1976 Ford Granada

Ford Granada Mk1 (Saloon), 1972-1977

The Ford Granada Mk1 was in production from 1972 until 1977. Styled in house, it is a front-engine, rear wheel drive saloon, coupe and estate range seating five adults.

Launched in 1972, the Granada range was planned as a successor to the Ford Zodiac - while its Ghia derivative the following year would replace the Ford Executive. Like the outgoing range there would also be an entry level version - the Zephyr would be replaced by a Consul. The Granada range would begin with just two models - standard and GXL, which allied to Ford's model strategy as being the upmarket model in the manner of the Cortina GXL In 1973, Ford introduced an upmarket Ghia model, with a unique grille, wooden trim and soft nylon seats. This would be joined for 1974 by a coupe - for the UK, this would be a Ghia-only model, but in mainland Europe it would be available across all specifications.

The Consul would be discontinued for 1975, replaced by more basic Granada models in an effort to unify the range and reduce confusion. For the first time there would be entry level Granada models - L, GL, and even the sporty Consul GT would be replaced by the Granada 3000S - taking its branding from the sporting Capris driven by The Professionals. 1977 would see the introduction of the new, square-jawed Granada Mk2, which under the skin bore considerable similarities with the Mk1.

As an executive car, the Granada's competition was equally upmarket. The Rover P6 and early examples of the SD1 proved popular in the UK market, as did the Triumph 2500 range. Foreign competition might have included the Peugeot 604, the Citroen CX, and at the lower end of the range the Chrysler Two Litre. German rivals would certainly have included the Audi 100 and the BMW E12 5-series, though both of these cars would be far more expensive than the Granada in Britain when new owing to import duties. The Volvo 244 would have been a sensible and solid alternative that offered better value than the Mercedes-Benz W123. Arch-rival Vauxhall would have wished that buyers saw the 3.3 litre Ventora or the Opel Commodore as viable alternatives.