MK 1 Granada

[Bren]

I have always fancied one of these and they appear to be like hens teeth now. In fact when I am done with my SD1 I may consider one - would like a 3.0, an S or consul GT would be nice (assuming one could be found for less than a kings ransom).

 

A mate of mine is into his fords, namely tina's, he once remarked that him and another mate had had a few, however they could'nt manage to get one without an essex that soon after shit itself, he told me to get a two litre instead.

 

I know that as ford's go, the V6 is'nt a cheap motor to rebuild.What is the spares situation like? I was told a while back the NOS wings and bonnets could sell for upwards of £500 a pop. I appreciate that trim is pretty much impossible to find, I was told that even exhausts are drying up. I also appreciate the way these cars dissolve.

 

Any body had any experience of one of these?

[eddyramrod]

I have one, right now.

 

Much-discussed on these very pages on previous occasions, it's been in Cyprus from new and has recently arrived in west Cumbria. It's a 2.5 GXL with manual gearbox. At the moment it's at a local garage going through MoT so I can register it here. Once done, it WILL be available.

 

As for support: there are at least two clubs and one bouncing Facebook page dealing with Granadas, so you won't be alone; many of the members of those will have technical skills and garages full of spares. Don't imagine it'll be difficult; but also, don't imagine it'll be cheap to own, although relative to other large luxury cars it'll be a positive bargain.

[oman5]

I had one in the mid 2000's, a 3.0 ghia with a manual box. Engine parts are not too much of a problem for the 3.0, Burton power does them. as you said, body parts like wings are going to be a struggle, although fibreglass ones are available new.

Trim is going to be whatever you can get second hand.

Don't be too set on a particular model, most of the survivors seem to be 3.0 ghia automatics. manuals are rare but IMO a better car.

Even with a 4 speed box, 90 mph cruising is easy, never more than about 25 mpg, lots of comfort and they rust everywhere.

[eddyramrod]

Forgot to mention, my car was built in May 1972. It is therefore one of the oldest survivors left in the world, and is eligible for free road tax.

[Pete-M]

I had a Ghia Coupé auto many many years ago. It knew how to rust. Nice old barge to drive though. I love the 3.0 Essex, it's rough but it's got some grunt.

[CortinaDave]

eddyramrod, your Granada is fantastic. I really want it, but I suspect it will be out of my price range. Let us know when it does come up for sale though!

[Lankytim]

I nearly owned one just like eddies in 2 litre pinto flavour. Had a look, agreed a price and when I went to collect the bastatd seller had flogged it to someone else. I could have killed him! Come on Eddie, how much is your one?

[Micrashed]

I have one, right now.

ZOMFG - Morris Metro van

 

Pure wantage

[eddyramrod]

That'll be available too once it's registered... just turned 17000 miles today, from new! They are valued for insurance at £2000 for the Metro, £4000 for the Granada.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Bringing that Metro van back from Cyprus earns you MEGA PROPS in my book ramrod, that is some well impressive work. 17.642/10

[eddyramrod]

Thank you kindly sir! Do I get any extra for using it as my current daily, including carrying stuff on the roofrack?????

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Absolutley, if I saw that driving round in town I'd drag a reluctant Ms_Bo11ox straight over to get a better view of it.

[eddyramrod]

Incidental note: that roofrack is purest Shite too. When my neighbour in Paphos saw the van, she told me she had one as her first car in 1983, and had some roof bars, would I like them? Of course I would! So at no charge, these arrived over the back fence. The gutter mounts look like professional items, but the crossbars are timber, and look home-made. So I treated the wood to several coats of Ronseal and painted the mounts with Smoothrite.

 

My van's number plate is PN 267; Faith (the neighbour) now drives her late father's W123... PK 267!

[eddyramrod]

By the way... apologies to Bren for the hijack!

[Junkman]

Mechanically they are sturdy beasts, but make no mistake - spares availability has been drying up for quite some time.

It is getting tough to find bits even for the latest MKII Granadas.

A huge warehouse fire at Ford Cologne in the late 80s and banger racing both sides of the Channel makes spare parts availability

for various Ford Europe models of the era less than prosperous.

And don't forget, you are competing for spares against many Ford enthusiasts on the Continent.

[RoadworkUK]

Right, I'm as big a fan of the MK1 as anyone; especially the rear light clusters. And I'm very familiar with the fastback coupe ala Parklife video etc.

 

But it wasn't until this morning, when my 1974 Observers Book of Automobiles flopped open at the Ford section, that I became aware of these:

 

 

zOMG. These look terrific. They did a 2-door MK2, too, which I knew about. But the MK1 looks fernominul.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I had no idea they existed, until i got a booklet from the local Ford dealer back in the day listing what genuine ‘corrosion repair panels’ they provided and it showed lower rear wings for these things.

 

If I had one of these i’d brick it up inside my house to prevent it disappearing on the back of a hiab truck.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

On the subject of Granadas, I am sure I once saw a Mk2 Granada coupe, but it was back in the days before digi cameras. Does anyone know if such a thing ever existed, even from a specialist coachbuilder? It was white and had a similar fastback shape to a Mk1 coupe, but was defo a Mk2 with Mk2 tail lights and so on. Saw it outside a scrapyard in Northumberland, though it wasn’t being scrapped.

[155V6]

On the subject of Granadas, I am sure I once saw a Mk2 Granada coupe, but it was back in the days before digi cameras. Does anyone know if such a thing ever existed, even from a specialist coachbuilder? It was white and had a similar fastback shape to a Mk1 coupe, but was defo a Mk2 with Mk2 tail lights and so on. Saw it outside a scrapyard in Northumberland, though it wasn’t being scrapped.

When I had MK1's & was in the club,I do remember seeing a Coupe converted to MK2 spec in the club magazine.Think it was black though?

[ProgRocker]

My parents had an R reg 2.0 L in diamond white with black vinyl roof. It had a few GL options such as fog lights, chrome wheel rim embellishers and rear armrest.

 

All the others on the estate in the early to mid 1980s tended to be 3.0 Ghias.