When the first-generation Ford Granada was introduced as a compact back in 1975, it was a pretty solid offering and probably would have found plenty of buyers even without a celebrity endorsement. However, it never hurts to get somebody behind your product who’s an instantly recognizable TV figure, so when Bill Cosby started singing the car’s praises it’s hard to imagine this didn’t get even more customers into the company’s showrooms. This 1977 Ford Granada Ghia here on Craigslist is one top-notch example, and this one still looks a lot like it did from the days when Cosby was encouraging drivers to get behind the wheel. The sedan is in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and comes at an asking price just one dollar shy of $20,000.
Mitchell G., thanks for your great tip here! The seller tells us he is only the Ford’s second caretaker, and mentions that the original owner was an elderly lady from Tennessee. Based on one of the bumper stickers, this one may truly be one of those survivor autos that was only driven to the grocery store during the week, followed by traveling to church on Sundays. It’s said to have spent its downtime napping in the garage.
The Ghia was the top trim level for the Granada, which got you a vinyl roof on the outside and some more significant upgrades inside. The seller deems his car a true survivor and says it’s been meticulously cared for, and if that’s indeed the factory paint, I’m having a hard time disputing his claim. Just about every angle shows a vehicle that’s easy to believe has only traveled 34,480 miles, and the only thing that needs to be done on the outside here is to continue preserving this beauty for years to come.
As expected for the Ghia, the interior is loaded with plenty of luxurious items, with this one also featuring plush leather seats. Power accessories include windows, front seat, and trunk release, plus there’s also cruise control and an 8-track player. I’d make sure that Johnny Cash tape is still protruding from the dash before I shook hands on the deal.
The engine compartment appears to remain in excellent working order, with the seller telling us the V8 is strong and the car drives smoothly. While there seems to be no question that this one’s about as good as they get, I’m curious to hear what our readers think about the cost of $19,999. J.D. Power lists the high retail for a 1977 Granada Ghia at $3,029, which seems quite a bit low for a top-notch survivor. What do you think is a reasonable price to pay for what we’re seeing here?
Bought one for a winter beater year and a half ago from Craigslist. Has 45k from original owner not a Ghia. Gave it a Rustolem paint job costing around $100 302 C4. It is just as clean as the one shown. $800.00 $20,000.00 your NUTS
Very nice. This Granada is a great example of a malaise-era car which was quite successful. Take a basic compact platform, give it attractive styling, dress it up (in the case of a Ghia like this, really dress it up), and market it as an upscale offering. I suspect Ford made lots of money on these.
Speaking of money, I don’t know their market value, but surely that JD Power figure is way too low for a nice car like this which has also had maintenance updates.
Good job Mike.
It was Iacocca’s “four-quadrant” hit (to borrow a showbiz term); where his other signature cars were aimed at the leading edge of the Baby Boom generation (Mustang, T115 minivans) or at his own age cohort (Galaxie LTD, Mark III, both Imperial revivals) this was a car someone in their 20s trading in their beater Mustang or VW bus could feel like a real adult driving and their parents could go to from that LTD without feeling they were moving down in the world.
I don’t remember the Cosby commercials, but I remember Ford ads saying “It looks just like a Mercedes” and showing the Granada and a Mercedes parked side by side at a drive-in theater. . These weren’t bad cars other than suffering from very smogged out drive trains. I knew someone with the 302 and the thing could barely get out of its own way. Nice as this one is, I think the seller is still dreaming.
Recall ads comparing Granada to Mercedes. Actually would prefer the Granada, but more significant was Lincoln and or Mercury compared to ROLLS-ROYCE. 👍Once road in a VERSAILLES! OTT excessive chromed luxury on a slightly smaller scale! 🏆. But the price of this Granada is way too high. And it didn’t have Rich Corinthian Leather. Strange how names of vehicles go in cycles.
This is a very well-equipped Granada – cornering lamps and a power seat are very uncommon options. However, the upholstery is vinyl. Leather was only available with the luxury decor option. It had a different upholstery pattern than shown here, and was not available in this car’s lovely cream yellow color.
When other 1970’s through 1980’s generic 4 doors can easily be found for less than $10,000, why bother. This is no one’s dream car, which is the only way to justify that kind of premium. If the market ever corrects, these generic 4 doors without a following will lead the way down.
Steve R
$20,000 is steep for a more door Granada. Maybe a coupe with the 351. Maybe.
Knew someone who had one – could not keep tires on it. Twisted frame.
Old time capsules owned by Granny are cool but for $20K there’s many that are cooler than a Granada. Pass.
Yeah the seventies were a messed up time to build cars. It would take years to develop the technology we enjoy today with all its complexity and expense. By no means fuel efficient but Ford did a pretty good job building an up market compact car. Compare this to the Nova LN and various Premier editions from Chrysler and make your selection. Well equipped and good looking survivor color and maybe it’s just right for the right buyer. Now if I had too much money and more of my desires fulfilled…
Owned a ’75 Ghia 4 door with a 3 speed manual on the floor of all things. Light green with dark green vinyl top. Very nice driving car, and the 302 was adequate….that’s all I can say for it. Took it on several long trips and it performed well. These cars got an unjustifiably bad rap. I’d love to have this yellow one but at about half the price.
My dad traded in his 74′ Mustang for a 78′ Granada 2- door and traded that for his last car,a 83′ 2- door Tempo.Ford man all his life.
altho preceded by the fairmont this is still early fox platform for ford (’78 – ’93 & some claim thru the SN-95 to ’04). After a bang up job responding to the late 50s/early 60s VW Bug decimation of usa auto w/the falcon (stang, bronco etc) they produced nother winner. Sure wish they were here w/a K car (ICE of 650cc or less) and EV of 30K$ or less. All our makers only interested in suv’n “trucks”. I think some colleges/fed partnership w/the big 3 is the only answer. We can build some kinda future (competition & a win) thru this development. We cant rely on services only (music/vid/finances) as we’ll soon see a three layer world financial system (Russia/Iran/Brazil/China; USA/Canada/Mexico; Europe) & “making things” will predominate.
Pieces of these granadas were utilized in europe by the coach-builders contracted to MB (Binz, etc). Never realized their match up & joked in the day abt ford tryin to make a usa MB.
I doubt the “leather” claim. Did Caddy or Lincoln even have that in 70s? The 351 (but I’d also add AOD) comment is 1 I support (w/plenty concomitant adds). Hi teens can B paid for this – no JDPowers, NADA, Blue Book covers these sorts. Need higher end sales like BaT & diamond level car auctions (yup, weird as it sounds 4 a Grenade -a).
Had both 78 Town Coupe and 78 Grand Marquis at different times. Both had genuine leather. Current 2007 Town Car Signature Limited also has leather.
I doubt the leather claim as well. I had a Versailles, now that had leather….I’ve had 2 Granadas (yeah, that’s right, I’ve had 2 Granadas and a Versailles) and the Granadas had vinyl or cloth, no leather.
I think $1500-$2K would be a fair number. There’s thousands of better choices out there for $20K.
I virtually topped your bid – I was thinking 3995 tops but less would be better.
my late maternal grandparents had matching powder blue versions of the first year of this car though they would switch back to General motors product for the 1978 model year granddad to a Cadillac Sedan Deville and Grandma to an Oldsmobile Delta 88 Rocket 350
J.D power price would be very close if this car was as beat up like the other 95% of the Granadas that still run. Since it’s seems to very clean with low miles I would think $6500-7000 would be good price for someone looking for a good used car.
My dad had a ’77 but without the bells and whistles you see in this Ghia. The 302 was ok, once you convinced it to move 2 seconds after you punched it. It drank hearty. I had it on a highway shoulder and had to put out an A/C clutch fire or it might have charred to the pavement. Note to all: always carry a CO2 extinguisher.
Pop bought Mom a brand new 76 Granda 2 door Ghia in dove grey. 302 that couldn’t get out of it’s own way, but made for a comfortable highway cruiser. Pop had been a Ford man all his life but even he agreed this car’s performance was poor.
Pale yellow matched every German Mercedes taxi I saw in Germany and was a popular color for Mercedes Benz imports into the USA. So the luxury compact square body did resemble the 200 and 300 series of the German car without precise Mercedes Benz handling and steering. Ford had a practical boxy design and top selling model with the Granada. But $20,000 for a used Granada in any condition is way overpriced.
At the time, my mother had a new Grand Monarch Ghia. It was much nicer than this Mercury and would be the one to find. The one shown is very nice bit it’s like $16000 too much.
I had the 1975 Merc version of this car and loved the 6 cyl. in it. Was my first 6 cyl.,besides my 1967 gt-6.Plenty of power for such a nice riding car.Baby blue with gray velour seats that were wonderful.Same as the seats in my 1970 429 Merc grand Marquis.My only 2 Merc,s,but they were both great, comfortable cars.
My Dad had a 78~ in the same color as this one but not all the bells and whistles. It was a fleet car that had some of the cop car equipment, sway bars, heavy duty rear with 3.24 gears, oil and trans coolers, disk brakes. Great sleeper. PVC line into the carb would clog but a good cleaning was all that it ever needed. First off from a stop light was no problem.AC made one shiver. $16k is really a long reach even for one so well equipped.
When you consider this is probably one of the lowest-mileage Granadas anywhere, plus that it’s a Ghia, i see why the seller is asking so much. For being an all-original car, it should bring $10-12k but the market just isn’t there.
My parents being serious FoMoCo people, bought the badge engineered Mercury version. Their’s turned out to not be a good car! Why in the wide wide world of sports would someone want one of these at any price?
Way too high. There is a 77 two door same color inside and out for sale on FB marketplace in Fort Dodge Iowa for $5,000. That car also has a 302, auto and air. Seller claims 50,000 miles and has spent quite a bit in recent parts.
Nice enough ford and it would take much to get some better performance. But way overpriced for what it is.
… wouldn’t! take much …
I’ve had 2 Granadas (a 2 door 302ci and a 4 door) and a Versailles (a rare early production with the 351 and floor shifter) and I can confirm there is little to no market for these cars. I didn’t get $20k for all three of them combined, and they were in extremely nice condition. This is more of the “honey, I tried to sell it” price.