Ford Granada (Europe)
Ford Granada | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Ford Europe |
Production | Cologne: 1972–1994 Dagenham: 1972–1976[1] |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Executive car (E) |
Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Ford Zephyr & Zodiac Ford 17M/20M/26M Ford Taunus |
Successor | Ford Scorpio Hyundai Grandeur (South Korea) |
The European Ford Granada is an
The first-generation model was produced from 1972 to 1976 at Ford’s German factory in Cologne and at its British factory in Dagenham. In 1976, production switched entirely to Germany. The original version was replaced in 1977 by a second-generation model which was produced until 1985. From 1985 to 1994, the Granada name was used, in the United Kingdom and Ireland only, for a third-generation model which was sold in other European markets as the Ford Scorpio and in North America as the Merkur Scorpio.
Mark I (1972–1977)
Mark I | ||
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Curb weight | 1,190–1,430 kg (2,624–3,153 lb) |
Launched in March 1972, the Granada succeeded the British Ford Zephyr, and the German P7-series as Ford's European executive car offering, and completed the integration of Ford's British and German model ranges.
At first, lower models in the range were called the
Mechanically, the British 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 engine option was short lived - and was later replaced by the in-line "Pinto" (TL-series) unit in 1974. The car generally followed the mechanical layout of its predecessors Ford Zephyr/Zodiac, using a coil-spring independent rear end, although front MacPherson struts were replaced by double wishbones, introduced 18 months earlier in smaller TC Cortina and Taunus. However, the Granada – like Ford 17M/20M/26M – featured drum brakes at rear, as opposed to the Zephyr/Zodiac rear disc brakes.
The car was available as a four-door
- South Africa
In South Africa, the Granada
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Ford Consul two-door saloon
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Ford Consul four-door saloon
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Ford Granada Mark I estate
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Ford Granada Mark I coupé
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Ford Granada Mark I coupé, later version
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Ford Granada Mark I coupé interior
Mark II (1977–1985)
Mark II | |
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Transmission | 4/5-speed manual 3-speed automatic |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,769 mm (109.0 in)[16] |
Length | 4,720 mm (186 in)[16] (Saloon) 4,824 mm (189.9 in)[19] (Estate/Turnier) |
Width | 1,791 mm (70.5 in)[16] |
Height | 1,416 mm (55.7 in)[16] (Saloon) 1,422 mm (56.0 in)[19] (Estate/Turnier) |
Chronology | |
Successor | Ford Scorpio (outside UK) Hyundai Grandeur (South Korea) |
The square and straight-lined Granada Mark II – known internally within Ford as "Granada 78" – was released in August 1977 (for the 1978 model year) and was produced until April 1985 following a mild facelift and attention to drivetrain noise, vibration, and harshness in 1981. The Mark II was essentially a reskin of the 1972 car, with new external panelwork that brought the Granada into line with Ford's new design language initiated by stylist Uwe Bahnsen, taking styling cues also used on the recently launched Cortina/Taunus Mk IV and Mk I Fiesta. Much of the Mark I bodywork was retained, such as inner door pressings – the curved uptick at the rear doors now disguised with black paint behind the horizontal chrome trim strip on the saloon – and the estate version effectively grafted the Mk II nose to the Mk I body, retaining the same panels as the old car aft of the A pillars.[20] The engineering was very similar, the main differences being the "Cologne" V6 engine in 2.0, 2.3, and 2.8 L forms replacing the older "Essex" unit, and the introduction of features such as air conditioning and, for the top-priced 2.8-litre versions, fuel-injection. In mainland Europe, a 1.7 L V4 was originally available. By the time of its introduction, UK Granada production had been quietly abandoned "for some time"; UK market Granada IIs were imported from Germany.[21] Internally within Ford, the "Cologne" 1.7, 2.0, 2.3, and 2.8 units were the last derivatives of the 'V-Taunus' range of engines. UK and Irish spec 2.0 Granadas used the 4-cylinder ""Pinto" (or TL-series) engine, as did continental market 1.6 versions - this smaller capacity was deemed too small for the British and Irish markets and was therefore not offered.
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Although most surviving Granada Mark IIs feature the body-coloured post-facelift (1981) grille, earlier cars came with a simple black grille regardless of body colour.
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1979 Ford Granada L two-door saloon (Mark II)
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1985 Ford Granada Mark II Estate: panels from the windscreen back were carried over from the Mark I Estate
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Granada 2.8 GLS, showing pre-facelift taillamp design.
The coupé was discontinued when the new model began production, although there was a two-door saloon version in certain European markets. A relatively low number of vehicles were also produced with an
Fuel-injected 2.8 models were originally rated at 160bhp and offered with a unique 'S' pack (based on L trim but with updated suspension, TRX wheels and tyres and spotlights) or with normal GL or Ghia trim. In 1979, the “iS” and “iGL” were replaced by the 2.8i GLS. A limited edition “Sapphire” model was also announced with slightly different trim and two tone blue over silver paintwork (strangely, the rocker panels were painted in body colour rather than matt black which made the side profile of the car look deeper and less sleek). Today early injection models are particularly rare. The 2.8i S model was immortalised by the silver vehicle used in the TV series The Sweeney. Changes for 1980 were limited to new colours and new, more comfortable seats.[25]
The Granada was a strong seller in the UK, peaking in 1979 as the seventh best selling car with more than 50,000 sales, and also appearing in the top 10 for sales figures in 1978 and 1982. It remained the best selling car in this sector in Britain throughout its whole production run, despite competition from the likes of the
Due to import restrictions, Ford was only selling the Fiesta in Spain (as it was manufactured there) in the 1970s. In 1979, Ford received authorization to sell the Granada and Taunus as well, but competing manufacturers accused Ford of selling below cost to lower tariffs.[26] Import authorization for the Granada (as well as the Taunus) was briefly suspended but eventually reinstated with the proviso that Ford raise the sales price by fifteen percent.[27]
Facelift
The range had a facelift in September 1981 with larger wrap-around bumpers, a three-bar body coloured grille, revised dashboard, restyled taillights, and redesigned seats which improved driver and passenger comfort.[30] The two-door saloon was discontinued. There were also a number of detail improvements under the shell; the gearbox, clutch, and brakes were revised, the semi-trailing arm rear suspension geometry was altered, and variable rate rear springs became standard across the range.[30] In Continental Europe the 1.7-liter V4 engine at the bottom of the lineup was replaced by the more modern, but still overworked, 1.6-liter Pinto engine. The British lineup began with the 2-liter four. The interior remained largely the same, apart from detail changes such as new trim materials and steering wheels - the dashboard layout was altered with the heater controls now oriented vertically next to the instrument cluster to make space for the optional trip computer, and higher models in the range now featured the electronic check-light system first seen on the Escort MkIII housed within an aircraft style overhead console above the rear view mirror.
In most of Europe an even sportier looking Granada was added to the range as the Granada 2.8 Injection which had white metric-sized alloy wheels with Michelin TRX tyres, uprated suspension, Recaro seats, deep front valance and bootlid spoilers, colour coded bumpers, front spotlights and blackened trim. This model used the same 2.8 injected engine, now slightly down rated at 150 bhp (112 kW), which was usually seen in the Ghia models. Towards the end of its production run, the introduction of the 2.0 and 2.3 LX saloon and estate UK marketing packs provided lower cost versions with a slightly higher specification than the "base" L models. GL trim was also offered briefly on vehicles with 2.0 engines and Ghia trim was offered on a diesel engine model with the introduction of the 2.5 D Ghia.
A special Ford of Britain-only marketing pack edition of the Ghia X model was later introduced as the "Ford Granada Ghia X Executive" which standardised luxury appointments such as the high-grade
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1985 Mk2 Series 2 Ford Granada 2.3 LX Auto Estate. Note the body-coloured grille.
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A 1982 Granada 2.8 GL, showing restyled taillamps and wraparound bumpers introduced with the facelift.
Special models
Ford subcontracted assembly to
Additionally, hearses were offered by outside conversion companies, as well as a series of four-door limousines built by Coleman Milne.[33] These included the slightly stretched "Minster" 15 cm, and the 68 cm longer "Dorchester" and better equipped "Grosvenor". As of autumn 1982, the Dorchester was also available in an estate version with elongated rear doors, called the "Windsor".[34]
Mark III (1985–1994)
In April 1985, the third-generation car arrived, which was essentially a rebadged Ford Scorpio, the Granada name being used in both Ireland and the United Kingdom only, with the Scorpio badge (which covered the whole range in Continental Europe) being used instead as a trim designation for the top of the range models. The Mark III Granada was the first European volume production model to have antilock brakes fitted as standard across the range. It was voted European Car of the Year in 1986.
Engine options included the familiar SOHC Pinto engine, in either tax-barrier undercutting 1.8 L form, or a more powerful 2-litre version with fuel injection available. The Cologne V6 engines were carried over from the previous range in short-lived (and not much more powerful than the 2 L Pinto) 2.4 L, and 2.8 L (later 2.9 L) capacities. In 1991, a new range-topping vehicle was introduced, the Scorpio 24-valve. It featured a 2.9 L Cologne engine that had been extensively reworked by Cosworth Engineering and featured quad camshafts and 24 valves, enough for 200 bhp (150 kW). According to Ford, this gave a 0-60 mph time of 8.1 seconds and top speed of 140 mph (230 km/h).
This version of the Granada continued the "Ford family" styling concept from the previous versions; this time, the car superficially resembled a larger version of the Cortina's successor, the Ford Sierra. It had followed the precedent set by both the Sierra and the Escort Mk III in changing from the angular saloon styling of their predecessors to an advanced aerodynamic hatchback body style.
The Ford Granada Mk III was the last car to bear the Granada badge in the UK and Ireland, being replaced in 1994 with the pan-European Scorpio. The Scorpio shared its platform doors and roof with the Mk III Granada. The styling of the nose and tail sections were updated to match the ovoid designs being used across the Ford range in the 1990s. On the Scorpio, this resulted in a controversial design. After a 1998 redesign, it was taken out of production the same year with total European sales being 95,587 units.
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1991 Ford Granada Scorpio 2.0 Saloon (Mark III)
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Ford Granada Mark III 24v Cosworth
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1993 Ford Granada 2.0 LXi Estate (Mark III)
References
- ^ By 1977 the cars, still badged as Granadas were assembled only in Germany. After 1985 cars were badged as Granadas for the UK and as Scorpios in mainland Europe: they were still produced only in Germany.
- ^ a b "Facilities". Ford Motor Company Newsroom. Archived from the original on 2 September 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
- ISBN 0-333-16689-2.
- ^ "New BIG Fords". Autocar. 136. Vol. 3960. 9 March 1972. pp. 6–11.
- .
- ^ Geoghegan, Simon. "Coleman-Milne Granada Limousines". Simon Cars. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024.
- ^ Auto Katalog 1978. Stuttgart: Vereinigte Motor-Verlage GmbH & Co. KG. 1977. p. 67.
- Auto Motor u. Sport. Heft. Vol. 10. 16 May 1973.
- ISBN 0-910714-09-6.
- ^ "Granada Perana". Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
- ^ a b Wright, Cedric, ed. (December 1972). "Ford Granada 2500 and 3000 range". CAR (South Africa). Vol. 16, no. 11. Cape Town, South Africa: Ramsay, Son & Parker (Pty) Ltd. p. 14.
- ^ "Facilities | Ford Motor Company Newsroom". Media.ford.com. Archived from the original on 18 September 2009.
- ^ ISBN 0-910714-14-2.
- ^ Auto Katalog 1978. Stuttgart: Vereinigte Motor-Verlage GmbH & Co. KG. 1977. pp. 27–28, 180–181.
- ^ a b Daniels, Jeffrey (3 September 1977). "Ford Granada: Ford play safe with no major chassis changes in Granada's replacement". Autocar. Vol. 147, no. 4217. pp. 22–28.
- ^ Auto, Motor und Sport(in German). No. 26. pp. 32–47.
- ^ Mazzocchi, Gianni, ed. (March 1979). "Il mercato dell'automobile - Prezzi vetture straniere nuove" [The Car Market: New Import Car Prices]. Quattroruote (in Italian). 24 (280). Milan, Italy: Editoriale Domus: 203.
- ^ Auto Katalog 1983. Stuttgart: Vereinigte Motor-Verlage GmbH & Co. KG. 1982. pp. 34, 204–205.
- ^ Auto, Motor und Sport(in German). No. 7. 29 March 1978. p. 100.
- ^ O'Callaghan, Daniel (15 April 2021). "Under the Knife – Taking Care of the Pennies". Driven To Write.
- ^ "Lots new at show of the year". Autocar. 17 September 1977. pp. 22–24.
- ^ a b Mazzocchi, Gianni, ed. (April 1984). "Estere usate" [Used Imports]. Quattroruote (in Italian). 29 (342). Milan, Italy: Editoriale Domus: 268.
- ^ Hutton, Ray, ed. (30 September 1978). "Ford Granada 2.1 Diesel: A commercial proposition". Autocar. Vol. 149, no. 4273. p. 39.
- ^ Mazzocchi, Gianni, ed. (March 1979). "Due nuove Ford "Granada"" [Two New Ford Granadas]. Quattroruote (in Italian). 24 (280). Milan, Italy: Editoriale Domus: 71.
- ^ Rombauts, Walter, ed. (15 September 1979). "Nieuw 1980" [1980 News]. Keesings Auto Magazine (in Flemish). Vol. 2, no. 17. Antwerp, Belgium. p. 7.
- ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ Kenwright, Joe (3 March 2014). "1979-82 Ford XD Falcon: Was Ford Robbed?". Shannons.
- ^ O'Carroll, Damien (12 October 2016). "Five fascinating Ford Falcon facts". stuff.co.nz.
- ^ a b Hutton, Ray, ed. (5 June 1982). "Ford Granada 2.3L Estate: Cavernous and smooth". Autocar. Vol. 156, no. 4459. IPC Business Press Ltd. p. 29.
- ^ a b Lee, Ho-jeong (30 November 2009). "Blast From the Past #10: Long before the gallop of Equus, Granada was Korea's luxury car". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014.
- ^ Kim, Dong-Gyun (31 May 2013). "[추억의 올드카] 응답하라 1978, 현대 그라나다" [Nostalgic old car, entry 1978, Hyundai Granada]. Mega Auto (in Korean). Daum Kakao Corp. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014.
- ^ Costa, André; Fraichard, Georges-Michel, eds. (1 September 1982). "Salon 1983: Toutes les Voitures du Monde". L'Auto Journal (in French) (14–15). Paris: 210.
- ^ Auto Katalog 1984. Stuttgart: Vereinigte Motor-Verlage GmbH & Co. KG. 1983. pp. 84, 216–217.
External links
- The Ford Granada Owners Guild of the U.K
- FGCUK Ford Granada Club UK Archived 29 January 2022 at the Wayback Machine
- Ford Granada page on Instagram
- Ford Granada Mk123 Club
- Granada & Scorpio Online