Hidden away in this garage is a 1976 Ford Granada Ghia that is a spotless survivor. It is hard to find fault with this classic’s presentation, and it has a genuine and documented 14,000 miles showing on its odometer. It needs little and could be one of the tidiest examples you will likely find on the market today. The time has come for it to head to a new home, so the owner has listed it for sale here on Craigslist. The Granada is located in Louisville, Colorado, and the sale price for this immaculate gem is $8,000. Barn Finder Larry D has managed to spot another beauty for us, so thank you for that, Larry.
The original owner ordered this Granada resplendent in Tan Glow with a matching vinyl top. It is a color combination that is very much of the 1970s, but it still looks attractive. The vehicle has spent its life in Colorado, but it has avoided any of the pitfalls of exposure to harsh UV rays or a damp climate. Its cause has undoubtedly been assisted by its remaining garage-kept since Day One. The shine on the paint is as good as the day that it rolled off the production line, with no flaws or fading. The vinyl top exhibits no issues or problems, and there’s no evidence of bubbling that might suggest hidden rust. The panels are laser straight, while most of the exterior trim is in excellent condition. A ding on the trim above the passenger-side rear wheel arch is bad enough to warrant replacement. The damage-prone wheel covers have avoided any curb rash, while the tinted glass is flawless. It may not be the most desirable classic on the market today, but its overall condition still guarantees that it will turn heads.
If buyers were willing to accept performance on a par with the average glacier, they could order their new 1976 Granada with the 200ci six-cylinder engine that delivered 81hp. The result was a vehicle capable of producing a ¼ mile ET of 21.7 seconds. The original owner of this car selected the 302ci V8 that pumps out 133hp and delivers an ET of 18.6 seconds. This motor was probably the pick of the bunch because while a 351 was available, it only produced 140hp and improved on that time by a mere two-tenths of a second. It hardly seemed worth the expense when the bigger motor also drank significantly more fuel. The Granada also features power steering and power brakes to take the hard work out of the driving experience. The engine bay presents as impressively as the rest of the vehicle and makes the owners claim that this car has 14,000 genuine miles on the clock seem plausible. However, we don’t need to rely on word of mouth for this one. As well as the original Window Sticker and service records, he holds every document dating back to when the car was delivered from the dealership. The seller indicates that this Ford puffs a little smoke from the exhaust and has a small leak from the rear main seal, but it seems to otherwise be in good mechanical health.
Being the Ghia version, the interior of this Granada comes nicely equipped. As well as acres of faux woodgrain trim, it features air conditioning, power windows, cruise control, intermittent wipers, a tilt wheel, and an AM/FM radio. The seller indicates that everything works as it should but that the A/C blows cool, not cold. It appears that a recharge may be on the agenda. Beyond that, there is little to fault with this interior. The tan cloth upholstery on the seats is free from wear and stains, while the remaining upholstered surfaces are in as-new condition. The dash and pad show no evidence of cracks, while the same is true of the wheel. There are no aftermarket additions, with this interior looking as it would the day the car rolled off the showroom floor.
I’m not going to pull any punches with this 1976 Granada Ghia because, at $8,000, the asking price is well above the market average. That raises the question of whether it represents good value for money. When you consider its overall condition, specifications, and documented odometer reading, it has a lot of positive points in its favor. It isn’t the most desirable vehicle to emerge from The Malaise Era, but its V8 engine does place it above the average offering. My only qualm centers on the smoke and oil leak from the motor. These will require attention if the buyer seeks perfection, representing additional expense. It’s also worth noting that the seller indicates that this Granada is listed on an online auction site, and the bidding there has hit $3,800 at the time of writing. If $8,000 is a bit rich for your blood, maybe that offers an alternative worth considering.
This is an excellent example of how Ford nicely styled and trimmed what was a very basic car underneath, and turned it into an attractive and successful mid 70’s car. This one looks great, especially since it is a two-door in upscale Ghia trim. Even has bucket seats. The color scheme is period-correct but doesn’t look too out-of-place today. Being under five figures, it’s not going to break the bank for something different in which to cruise. I hope this Granada will find a new owner who will continue to treat it well.
Check out the hand tool and supplies organization in the garage.
Good write-up Adam.
If that’s in Louisville,Colorado,it might not be the same –
that’s right in the area of the big fires.
The suburb of Louisville was somewhat spared, it was the city of Superior that lost like 600 homes. MAN, those poor folks never saw that coming. Happy New Year, indeed. Now, they claim it was NOT a downed wire, the wire was a cable tv wire and not capable of starting a fire. Someone had video and seemed to originate in a shed of suspicious origin. Nice, huh?
I echo pretty much of what Bob_in_TN says. Depending on whether the engine is smoking on startup or constantly, with the few miles that are on it, and the age, it could just be a matter of valve guide seals. If you’re looking for an entry level into the hobby, this doesn’t seem crazy price wise, considering there’s very little if any to do to start enjoying it.
a can of A-205 might renew those seals too. The stuff works really well.
My oldest brother bought one similar to this new in 1975, It was a four door. What i remember most about that car was the power steering set up. Ford didnt have an integrated steering box on that car, had the funky slave cylinder or whatever you want to call that contraption, anyway the power steering lines ran under the engine cross member near where the lower control arm bolted to it and those lines were always getting torn whenever the car was driven on a gravel road leading to pump failure pretty damn quick. We ended up getting longer lines and ran them over the cross member to fix that problem on a 3 month old car
Didn’t the Corvette have the same setup underneath thru 1981?!
While I realize the Granada and its mechanical twin, the Mercury Monarch sprang from humble underpinnings, I still find the styling pleasing and attractive.
The 200 inline 6 base engine was tough as an anvil but the author correctly points out that acceleration was glacial.
Due to the impending fuel economy and pollution standards in place at the time, even the 302 struggled.
Nice to see one has been preserved and I hope it goes to a new, loving caretaker.
Back in 1976 the company I worked chose Ford Granada’s for their company cars. The Senior VP responsible for ordering new vehicles, knowing my interest in cars, asked me what my favorite color for a car was. I jokingly told him yellow. Sure enough, in just a few months 34 Granada’s began showing up, all in a pastel shade of yellow.
Late in the “Granada era” I worked for an oil company in a field office. The fleet was mostly trucks but we had a handful of cars too. One was a dark green/green vinyl, nicely equipped Granada. (Today I wonder how that came to be, most of the other cars were strippers). It was a firm rule that, given the Granada was so nice, that no one used it for field work. It was reserved for longer trips or for trips for office-based meetings.
I just bought a 77 ghia granada with 65k and mint condition. Also smoked on start up. So I replaced original valve seals. But still smoke. I found out now that the head gaskets are blown. Buyer should do do diligence before putting that kind of cash out
I’m with Bob – kudos to whomever owns that garage! Very well organized! And there aren’t very many Granadas around this nice either.
My go-to Granada “fun fact” is that they came with a speedo and a gas gauge only.
All of them.
There wasn’t a gauge package as an option, something almost every other domestic car could be had with at that point (however theoretical the option might be if you were buying off the lot) because I suppose that would’ve meant omitting some of that woodgrain.
I’ve always has a sweet spot for these, Kinda like the UGLY DUCK. Most were 4 doors, Not many had the 302. They got NO RESPECT. Had s friend from High School who built the hilt out of a Mercury Monarch. First thing he added was the rear end from a Lincoln Versailles ( FACTORY 9″ With Disk ) pulled the 302 and built it. Turned out pretty nice and smoked many of other BLUE OVALS and lots on bowties and mopars. It’s a 302 lots of aftermarket parts and easy rebuild. Show up with cash and take home a sleeper.
If these morons in,,wherever cars are made today, would bring back something like this, okay, doesn’t need a V8 anymore, but we’d have world peace,,,well, at least we wouldn’t all have to drive around in trucks. That still makes me laugh, 120 years of automobile improvement and what do most Americans all drive today? Trucks. I too thought the Granada/Monarch was simply the best Ford had to offer. Not full size, not some roller skate( Pinto), in 3 bears fashion, this was a real car, just right. You could take the family just about anywhere, and the Ghia, well, look at it, country club worthy. Okay, maybe the Monarch, but could be parked right next to the Jag with little issue. On the other end of the spectrum, I’ve seen some pretty basic Granadas too. They covered the entire gamut all the way up to the Lincoln Versaille, one of the poorest renditions of a Lincoln, I might add. Nice car,,,no, VERY nice car, and the new owner can thumb their noses as they go by new car,,oops, I mean, new TRUCK dealers, and yell, “Hey, Snowflakes ( looking at new dually’s) THIS IS CALLED,,A CAR!!” They probably wouldn’t even look at you, but their loss.
BTW, in classic CL style, the map is of Houston, so I don’t know where Louisville, Co. comes in.
Howard, I noticed that about the map, plus it says right at the top of the listing it’s Houston.
Picture #6 on C/L shows a garage name. Google says the garage in in Boulder, Colorado. The car also has a Colorado plate on it.
Only a thousand mile, 15 hour drive Houston, TX to Louisville, Colorado.
Texans can do that and be home the same day.
“Our Owner does report…” fishy ownership, so this might be a SCAM.
A High school buddy had somewhat of a unicorn. His ‘75 Granada was a factory equipped 4 door, 302, bucket seats, and a three speed manual on the floor. Baby blue with dark blue interior. Like all of the vehicles he owned, this one got beat to death, lol
My father had a green Granada with the 302 and a floor mounted manual (I don’t remember if it was a 3 speed or a 4 speed) But I drove it a few times and got a kick out of the acceleration compared to what else was out there back in the mid 1970s.
I was a teenage car nut at the time, when my parents bought a new loaded ’75 4 door Ghia with a 302. Previously they had owned typical FOMOCO boats. I remember thinking how nice it was to wheel into a small parking space in a compact car that could seat 5. It cornered great on the curves, was smooth and quiet and had decent power with the light weight and V/8. They had zero problems with it.
I used to cringe when I would see these pull into my Boron gas station for gas back in the early 80’s.
Why? The filler inlet on these, located at center above the rear bumper, was terribly designed as to where the pump nozzle would often rotate down onto the bumper and dislodge since the inlet was completely horizontal, with no angle to keep the nozzle in place.
Other times, the pump kicking off would dislodge the nozzle onto the ground, with the added bonus of gasoline kickback onto the car.
Had many gas spills while trying to fill these cars while having to service the other 4 or 5 cars at the pumps.
I also had to hold the nozzle at times while other customers thought I was ignoring them. They would often get mad at me until I explained the situation.
Surprised Ford didn’t catch this during development.
Lothar’s Trivia challenge:
Ok car buffs… picture # 10 in the Craigslist ad: Is that the front of a Suzuki Samurai parked behind the Grenada?
Yes it is a Samurai.
My parents had the same car in Blue in Central NY. What a load of crap lol! The massive doors wore out the hinges and they sagged. The car rotted with 5-7 years and the morrors would fall of. That wasnt the height of waulity in those years in Detroit.
The good news is it’s a 47-year-old immaculate gem and $8,000.
The bad news is it’s a 47-year-old Ford Granada.
As far as the smoking engine goes, I’d put a set of edelbrock heads and 4 barrel carp or efi. Boost the hp quite a bit for relatively cheap.
Keep the old heads tho! Lol. Super nice car.
This CL posting is actually advertising an auction for this car. Not sure if the $8,000 listed in the ad is a BIN price or maybe a reserve? Check out the link at the end of the ad.
https://www.clasiq.com/auction/1976-ford-granada-ghia/
With 2 days left it’s up to $4,400.
Thanks poppy for the information. I bid on this one, just couldn’t help it. Lol
Must put pipe wrenches in order by size and date of manufacture. Obviously a person who is a bit obsessive, evidence garage wall, which is a good thing when it comes to cars they have for sale. Nice car and not a horrible price. Cool daily driver ! Fix engine smoke and drive, better than buying a new Japanese jelly bean for $27000
My parents bought a 77 Ghia brand new. Dove grey with matching interior. 302 automatic. The back seat was like sinking into a worn out couch. Totally claustrophobic with only the small Ghia window. 302 was gutless. Ride was smooth but numb steering wheel feedback. Mom ended up driving the Ghia, Pop stuck to his 76 ford 150.
I hope I am wrong ,but my scam radar is blinking, Alert- Alert , there is more to this story.
Joe Haska: Please elaborate – why do you suspect a scam ???
Hope not. As it stands right now I’m the highest bidder. If I win I see some new tires and a long ride home.
Hope not. As it stands right now I’m the highest bidder. If I win I see some new tires and a long ride home.
My grandmother had this car (same color scheme) but in a 4 door with the V6. About the time she stopped driving was about the time I was looking for my first car. Thank God that I got my folks ’77 Grand Prix in Firethorn Red and my cousin (male, same age) ended up with this car… Not a popular car with the ladies. I felt bad for him as the Grand Prix turned out to be quite the ‘chick magnet’.
I get its a Ford Granada. And an upscale pkg called Ghia ? What is a Ghia or what does Ghia mean ? Is it just a name or a place i always wondered and refuse to just ” g00gle ” everything these days. Some mystery and unknowns and finding out from people is okay 👍
My wife had one just like this only in silver. I’ve got a picture of her standing beside it. She loved that car. It was the first car she bought on her own.
I went to the Houston cl to see the ad. It was listed December 16, 2021. It doesn’t give a definite address, but says it’s in S.W. Houston. I don’t think it’s here. I live close to the location and I thought I would go check it out. Oh well another car another time.
It sure is a Suzuki Samurai, without a doubt. How would I know because I have a 1976 Black 2 door Ford Granada with a 302 4 speed and a 1986 Suzuki Samurai both sitting in my garage. And I love them both. I’m the 2nd owner of the Granada and I got a Marti report with the car that said it was 1 of 503 made. When I used to take it out to cruises and stuff I would see old guys looking and wondering if 4 speeds really came in Granada’s. Mine was a special order car out of Memphis, TN that stayed in northern Alabama till I got it. My Samurai is just for fun ain’t had it long. At 67 I’m just enjoying playing with it and reliving my youth. Had a friend that had one and we took that Sammy places I didn’t think a vehicle would go. Everyone have a Happy New and stay safe!
The post above was a reply to an earlier comment, Lothar’s Trivia challenge. Don’t quite understand why it didn’t post as a reply.
Thanks for confirming, Mike.
Have fun w/ those cool, old vehicles.
~Lothar
I hope I am wrong but there just seems to be some things that don’t add up. Mostly where is the car and how are they selling it. Is it an auction and it seems the seller ,might be a dealer, but doesn’t want to say so. From other comments , I am not the only one, but I hope it isn’t. Joe
Seems like the auction went well https://www.clasiq.com/auction/1976-ford-granada-ghia/ car sold for $9500 & seller seemed to be real responsive to all questions asked. Good deal all round and nice new auction site to get my teeth into!
“just the right size, “either with the iron clad 200/3.3 or the more peppy 302”, just some of the long list of comments on the 1st fox platform (1975) that went onto wagons, Lincoln continental, stangs (till ’04 & the nxt SN-95), Fairmont, ltd, cougar (even a wagon ), Lincoln and zephyr…one of the ‘longest made platforms’ in cardom. Quite a feet if seeing it start w/a Falcon’s attempt to stop the Vedub Bug from decimating the usa auto industry. Wish we came up w/one as successful 15 yrs later for the invasion from the East (we’re still in)…..