MK1 Ford Granada - the best executive car of the 1970s?!
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- Опубликовано: 7 июл 2023
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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. 
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The first 2 generations of the Granada were beautiful cars, no matter the spec that you got, manual or auto, it didn't matter, they were a cut above. I don't think they were as exec as the Mercedes or BMW of the time but for a Ford they were top drawer. The 3.0 Coupe has always been a car I'd love to own if I could afford the fuel bills.
I did have a blue coupe 3.0 ghia lovely big velour seats
@@rustywreck3351 I've never seen a blue one, only seen the copper colour ones. They just look a nice comfy cruiser to me, a very appealing car.
@@graemew7001 it was originally light blue metallic then I had it painted royal blue JJR 816N
@@graemew7001 I’ve had at least 10 granadas even a 1.6 mk1 :)
@@rustywreck3351 I can't imagine a Granada with a 1.6, it must have been the worst of both worlds, gutless and thirsty lol. My mate had a mk4 Cortina 1.6 with an 80's bodykit, white 8 spokes and a window louvre and well, not only did it look crap but it was slow as hell lol.
I’ve always loved the Mark 1 Granada. Such cool 70’s styling. I’m so glad you were able to test drive one 👍🏼
For some reason I’ve got the theme tune to The Sweeney running through my mind. Would love to have 3.0 Ghia coupe with alloys and sunroof.
Great video Steph, thanks for evoking so many memories ❤
CARTER!
get the car...
I had a 2.0 Consul, a 2.0 Granada, and finally a 3.0 Granada Ghia Coupe, which I loved.
Mind you, in cold weather, the door handles would freeze - once you got the door open, it wouldn't close again till it warmed up a bit. 😂
Used to freeze on our Cortinas too
@@pauldavies6037the MK2 was bad for it
The number of times on a hot day I burned my bottom on what's referred to today as 'vegan leather' seats.
A similar modern day experience can be had in any Merc with ‘Artico’ seats - the 2013 C Class I used to have was awful on a hot summers day - took me right back to being in the back of my dad’s Mk3 Cortina estate!
I believe later Ghia packages did offer Connolly hides. Wasn't there a later coupé with Recaros as well? I reckon I've seen a few, but perhaps they were aftermarket.
Great looking car. Loved my Dad's 3.0 Gxl in metallic blue. Seen a couple recently at a motor show, a very upmarket looking car. I would be quite happy driving one of these today.
And then stuck to it.
3.0lt ghia or the ghia coupe what a beautiful car, auto of course
My dad bought a brand new one in 1973, brilliant car which went around the clock 2 and half times. It was a 3ltr automatic. Awesome machine, came fitted with Michelin tyres and I'm fairly sure he got over forty thousand miles from the first set (very steady driver) but when he went to get them replaced with the same type he was not happy when he was told they no longer made them😢
My dad used to own a Mark 1 Granada saloon 3 litre automatic. It was indeed a luxurious car, and quite rapid. Thanks for another great review, Steph.
Quick back in the day but a 2916 1.4 corolla would leave it for dust now. How technology has come on. A friend of mine has a Granada MK 1 and is restoring it. He has fitted a Lexus V8 and gearbox. Looking forward to driving it.
My dad had the same model in burgundy, one of the best cars I've ever driven.
My dad had a 3.0l GL estate bought new in 1976.
White with tobacco vinyl roof. OPR 594R was the reg. Never forget what a lovely car that was.
@@simonw4340 Yes Simon, my dad bought a 3.0L GHIA Granada in 1981, PVP 334R, it was a monster back in the day....my mates thought my dad was a badass LOL
Love how 70's it looks; especially the interior. 😃
I've always liked these. It's tidy and simplistic, yet attractive in design. It looks quite comfortable, and I was shocked that it's so quiet! I would've loved for them to be sold here.
Here in the US, our Ford Granada looked like a block of cheese that Ford attempted to compare with both the Cadillac Seville (which that in of itself was created using intermediate Chevrolet Nova parts) as well as the various Mercedes models, which was odd to say the least. Heck they even made a Lincoln (Versailles) version of ours! Your version Granada seems way more appropriate.
A very good friend had a stunning whit 3.0l Ghia for many years. He kept it in excellent condition. We drove from Essex to the north of Scotland during a two week holiday and it was supremely confortable. If you think those seat are good you should try the Ghia. One of the best Ford's ever.
The MK 1 Granada is very well designed. I love the way the bumper curves around the rear for example, so well done. The engines were sweet too, plenty of torque. A great review Steph and not a cardboard box in sight! 😉👍👍
Or a stack of oil drums in the road.🤣
One of the best family car ford have make .
Hi Stef! 🍀My Name ist Stefan. 😂From Germany.
I subscribed to your channel months ago!
I love this car!
Keep on driving!
Thanks for the nostalgia. When I was a kid, my dad and my uncle both bought copper-brown Granada GXLs just like this one. I remember going to pick them up from the dealer, parked side by side with consecutive number plates. Beautiful cars they were! I also remember the head gasket blowing on ours during a drive to Poland one year! :)
WOW Steph, what a thrill that was ! My Dad was a fan if big Fords - every Mk of Zodiac, and then a Granada 3ltr Ghia. Those big V6 engines were so free revving, and the power was instant ! My Mum, who never drove, loved being 'wafted' around in big Fords. I later had a Mk2 3ltr Ghia - everything electric, and pure Luxury, and relatively good on fuel. Thanks for provoking such good memories of these great cars. Take care 🙂
It's interesting to see that a lot of cars of this era look alike. Such as the Valiants, Falcons, Escorts, Granada, Holden Kingswood, etc. The Granada has quite a nice looking dashboard. Thanks for sharing Steph. 😊👍
From the front 3/4 view it looks a bit like an XC Fairmont with those rectangular headlights.
We're Are the head Rests
No.head.rests.they.missing😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅
Great car and review. Always loved that car, being an American it reminds me of our big sedans of that era, roomy, fast, easy to drive and repair. What's not to like!
Great video Stef , wow seeing you drive that old mk 1 Granada took me straight back to the seventies.
Personally I preferred the mk 2 from 1977 the more sharper square lines and even more standard luxury fittings .
I do agree with you , that the Granada both marks were Fords greatest cars .
This is the big brother of the Mk3 Cortina. Low spec models are the Consul. This one is a similar colour to the most famous Sweeney car NHK295M that still exists, but there were a few other Consuls and Granadas used. The GXL is the top of range before the Ghia came out but with no rear armrest unlike the Austin Morris 1800.
Gorgeous car. The colour is perfect with the vinyl roof.
Love these old Granadas , especially the coupe.
Ahhh The Swweney and The Professionals really brought these to the fore ! A local meat factory owner had one and we used to see it all the time as kids - Thanks for the memories Steph !
What an exceptional exterior paint colour on this Granada Mk I with the vinyl roof! Growing up I lived in an area with both a Ford assembly plant and a British Leyland distribution centre and occasionally us kids would be able to see the new vehicles in their respective lots. Another gem of a video.
I've always liked the Copper Bronze colour of The Sweeney's Consul.
I sometimes got a lift to/from school in a friend's car which was the spitting image of NHK 295M, at the time when The Sweeney was being shown, so we imagined that we were Regan and Carter being driven to "a blagging" by Bill the Driver ;-)
LOL!
My dad had 4 of these back in the 70's. A 3.0 GXL and 3 x 3.0 Ghias.
I have a 1977 MK1 3.0 Ghia.... probably one of the last registered (1st August 1977) as they brought the MK2 out from the 1st September!
I had a 3.0 GXL in white with black vynal roof in the early 80s what a great car
Thanks Steph for giving the Granada some attention. I have a soft spot for these cars as my Late father had a mark one and a later mark two. I had the pleasure of driving both extensively, thanks for the memories.
THE SWEENEY…seriously they were a fantastic car in the mid seventies my local shopkeeper had an estate version in bright green, just beautiful…fantastic review as usual cheers.
Another great video from one of my favourite car-tubers, Thanks. I remember lusting after one of these watching the Sweeney back in the 70's.
Loved this video. Brought back memories of my mark 2 from 1984. I had the Granada 2.8 Ghia X. It’s still one of the best cars I’ve owned.
Mk1 Granada always loved these cars, these and mk3 cortina .
Enjoyed the video. I like that you always take time to look the car over and spend time on the controls and gages interior, engine compartment and boot . Your camera work is good. Other videos I've looked at just gloss over so quickly I hardly see what the gauge or seat pattern look like. Thanks for taking the time. Looking forward to your next video
I remember when these were brand new. A great looking car, they were used as taxis in the 1970s and 80s. Happy days.
The 2000 V4 ran in the Consul until 1974 when it was finally replaced by the Pinto OHC engine. Ford wanted to use the Pinto from the start but the Cologne engine plant just could not build enough. The Cortina had it first in 1970, the Capri in late 1973 for the beginning of Mark II production and the Consul in '74 when Pinto production was really in full swing.
Regan: "Ere George. You ever fancied a gaff in the country?"
Carter: "Wot on a copper's bunce? Leave it out guv!"
🤣
Thanks for a great video Steph. I recall seeing that Granada when we visited the Great British Car Journey...it's a beauty. Imho Fords from the late 60s to mid 70s were the pinnacle of Ford design. The mk1 Escort and Capri, mk3 Cortina and of course the Granada. All gorgeous cars.
Steph's dress goes really well with the 1970s style of the Granada. Both has a disco vibe.
My dad had two of them over the years a red one and a daytona yellow one beautiful cars.
My Dad owned the MK2 2.3GL in metallic green which he bought in 1983 new. Fond memories of listening to Cat Stevens and Roxy Music.
Those cars have a special place in my childhood memories. Id love one if (a) i could afford one (b) have somewhere safe to keep it.❤
Same same! I wish I had another garage spare (and money. Ha)
great car of the period, my dad had a Ford cortina as a company car and senior staff would get the Granada, i went to a car show in May and there were two Granada on display, they were totally immaculate including the engine bay, great to see
For me, the best Granada was the facelifted mark 1 in 3.0 Ghia guise.
I also feel that is the model and trim level which has aged the best.
Somehow, I don't think that the later versions have faired quite so well.
A true clasic.
P.S. I remember the foot operated screen washer with wiper ring surround well. In some ways I prefer them to the intermittent we have today, where unless you have the sensor versions which adjusts automatically, you never seem to be able to get the interval quite right!
I had a 2litre V6 left-hand drive model when I was stationed in Germany. Later type dash, sunroof and a few other bits. That Cologne engine was superb. My only Ford, but it was superb on the European roads.
Gotta love bonkers Basil Green South Africa for sticking 5L V8's in these.
Heroes. Absolute heroes.
They where fantastic looking cars I love the back end with the embossed Ford logo and rear lights
Triumph 2500 MK2 is still my favourite 70s car, but the Granada is undoubtedly an attractive car. Thanks Steph.
Memories come flooding back! Of dad's Consul circa 1975: remember the chrome T-bar tranmission shifter, the selection numbers lit-up in red at night ;that chrome tuckable sunroof handle, the pushbutton Blaupunkt radio, with electric antenna; the general American feel to the interior, with the brown upholstery and fake wood dash. Most of all I remember that quiet, effortless engine with 22mpg. I choked when he sold it for a Renault😢
What did he buy, a30TS?
@@booradley1510close! 'only' a 20 TS. Chic..
@@iconicshrubbery Nice, that was my second car.
Great video. So glad you enjoyed it and spreading the word of how good they are.
My father had the Mk1 3.0 V6 Coupe Ghia, and it's a car I remember fondly.
My father had one of these - also a 2.5 litre, but with a four speed manual - which was a superb car.
Thanks for the memories revived!
Best wishes from George.
Always like the rear lights on these... marvellous!
Im glad you really enjoyed that Steph. We never had the Granada here like the Escort or Cortina because the big Ford car here was the Australian made Falcon and was a popular family car.
My dad had a 3l auto mk1 Granada and it's what I drove to school after passing my test at 17. I learnt to drive in an original MINI :-)
Such a great looking car and one I always remember from my childhood in the late 70's/early 80's.
That was one good looking car! Loved them back in the day!
Absolutely love the colour.
You are very well informed and really know your stuff. I think that your enthusiasm for classic cars is great. My dad had a 1975 3.0 GXL, I must visit to drive dad’s car !
After I had a GXL red like this one I moved onto a 3 litre Ghia coupe - wonderful mile muncher and very comfortable but no electric windows! Great looker too
Hi Steph, these Grenada's were so good that the next models, up to the square Mk4 was the same car and running gear with a different body, the were also one of the best towing vehicles on the market at the time, they were just great at what ever you wanted one for...
Didn't the estate keep the same body?
The estate models used the rear quarter back panels and tailgate, etc...
@@williamknellor2027 yes that's what I thought. It's strange because the square design matches the later Granada better.
@@clivet3252 It does suit the later ones better, but I think it is because the later cars were more of a square design, the earlier ones were in line with the MK3 Cortina coke bottle shape and as such were more fluent and curvier than the later ones, but really both looked good and both were great cars...
@@williamknellor2027 yeah that's what I mean. I think the Escort estate was the same, although the MK2 wasn't as much of a departure as the Granada. I was born in '81 so I saw the later Granada estate first and found it strange when I saw an early estate and the rear part was the same.
Being waiting for this video for a long time thank you❤
Hi Stef. New subscriber here after only recently finding your amazing channel. Brings back memories of when my Dad had to fix many of these early cars and I would sit and watch him. He was proud of his Austin Marina and Ford Cortina. Many a time he would take me with him to the local scrap yard and fill my pockets with spare bulbs and bolts and then only pay for a part he was after lol. Awesome channel and I love the presentation. Thank you
Great review as always Steph .I half expected the soundtrack "The Sweeney" TV show to play on the radio .
The only Ford that my father owned was a MK3 Cortina, and the only one that i have owned was a MK3 Escort, but this has always been my favourite Ford and in that colour too.
Had an estate version excellent the largest capacity of any estate in the day, very functional and comfortable to use.
You mentioned that this was available in South Africa. With the Mk1, the Essex V6 3 litre was only engine. The Mk2 was still equipped with the the 3 litre Essex. Europe was 2.8 Koln V6. The Essex lived long there. It was cast in Port Elizabeth.
But you also had the V8 Perana in SA, the best of the bunch
South Africa also had the Mk I Granada L with the 2.5 liter Essex engine...
And of course the 5.0 liter Windsor V8.
@cossieboa5717 the V8 Peranah was a special build by the Basil Green in Johannesburg. Made in limited numbers.
@@patrickcannell2258- The Granada 5.0 V8 Perana as developed by Basil Green was available through the Ford dealership showrooms and carried a full Ford guarantee.
It was carried as a full Ford product unlike the Meissner conversations which were only available from Willie Meissner.
PS: I saw a Mk II Meissner Cortina GT yesterday - now THAT is a super rare car.
I had a 3L GXL Granada back in the 1980s and loved it, although I must say it was very thirsty with that V6 engine.
Wouldn't be surprised if that Granada was brought new from "Hangers" Welford Rd Leicester looking at the JJF number plate!
They used it in The Sweeney, loads of high speed police chases, made it super cool to me.
It was a Consul GT not a Granada
@@thatfocusguy A car with two names for low and high spec of the same car, like its predecessor, Ford Zephyr and Zodiac, also the Vauxhall Viva and Magnum, Hillman Hunter and Humber Sceptre, even Jaguar and Daimler, and Wolseley/Riley, MG and Vanden Plas being posh versions of the Austin and Morris.
@@minimaxi802 Sweeney started with a very plain Consul. But as the show went on they switched to a high spec motor with chrome and vinyl roof. I think it may have started with a Consul and switched to a Granada as popularity went through the roof.
My uncle always had top spec Granada‘s. Brings back many 70‘s for me
An interesting video and commentary on this lovely car. I recognised the industrial estate your were on almost straight away.
My dad had one new in 1975, it was a facelifted mk1. It was a beautiful metallic blue. It looked very solid and butch. As a teen I felt like a prince in this car, It had the black interior which I preferred. Such a superb car.
Loved my 3.0 GXL
Sounds like you really enjoyed driving this Ford Grenada l could tell from the video it was quiet gave a very smooth ride and you comented on how comfortable the seat was what a great car
Excellent review. And the Granada definitely suited you.
Your videos are very relaxing to watch.
Steph a brilliant review well done have always loved the Granadas especially the mk1 they had styling which has not dated and always so comfy inside and could munch the miles looking at it now you can see how it was such a success back in the 70s looks a lovely example I have many happy memories of travelling in my uncles mk1 and 2!
The styling inside and out is very of its time but it also looks modern - like a much newer vehicle built to a retro design.
I had a my 1 estate , probably the best car ever built by ford , it towed a caravan with ease , loved it
I had a 3.0 L Granada Estate manual box in about 1980. The best Ford I ever had ! Two small problems, auto choke which I changed to manual and the power steering was over sensitive, but happy days with kids and dogs on board !
Such lovely memories you give me. I owned a Granada -76 from 1979-86. It had a 2,6 liter V6-engine and automatic gear. Mine was green and that was the only thing I didn´t love about that car. I traded it for a SAAB 900 on februari 28 in 1986, The same day that our swedish primeminister, Olof Palme, was shot and killed in the middle of Stockholm. So it was easy to remember the exact date when I parted from my beloved Granada.
Another great video! And that parking lot had a lot of interesting visitors’ vehicles, too.
Those are probably the rental fleet of the company who own the car - Drive Dad's Car.
Mk1 Granada lovely early 70's Ford Steph a great cruiser 😎
Just subscribed to your channel and straight away find this review. Totally agree after having had the Consul version with the awful V4 I then bought the V6 3 ltr GXL (1973/4 ) manual. Looking back it was probably one of the best all round cars I’ve owned. I exchanged it for a mk4 Cortina and regretted it very soon afterwards.
Many thanks for bringing back some great memories. Just subscribed so will be an avid follower from now on!
Always liked the Coupe version of these.
Great video. I had a 73 3litre gxl in Daytona yellow then a p6 3.5 Rover and then a 76 3litre ghia coupe in white which was my favourite car of all time. Sure miss those big old barges.
20 B&H and a Zippo fit perfectly in the drivers dash pod 😉
Such a great car. Looks and performance. The Mk1 was by far the prettiest of the versions. Strangely that seems to be the case with so many Ford cars. The Escort is another example.
mk1 focus also
Great video Steph. I had a Mk1, 1977- 3 Ghia and even now i have many different cars since it still is for me the best car i have ever owned. Such a fool i was getting rid of it😮💨
A clock! A medium-wave radio! A heater! Wow. What excess of luxury.
My uncle had the Consul and a friends dad, they were 2.5v6 I know the Granada tended to use the 2.0 pinto or 3.0V6 didn’t know about the V4 thought that was the Corsair and Saab used them out the transit….
Hey Steph is this your favourite because the colour matches your fabulous hair ..? 🤔
I've had three and they were lovely to drive, but a bit too expensive to repair, (at least here in Sweden). Makes my heart warm to see a well taken care of Granada these days. Thanks Steph!
Steph,greetings from Ireland. Granada very popular over here too,as indeed all Fords have always been. This was due mainly to the fact that Cork,where i now live, did have a Fords factory
A brilliant review Steph, I actually felt like you were chuffuring me about like a VIP, that V6 sounds sweet.
Thank you for the video
Great review Steph, such an elegant car for the money, The car featured in the Sweeney was a mk 1 Ford Consul. Lovely smooth transmission too .
My dad in 1982 had a Mk1 GXL in Gold L reg, it was a 3.0 Manual, lovely car it was,
We had the consul version in daytona yellow back in 1973 it was very basic and didn't even have a fitted radio just a blanking plate and pvc seats but my dad was very happy with his new company car once he installed a sharp stereo system
I hope other car channels take a leaf by recording the start up of an engine and listening to the revs from the outside .
Brilliant Thankyou 😊
My dad had 1 in signal red, but it was badged as a Ford consul, it was a 2 5 v4 from memory with a brown interior.....so cool ❤
The 2 litre was a V4 so if it was a 2.5 it was a V6.
I owned a mark 1 Granada Ghia in the late 1970s it still remains the most comfortable car I have ever owned, and I have had a lot of car's, I also owned a Toyota Crown which was a brilliant drive aswell, I am stuck in the past and love it, I can fix them and enjoy driving them
I worked as a house man and gardener's help for Sir Patrick Hennessy, ex- chairman of Ford,( in Ireland l believe), in his home,' Larkmead' near Theydon Bois, Essex.
Even though semi retired he had one of these cars and a chauffeur to drive into his office in London.
A rather classy car, and rather superior to the Reliant van l owned at that time!
Good memories, thank you for all you great reviews.
Exellent video, I love my Mk1 granada and mine is the later 3.0 ghia auto.
I actually learned to drive in my dads new 2.5 consul estate in 1976. Big car to learn on for sure!
We had one - 3 litre - very smooth ride. I do think Ford's brochure acceleration & top speed were rather optimist at the time
I grew up with all sorts of big Ford cars around me 🙂 My parents had a 20M from 1968 with the 2 litre V6 engine. After that they had a Granada MK1 from 1977 (bought new) that they "swapped" to a MK2 in 1979 (also brandnew). The last big Ford they had was a 1983 MK2 with the 2,3 Litre V6 that they purchased in 1985. I still remember back on those days with big happiness 🙂