MK1 Ford Granada - the best executive car of the 1970s?!

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Ford Granada

We’ve talked about this in the Escort video, but the 60s saw Ford of England and Germany become one powerhouse and when the Granada came to market it replaced cars in both countries: the Zephyr/Zodiac in the UK and the P6 series in Germany.

The car came into a relatively easy market to tap into: the exec space. The big UK competitors were the likes of the P6 and Triumph 2000 and the Granada came in offering something totally different and the pan European design was a big hit both in the UK and Europe.

That pan European approach also meant it had to compete with the likes of the BMW 1800/2000 and the DS and the car was designed accordingly with independent suspension, a range of engines to suit different price points and a fantastic 3 litre engine for the top of the range model.

The engine choices for the UK were Essex V4 and V6; and was the 2 litre for the V4 and 2.5 and 3 litre on the V6. Different engines were used on the continent and in Africa. It’s worth noting at launch the car was only available with the 2.5 and 3 litre V6.

One of the things I’ve talked about lately wjth these Ford videos is how Ford didn’t try and pigeon hole customers and tried to make their cars as widely and easily available as possible. With the Granada, they did this by badging the early low spec cars as Consul, with the idea being the buyer wanting a bit more flash had to spend a bit more cash and go for the Granada.

But what extras could you expect? Well, the Granada extras included Reclining front seats, seperate rear seats, wood trim on doors and facia. Optional extras include automatic transmission, sun roof and power steering. GXL version has these (manual gearbox alternative), plus tinted glass and vinyl roof covering.

The Consul badging was dropped in autumn of 1975 but by that point the cars had so many things as standard that even the basic range entry level car was something worth shouting about.

One of the big successes of the range wasn’t just the speed, which at top of the range beat the likes of the Triumph 2000 which took 13.6 seconds to do 0-60 versus the Granada which boasted 0-60 in 9 seconds in all the sales brochures; but the fact it was adopted by so many fleet buyers with big budgets.

From the police to taxis and even undertakers who had them coach built into hearses; the Granada seemed to be the car that could do it all.

Ford described it as the finest car they’d ever made, built to the highest standards of safety and a successful car. Ford designed this as a car with comfort, long mileage and not only driver but passenger comfort too.

I don’t think I’ve had a bad word about the Granada in many years, but how does it hold up today? Well, let’s take a closer look.