The Ford Granada is not exactly a model you associate with being a home run for the domestic auto industry. But it was actually quite popular with consumers, even if it was unremarkable in every way. When it comes to building a car that will sell, most manufacturers already know that keeping the car simple and the options list long is the best way to make money as opposed to making the car every enthusiast claims to want. This Granada is as boring and as brown as they come, but it has survived in remarkable condition. It’s now listed here on eBay for $5,500 or best offer.
The Granda showed the strength of the mid-size sedan class when it was introduced, with many customers picking one up in 1975. Estimates show that Ford moved roughly 300,000 Granadas out of the showroom that year, and customers seemed to like the idea of a basic four-door that came with a healthy list of standard options and plenty of ways to make the car feel ritzier if desired. After all, the country was still in the middle of a love affair with the “personal luxury coupe” model, and much of the Granada’s advertising seemed to position it as a car you’d take to the opera or a night on the town with friends.
The faux woodgrain trim, the multiple shades of beige, and even some fake woodgrain on the shifter handle gives you a sense of what appealed to car shoppers at the time. Ford touted the comfort of its bucket seats at the time, noting that the European-inspired design was typically found in vehicles costing much more than the Granada. You had your choice of richly appointed velour all the way up to leather seating surfaces. Multiple adjustments were possible, too. Ford also wanted shoppers to know they used thicker carpeting that was stain-resistant, and other insulating materials, to keep the cabin rigid and quiet. All these years later, however, it seems funny to think of patting yourself on the back for making a cabin that didn’t rattle at every junction.
The seller lists the Granada as having a 4.1L V8, which obviously is incorrect. There was a 4.1L inline-six available, but based on the dual exhaust, this Granada has either the 302 or 351 under the hood. With the basic hubcaps over steel wheels and brown paint, it’s a bit of a sleeper even if horsepower at the time wasn’t exceptional. Assuming it has the 302 under the hood, power was right around 140 b.h.p., so not great. The Granada seems like a survivor, and the price is also fair for a car that appears to be as nicely preserved as this one is. The seller does refer to it being a project car, so perhaps reach out for some clarification on what that actually means in this instance.
A great example of taking a basic platform (in this case, its roots go back to the original Falcon), giving it conservative but attractive styling, and trimming it nicely. Which results in a quite successful model. I suspect Ford made a ton of money on these.
This one looks quite plain in brown, with basic blackwalls and hub caps (full wheel covers were standard). Taillights are broken. Kind of looks like what Bill and Joe on Dragnet would have driven if the show had lasted into the mid-70’s.
Thanks Jeff.
It’s Grandpa Fox body! Another couple of years and this platform became the most successful Mustang of modern times. Look hard and you see the Fairmont and all the others. Now finding those tail lights could be a problem. This would be a great daily driver if you are ok with no touch screens and there is not an abs system. Remember how to modulate a brake pedal? Yes it’s missing some modern things. I sold my Fairmont wagon that I dropped a roller 302, 5 speed transmission and differential all out of a Fox Mustang. You can do many updates with this car such as brakes and suspension. Could be a great driver, even a good sleeper.
The 1981-82 Granadas were Fox bodies, the first generation Granadas were the last gasps of the Falcon platform. Either generation can be good sleepers.
What a great car, sleeper-wise. Nice one, Jeff! This would be fun to own.
Todd wrote up this “Granader,” as the seller calls it, almost exactly six years ago, and that seller at least showed the 351 V8. How a seller could omit an engine photo when it’s arguably the most important part of a vehicle is mind-blowing.
https://barnfinds.com/rare-factory-sleeper-1975-ford-granada-351/
So, from an asking price of $6,900 to $5,500, and from Tampa, Florida to Branchville, New Jersey. I like it at $5,500 much better. The letter “H” is the fifth spot in the VIN, which stands for a 351 V8 for the 1975-1977 model year.
http://gmv-registry.com/92/index.html
This car, with a four-speed manual (only a three-speed manual was available with the 302, automatic only for the 351), would be gold at any Cars & Coffee event.
Hubcaps are from a Maverick.
Ford tried to compare these to Mercedes in ads back in the day.
Nice! I never drove a Grenada but loved the Maverick sedan I had. Ford built really cool vehicles in the 70s! These and the highboy F250 trucks with factory lift blocks, Mavericks, Broncos. They really built unique vehicles. Someone was thinking differently at Ford than the other manufacturers. This car is in beautiful condition.
I had a powder blue 76 Granada 4 door 302 with a 3 speed manual floor shift. Ran acceptable, pulled down over 20mpg on the highway but was perhaps built at the zenith of Detroits low quality cars. Comfortable, quiet and a nice highway cruiser when not rusting out or parts falling off.