.8 L forms replacing the older "Essex" unit, and the introduction of features such as air conditioning and fuel-injection. The coupé was discontinued when the new model began production, although there was a 2 door saloon version in certain European markets. The initial range consisted of the following models:

• 2000 L 4dr saloon & 5dr estate
• 2100 Diesel 4dr saloon
• 2300 L 4dr saloon & 5dr estate
• 2300 GL 4dr saloon
• 2800 GL 4dr saloon & 5dr estate
• 2800 Ghia 4dr saloon
• 2800i Ghia 4dr saloon
• 2800i Ghia S 4dr saloon

Ford subcontracted assembly to Hyundai Motor Company in South Korea for export of this model to Southeast Asian countries.

Ford of Europe Granada Mk3 (1985-1994)

In 1985 the third-generation car arrived, which was essentially a rebadged Ford Scorpio, the Granada name being used in the UK and Ireland only, with the Scorpio badge being reserved for the top-range versions.

This version of the Granada continued the theme from the previous version. This time the car superficially resembled a larger version of the Cortina's successor; the Ford Sierra.

The entire range was called Scorpio from 1994.

North America

Ford Granada in the USA. Despite its age and perfect condition, this car is still being used as daily transportation.

1975–1980

In North America, an unrelated car of the same name was introduced in 1975 along with a twin model, the Mercury Monarch. The similar Lincoln Versailles would be added in 1977. The Granada was touted by Ford as a rival to the similarly sized Mercedes-Benz 280SE of the time. The Granada and Monarch were available as a 2-door coupe or a 4-door sedan.

The Granada and Monarch were originally intended to replace the Ford Maverick and the Mercury Comet, but ended up being sold alongside them for three seasons, when the new models were repositioned as more upscale models intended to lure buyers moving from fully-equipped full-size models. They were assembled in Wayne, Michigan and Mahwah, New Jersey. They also overlapped with the Maverick/Comet's ultimate successors, the Ford Fairmont and the Mercury Zephyr, which were released in 1978. The first-generation Granada and Monarch were based on a platform that shared much of its design with earlier Ford compacts and intermediates, dating back to the 1960 Ford Falcon. Powertrain options included the base 200 in³ six-cylinder, a 250 in³ six, and 302 and 351 in³ V8s. Available transmissions included a standard three-speed manual, a four-speed manual with overdrive, and a three-speed automatic.

Ghia versions of both the Granada and Monarch included higher-level interior and exterior trim and added sound insulation. The Granada Sports Coupe was produced from 1976 to 1977. Mercury offered a similar treatment with its Monarch S from 1976 to 1977. The Sports Coupe and S packages included standard heavy-duty suspension, styled steel wheels, striping unique to this option and unique interior trim. The ESS (European Sport Sedan) version replaced the Sports Coupe from 1978 to 1980. Sports Coupe and ESS models can be identified by trim codes beginning with "P" on the car's data sticker on the edge of the driver's door. A minor restyling including rectangular headlamps and revised taillights occurred for 1978.

1981-82

The range was moved to Ford's newer Fox platform (introduced as the 1978 Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr) for the 1981 model year and was sold through the 1982 model year. The Granada name was retained, but the Monarch name was replaced by Cougar in Mercury's lineup. Styling of these cars resembled a slightly bigger and more formal version of the Fairmont, with upgraded interior trim. Base power for the Fox-body Granada was a 2.3 L I4, with an optional 200 cid straight six and 255 in³ V8.

A wagon joined the lineup for the 1982 model year, replacing the Fairmont and Zephyr wagons, available in 'L' and 'GL' forms. For 1983, the Granada name was retired in the North American market, replaced by a Fox-platform-derived downsized model of the LTD. Mercury offered this car as the Marquis.

See also

• Lincoln Versailles
• Mercury Cougar

External links

• Ford Granada Consul 1972-1985 (Europe)
• Ford Granada Performance Site (United States)
• www.AmericanGranada.com - American Ford Granada, Mercury Monarch/Cougar & Lincoln Versailles Owners Club
• GMV Registry American Granada, Monarch & Versailles Registry