1985 Ford Granada

Ford Granada Mk2 (Saloon), 1977-1985

The Ford Granada Mk2 was in production from 1977 until 1985. Styled in house, it is a front-engine, rear wheel drive saloon and estate range seating five adults.

The Granada Mk2 was a replacement for the Granada Mk1 - though under the skin there were greater similarities than Ford would like you to think. Even the bodyshell of the estate was carried over, albeit with a new nose - the saloon had a whole new look. Underneath the drivetrains were carried over, though the Essex V6 seen in British Mk1s was replaced by the German Cologne unit. There would be a facelift for 1981, which brought a new grille, bigger bumpers, a revised dash, new taillights and better seat shaping. The 2.8iGLS would be replaced by a new sporting model, the 2.8 Injection, trading on the halo effect of the upmarket Capri. There would also be a new upmarket derivative - the Ghia X, based on the Ghia and launched in 1982 - which in turn could be specified with the Executive pack from 1984.

1985 would be the final year for the Mk2 Granada, before both saloon and estate would be replaced with the new Mk3 hatchback. This car would be heavily based on the smaller Sierra, and feature a body styled in tune with contemporary American design. Subsequently its range would expand to include saloon and estate derivatives.

The Ford Granada Mk2 sat in a competitive executive marketplace - one into which arch rivals Vauxhall had recently re-entered with the Royale 2.8 and the smaller six cylinder Viceroy model. The Citroen CX offered technical innovation and a superb ride, while the Rover SD1's appealing body hid simple underpinnings which would appeal to the Granada's fleet clientele. The Talbot Tagora spoke of a niche market, but in plush SX spec was undeniably tempting for the money. The Volvo 240 range would have been seen as safe and solid, while a secondhand Mercedes-Benz W123 with a dateless registration would have done wonders for the image of would-be Granada man. The Audi 100 had a similarly honest and basic image, but with the perception of greater German quality.