Driven: Ford Granada MK1 - 1970s coolness! You could drive it too! Great British Car Journey
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- Опубліковано 27 гру 2023
- @greatbritishcarjourneyinvited us to test drive a few more classic cars, and this Ford Granada 2.5 GLX was first in my sights. Launched in 1972, the Granada was a huge hit for Ford. But what is it like to drive?
The Granada replaced the Zephyr/Zodiac MK4 in the UK, and the P7 from Germany. It uses the Essex V6 engine allied to a 3-speed automatic transmission and is finished in Roman Bronze. At the time of writing, the cost is £65 to drive this car.
Visit drivedadscar.com to find out for yourself!
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#classicford #driving #classiccars - Авто та транспорт
My dad actually did have a Mk1 Granada, a green 1973 3.0 Ghia Estate with black leather and a black vinyl roof. Back before people were concerned about the consequences of having unrestrained children in the back of their cars in the event of an accident we would more often than not fold the back seat and I would share the space that would nowadays be considered a viable central London apartment with my sister and the dog. Happy days. It was replaced in 1978 with a Renault 14 in one of the saddest events of my young life up to that point.
Isn’t it great…as kids we weren’t protected under 20 layers of restraint and bureaucracy…but here we are, we still made it.
Probably been said before, but I honestly believe we have lived through the best times
From Granada 3.0 Ghia Estate to Renault 14. That's moving from a seaside Villa into a state-owned / welfare-run complex appartment. That must have been disgustingly traumatic and you have my full sympathy. Wonder what parents think sometimes what the do to their kids with those decisions ... ;-) Something similar - but on a different, non comparable state - happened to me, when I had to use a 5-speed manual VW Golf Turbodiesel Variant for company purposes instead of my BMV 525i / 24V automatic. (On the positive side: the BMW was darned expensive costing *my* money and the Golf costs were almost entirely covered by the company - so my disappointment was limited ... still drive a company Golf Variant today and have -no- private-owned car yet ... cheap mobility.)
@@angusnz7910 you, I and plenty of people watching this channel breathed in plenty of lead those cars spewed out before restraint and bureaucracy kicked in and said no. A marvel that we sorted that and the ozone layer before anti-green credentials became the in thing.
I also signed up to be an organ donor because safer cars left fewer people with smashed heads but intact kidneys to go around.
It was probably already rusting comprehensively rusting by the time it was sold, and fuel costs would have been a concern by then…
@@angusnz7910that is only for those who survived unscathed. The evidence is that a lot of unrestrained passengers faired badly in car crashes. Their silence is mute evidence. Basic physics is difficult to ignore.
Watching this makes me sentimental for my 1973 3.0 v6, what a wonderful car. Happy memories of those days cruising on the motorway in real comfort.
The Ghia models always had those big squashy armchairs that were like sitting on a plush sofa in your lounge 😁
I think a Dad would have been king of the hill in one of these. No such thing in my family but Ford was the master of aspirational motoring. I would spend hours pawing through the Ford brochure wishing my Dad had specified the better wheels or even a fog light or radio on his mk4 Cortina 1.6L. It was a truly pleasurable experience looking through the wonderful photos and then the list of standard and optional kit. Ian, this video brought it all back. A simpler and I might say, better time before everyone became obsessed with all this social media guff. Keep em coming.
For a long while - hence the "Mondeo Man" moniker.
Nowadays, they are a shadow of what they used to be.
Mentioning the Sweeney when talking about Granada's is perfectly acceptable, people often forget that Granada models were used in different series, even a MK 2!.
Starting with the pilot episode Regan's personal car is a 1972 2.5 Granada automatic finished in dark blue without a vinyl roof (interestingly Reagan's personal cars seem to go down market after this, Capri 3.0 Ghia down to low spec Escorts).
The series squad cars driven by Bill the driver (plus a few other drivers) consist of the famous bronze 1974 Consul 3.0 GT, a lovely silver with black vinyl roof 1974 Granada 3.0 GXL automatic ( used in a few episodes, presumably while the Consul was having repairs), a silver 1976 Granada 3000 S manual, a gold 1976 Granada 3.0 Ghia automatic and finally a silver 1978 mk2 Granada 2.8i S manual which shared duty with the mk1 ghia in the final series.
So while not wishing to sound pedantic, Granada models are very much part of the Sweeney conversation.👍
Jack Reagan even had a Morris Maxi in Sweeney 2 .. yep a drop down from the Blue Granada in the Pilot Episode Regan... My Uncle had a Consul GT in same colour as the one in 1st 2 years of the Sweeney, at the same time whilst the show was 1st broadcasted, he was a Sweeney fan (so am I)... and 2 mark 2s later on. It was a really comfortable car to travel in. Fast too
Maybe Regan's take-home paychecks kept getting less and less. Might explain the personal car downgrades throughout the series.
@johndrake2729 he spent his salary in the Boozers...he should of had shares in the hope and anchor
Memories, memories!! My dad had a 1974 Consul estate in this very colour and with the 2.5 V6, in GL spec, it was a LARGE car! So large in fact that I managed to get my Yamaha DT125 in the back, on it's side, when it wouldn't start, and take it to the dealer to repair! That still amazes me now! Then he had a Mk1 Granada, in vivid metallic purple, again, 2.5 ltr and manual, as was the consul, then a Mk2 in Jupiter red, that one was 2.8 ltr and auto. Loved the those cars and they did my street cred no end of good, I pulled a fair bit of skirt by virtue of having them to drive around in! All diabolical on petrol, especially when driven with verve, as you did! In return for being given the privilege of using them fairly often, it was my job to wash and polish them, and the Mk1's took ages with all their acres of chrome to polish, the Mk2 was easier as it had stainless trim. Yes, nice cars and an enjoyable era of driving for me, courtesy of my dear departed dad.
My dad had a Leyland Princess 2200 HLS Wedge, I am just restoring his old car :-))) Its an original German left hand driven import from 1976 (manual gearbox car with this nice bronce metallic orange BL paint) Fun car at its best! My dad had the choice of buying a used Ro80 or a new Leyland Princess! I am gald he choose the 6 cyl wegde!
On the continent, we got the very enjoyable Cologne V6's; they ran beatifully. Impressive cars, then and now.
my dad's best friend had one , so wafty comfy and smooth , 3.0 V6 hurrendous MPG and it fell apart within 6 years. but i loved being driven around in it, as dad had an A30 at the time!
I was hitch hiking in 1977 and got a lift from Stirling to Invergordon in a Granada like this.
It was the poshest car I'd ever been in as a 19 year old. It was a good long lift too.
One of my all-time favourite cars, fantastic!
I completely agree. The mk1 Granada was one of the most beautiful designs ever. The Coupe took it all to another level. They still look wonderful today. Back in the day they seemed unimaginably sophisticated. Those alloy wheels and the vinyl roof. OMG.
had L reg3000gxl in early 1980 only ran on 5 cylinders i got 12 mph towing a sprite major caravan through wales lantwit major
Love the 70s colours 👌
About 20 years ago Quentin Wilson told everyone to avoid lairy colours as they reduced the resale value, therefore you can now have any colour you want as long as it's grey.
I worked at a main Datsun imoprter /dealership doing repairs in the late 70s. Metallic colours on the Granada were very popular, especially bronze, red, blue, and green shades. We seemed to get a lot of Granada's goimg through the used car workshops, traded in against new 180B, 200L, 240K, and 280C Datsun models. The Datsun's had more standard equipment than their British and European rivals, that had them listed as factory optional extras.
Thank you so much Ian for choosing to drive the Granada. There is far too little Granada and may I say Scorpio content on UA-cam. The first car I learnt to drive in and then eventually daily drive was a 1972 Consul L 2.5 V6 manual in Sebring Red with no power steering.😀FYI, 1st ever UA-cam comment! 🤥
My Dad and I watched The Sweeney and I reckon it was the Consul in this colour that led my him to go and test drive one. He actually bought a VX2300 in metallic brown I believe as a nod to this icon. The VX had a fantastic paint finish laid on top of galvanising, never rusted and he was never overtaken on the motorway. Wish of course I still had it.
Transit was mentioned and so feel I must recount that first time my Dad did the ton was in the 'new' Transit up the M1.
Lovely old car. I have always liked the mk1 Granada, it's styling is so individual without being garish
When my father’s company SD1 was being serviced he used to drive the pool Granada. I used to be allowed to get the car out of the garage for him and I always found the V6 Ford wanted to dig trenches in the gravel unlike the V8 Rover. I used to have to rake the gravel too😂
I drove the Austin 7 on my birthday visit to the museum which was the highlight of my motoring career! Bucket list stuff. ❤
A lot of these early fords had the washer as a foot operated button on the floor on the left hand side. My mums trick was to put her leg over and operate it as dad was driving!
If the mk1 Granada was anything like my dad's MK3 Cortina...the windscreen washer was operated by your left foot on a black rubber 'pump button'.....thanks for the video and if anything I know where one of my summer days out will be this year👍👍
Yes, I had a K reg Mk 3 Cortina, that operated the wipers via a pump in the footwell, you had to use your left foot size nine to operate it...
Yes they had mechanical foot pump washers up to 1974 then electric washer button next to heated screen switch (fog light switch repositioned under dash).
We never got those here in the States. However with the passage of time through private Imports a few of those Mk4 Zodiac's have made it to Canada and with the passage of yet more time, to the States. We have two Mk4 Zods in the Yards at work. Back home on the East coast I have a large collection of Engines including some of those early V4's and some of those "Cologne" V6's including several which were Remanufactured still in their Shipping Crates. And finally, just last night I bought a 28.330-mile 1-Owner 1988 Merkur Scorpio Sedan in Red from my Boss. He wanted $8500... I paid $3000 for it 🤪😦. This has the 3.0 V6 and the Automatic. Loaded with "everything" including a Power Sunroof and a fake Luggage Rack inside a box and a rear Aluminum Sunshade for the rear hatch.
Those Granadas I can remember very well. I liked both generations. My uncle had got a brandnew Ford Consul in 1974. It had the same shape as the Granada, but only available with 4-cylinder engines. My uncle had a 1.⁷I V4 with 75 HP. Much too less for a heavy vehicle like that. His Consul had nice bluemetallic colour and a black vinyl roof. The next bigger engine was the Pinto with 2l and 99 HP. The Granadas you could get from up the 1 7V4, the 2l and 2.3l Köln V6 with 90 or 108 HP and those bouth Essex V6 with 2.6 or 3.0l with 125 and 138 HP. The Essex V6 was later replaced by bigger versions of the Köln V6 with 2.8l with carbourater or injection. I think the carbourater one had 135 HP and the injection version had 160 HP. Driving was very comfortable. When we were on our camping holliday in Italy in the 80ies we developed a friendship with another German family living close to our town. They came with a 2.3l V6 Granada Automatic towing a 1300 kg Lord Münsterland duobleaxle caravan. The Granadas colour was the same as here in the video, but without vinyl roof. It had alloy wheels like the Ghia versions. My father was towing his 1200 kg caravan with his VW K70 1.6 with 90 HP. Not the best choice indeed but the first caravan before was smaller. He replaced one year later the K70 by an Audi 100 L 5S with the nice 5-cylinder sound. I'm still in contact and keep friendship with those family's son after bouth of ours parents death. We are often talking about those good old times. And those old cars were definitely part of them. I remember also that all those old Ford cars had a special plastic and rubber smell especially when they were new.
Always liked these. No idea why. Never even been in one. Purple with a vinyl roof, if you're asking.
The Essex V 6 are among the best sounding engines ever!
our pals dad had the exact same colour one back in the seventies it was massive , it impressed us all so much that in 1985 my pal got a 2.8 ghia x mk2 which he STILL has today and its STILL the coolest car i get to travel in or drive
Stunning! Brings back fantastic memories! “Kick him George” 😂
Dear Mr & Mrs Hubnut, I’ve been stuck in bed throughout Christmas with some kind of flu!. Your channel, content and presentation has kept me sane. You’re doing a fantastic job. Keep up the really great work. Here’s to another 10 years 🎉.
In New Zealand we did not get the Granada, opting for the Australian Falcon/Fairmont. For New Zealand roads the Granada would have been a world better. I got to drive a number of the contempory Falcons and all I can say is they were more like boats than cars, making brisk driving a real challenge. i prefered the HQ Holden over the Falcon but back in the day you had to be carerful saying that...
I can confirm the museum is brilliant I drove a mk1 astra and very much enjoyed it I might head back for a spin in the old grandad 🤔👌👍🏻
Never got to drive this generation but spent many a happy mile in a 2.8 auto Ghia next generation . Where did it all go so wrong ?
My dad lusted after these when I was a kid and would always point them out as we drove along in his Allegro! He was always worried about how thirsty they’d be. I remember going to look at a used mk2 2.8 Ghia but it wouldn’t start so he bought a Cortina instead. He eventually got a new company Granada 2.0i twin cam . I’d turned 17 by then and was on the insurance and absolutely loved driving it.
My dad had lots of Fords when I was a kid( 48 now) mainly mk2 escort estates, and many cortina’s. His last one a champagne gold 1:6 gl was my favourite XHN457Y. DVLA says it still alive somewhere. If anyone sees it let know.
In the series Butterflies, Rhea's fancy man has a chauffeur driven MK1 Granada. The lack of head restraints really is odd in that context.
I had a few Granadas and Scorpios when they were banger money and loved them for how big and comfortable they were, with never ending acceration for no revs. Nothing like these things exist now, and when you see one they seem so much smaller than I remember.
Because cars have grown a lot in size. An VW Up er nearly bigger than a Golf MK1. I saw an pic of an 60s Pontiac Firebird parked beside an modern SUV. The big american V8 car nearly looked like it was an Triumph Spitfire on that pic. 😄
In the mid 1980's I owned a white 3.0L S, ex police which went like stink. Loved that car. Everything in London except trucks and busses got out of your way. Windscreen wash on the floor behind the pedal rubber squishy.
Bring back the large saloon!!
Nice to see the up and down C6 out and about.
Brilliant. I owned a Granada Ghia for a while, much the same colour if memory serves, and with the vinyl roof too. Terrific times to travel.
Boot/trunk measures 1.8 Ians, not bad
The Sweeney car was a Consul - a name most don't associate with Granadas. In the same way, the Cortina was originally Consul Cortina. Ford liked, in those days, to give people time to get used to new model names.
Correct - My dad had a Consul in the 70's which was quite close to the Sweeney model. My dad changed the smaller headlamps as a modification. Really nice motor, and was a smooth drive (as far as I remember being about 7 yrs ! 🙂). Memories................
Such a handsome car. Always wanted one of these with a V6.
Back in the early 70s, I went with dad and his pal to find us a new car. We looked at numerous Granada's and even a Granada Ghia Coupé. We eventually bought a Rover P5B Coupé. That V8 was huge, fast, and the first of owning so many big Rover's myself.
The dad of my best friend drove the estate! Bleu metallic if i remember well! Sadly he passed away this year!
Lovely car 😍 Test drive needs the addition of a chase with a MK2 Jag and some cardboard boxes 😂
❤I used to own a P Reg 1976 white mk1 Granada 3.0 L Ghia, absolutely loved it.
The party at the back is coming along quite nicely...😃😃
Excellent! I hope we get Drive Dad's Car for the 90s generation. Base spec Vectra, B5 Passat, A4, Mondeo etc. Obviously Rover 75, 600 😅 Also drive Grandad's car! Fiesta 1.3, Focus, 306, Rover 414! 😂
The windscreen wash is a foot activated vacuum button where the clutch usually is iirc. It is on MK3 Cortinas anyway.
Funny you should mention your Australian Ford Fairmont! The headlights from this Mk1 Granada were used on the Australian Ford Fairmont, the XC model, from 1976 to 1978, along with the GXL badge, which denoted the top spec model with the 5.8L V8. Independent rear suspension was still a pipe dream in 1970's Australia, but we did have lots of vinyl, inside the car and out. 🙂
My grandfather had one of these (although in Consul-from..). So many beautiful childhood memories!
BTW: May I suggest a video of you and all your fellow UA-camrs (to which I´ve also subscribed because of you!)? All of you sitting together with tea and biscuits and telling your best car stories. I think I'm not the only one, who'd enjoy that very much.
Nice greeting from Germany and a happy new year to you and your loved ones!
It'd be a tricky one to sort for sound! I did chat with many of them for a future video though. Steph ended up interviewing me while I was interviewing her...
@@HubNut Record it on several devices and then synchronize them by clapping. Ive done that myself before. It isn't exactly difficult when you got your head around it. And yes, I remember that episode!
I had a 3.0 litre coupe one back when I was an apprentice Ford mechanic in the late 70's. Cost me 320 pounds from the back lot of a local dealer in Southend on Sea.. Very cheap to run - lets just say that a lot of parts were needed but somehow they "found" their way from the stores department to my car......
Great car one of my faves. I ended up cutting the floor out of mine and fitted a live jag axle small block Chevy and 3 speed manual sequential shift box and drag raced it. Wouldn't do that to it if I had it now.....
In 1982 I had the Ford Granada 2.0S Auto. Still is the best car I ever owned. It had twin spots on the radiator grille which was standard for the S They don't build cars like this anymore like they use to. Incidently, I was a Traffic cop in Leicestershirein 1979 and had the pleasure of driving the Ford Granada 3.0S It stuck to the road like the proverbial!!!Still got a picture of it in my office. ps the car there in the video is Leicestershire registered... 😁😁😁
That car was way ahead of its time.
A lovely old Grandad.... Mates dad had the 3 litre coupe in that metallic green and black vinyl roof.
Fitted with Danish plates, because European and confused uk cops.....!
Another extra was a ships horn... because he said original was too weedy.... omg I loved that car, so comfortable!
Nice find Ian...
Some of the early 70s Fords had a rubber bulb screenwash pump on thee floor next to the clutch pedal on a manual car.
This must have been a great day for you Ian, all you UA-camrs together. Look forward to whatever happened with Danny Hopkins. Re. windscreen wash. I wonder if it had a rubber bulb on the floor that you manually pushed like a MK I Escort? Maybe not.
Cheers Peter. Floor mount seems likely.
Uncle had a 1981 2.0 in white, when my dad's had a 1978 Citroen GS, and other uncle had a 1977 Peugeot 504D. Late 1990s a buddy of mine had a 2.6 V6 automatic, which was THE most clapped out vehicle I have ever personally driven.
The 2.6 v6 motor was remarkably alike looking to the 1969 Saab V4 I took my licence in.
@@grossteilfahrer Not surprising, given that those Saabs used the Ford Taunus V4 engine, which is very closely related to the Cologne V6.
My Dad's company cars in the '70s were always bottom of the range, zero-frills Escorts. I dreamed of us having something as luxurious as a Granada - the closest I ever got was drooling over the brochure 😢
Oh, now I feel so old. I remember driving round in one back in the day. I used to own its predecessor when Ford tried out the suspension set up. Very comfy if it disintegrated in front of my eyes.
My dad allowed me to drive his Consul 2 litre V4, while I was learning to drive, and I found it very nice to drive; except I remember the clutch felt heavy , which made Hill starts exciting. But the steering ( which I believe was not Power assisted) felt fine. it was ideal for fast dual carriage way´s/ motorways, but comfortable around town too, as it seemed to soak-up , bump´s in the road surfaces really well.
My dad certainly DID have a Granada Mark 1 3.0 litre automatic saloon, in the same colour as the model shown here. It was a fairly rapid car, but rather thirsty on fuel. But then, my father did tend to drive pretty fast most of the time. Thanks for the review..!
I had a, 1973. 3.0. V6. Automatic. MK1 Ford Granada GXL in a Dark/Deep Yellow, Black vinyl roof, and green Sundym/Tinted windows in the mid 1970's, the first car I done 100mph in, it looked absolutely stunning, particularly in the sunshine.
I remember my Dad bought a Consul in metallic green with beige vinyl roof can’t remember what engine it had but the reg was WVS199L. I used to get the odd lift to school in it, seems such a long time ago!
My Dad had its younger brother, the Ford Consul, always remember it as a lovely, comfortable car. I must have been 5 or 6 at the time looking at a photo of me in my infant school uniform next to POF 82M.
Would that not be it's older brother?
@@ChuckFickens1972 I think of as younger as the Granada was the higher spec model
Great video, Ian! Brought back happy memories of the ones I owned, an early K reg Consul 2.5 manual and a P reg Granada 2.0 manual along with a Mk. 2 W reg 2.3 auto. All 3 were great mile munchers and fun to drive.
If i drove it ,it might be the same as you shouldn't meet heroes . There's two cars of many on my list No1 was a P6 Rover and I was lucky enough to own one and it was everything I hoped it would be . The Granada is there as well that's because I grew up in the Sweeney era .
A Swedish chap called Adam who has a channel called Living with a Classic has a superb P6, although he's mainly a Jaguar man and restores them for a living.
A very good friend had a 3.0l Ghia in a very bright white with a brown vinyl roof. A very plush car. We did a trip from Essex to John O'Groats via Durham. It was very comfortable if a little costly on fuel.
The Mk1 was a huge improvement over the outgoing Zephyr / Zodiac models. I worked on many when they were still popular used cars. The Ghia Coupe was the rare and sought after range topping version. My dad briefly had a 1979 Cologne engined 2.8 Ghia Mk 2 auto. It was plagued withcarburettorr / ignition issues that would cause random backfiring through the carburettor that the dealers couldn't sort. It resulted in an engine bay fire, needing a new bonnet and many engine parts. Only weeks after it was repaired on insurance, the air cleaner caught fire again and had to be done under warranty. He never really took to the car after that second fire, which another driver helped him extinguish. He had traded in his older SD1 Rover for the Ghia and soon got rid of it for another V8 SD1.
One of the few classics I would love to own. Next to a (any) Citroen DS and a Caterham or Morgan for good measure.
I always loved the fact that it has an American look to it. So did the Zephyr but even more so with the Granada.
I went there based on your recommendation. Drove a Rolls Royce and a Reliant Robin. Had a great time!
“We’re the Sweeney son, and we haven’t had any dinner!”
The Essex V6 is such a lovely sounding old lump. I don’t know of any other V6s which sound like these
Well remembered, along with 'Get your trousers on, you're nicked'...
@@paultaylor7082 along with “If you weren’t who you are I’d kick your arse right up to your shoulderblades”.
The Sweeney was an excellent series.
Very nice car! I remember it well.
Rosemary had a 3.0 Mk 1 estate when we married. One of the door cards had been shredded by the dog when it had been left on its own in the car.
I had a MK2! 2litre in mint green with velour upholstery in the 90s. Loved it except the lights were awful so had the obligatory fog lights for night driving. Massive boot, fitted a double buggy plus luggage for a holiday. Had to sell it as it’s the only car my (ex)wife got car sick in 😢
Nice quick review of this classic; the back end styling reminds me much of a Toyota Corona Mk. II, which we got in the States in that era. Simpler times, automotive-wise; one could actually see out of the windows, w/out the need for cameras and sensors. And what fun to have a reunion of many of the British motor enthusiasts!
Yes, very American design influence evident with the vinyl roof and colour cued interior. My English Uncle company director had one.🇨🇦
My dad had a Hunter GT too. It had the incorrect final drive too which had a low top speed but got there quickly apparently.
This was before I was born. When I came along he had gone down a couple of rungs and had some sort of “Put it in H” crap.
Absolutely brilliant video Ian ❤👍what a beautiful car sounds like a great day drive dad's car brilliant
The perfect environment to review such a vehicle. In my mind, D.I. Hubnut is responding to a call about a robbery in progress near Heathrow.🚨
First car I took a real liking to. In Roman Bronze with brown vinyl roof.
I've managed to drive nearly everything my Dad had, partially because the actual cars hung around the family for years after, except a Mk1 and Mk2 Uno. However, my *Grandad* had that model of Granada; and the other one had a Rover 200 so I might give this a vist.
What a brilliant idea. I passed my test in a mk2 estate 2.3L. No power steering or power brakes and I was a weedy 18 yr old. Anyone who has only driven cars made in the last 20 years will have a massive shock driving one of these !
I went there a couple of years ago, just as lockdown was ending. Drove the Capri, really enjoyed it. It would be lovely to be able to take them on the open road, but obviously that isn't a viable business model. If you want a little flavour of what it was like to drive your dad's car (or grandad's car) it is worth the money.
Only being allowed to putter around on a parking lot makes it to much coitus interruptus for me.
My friend from school who had Muscular Dystrophy, his parents had one for him and his wheelchair, because it had plenty of room :)
Back in the 70's I used to work on transits when i was at Dormobile and the screen washers were a foot operated pump with a ring around it that was a switch to activate the wipers, the granada being from that age may have had the same system as you couldn't find it onthe stalk.
I had a 1977 Granada Ghia 3.0 with a rare manual gearbox I sold to to somebody who wanted to turn it into a banger racer. I then bought a 1983 Granada 2.8i Ghia X pack.
Oh & I believe on the early Mk1s the washers were operated by the floor mounted pump.
Very nice test drive, I remember seeing some of these cars, German built cars of course here in Finland. Nice looking car for it's time. Those tail lights especially are memorable feature in it.
Never saw the interior with details until recently, quite good and maybe modern looking interior too, compared to 70's cars my dad had, a 1971 Opel Kadett B and later 1976 Saab 99. Both were of course introduced in the 60's, so probably they weren't built actually in 70's standards.
Were the Finnish market 99s built in Finland, or was that just the 900?
@@caw25sha Saab 99's were indeed also made here in Finland, and so was the Saab 90. I don't remember anymore where my dad's 99 was made though, in Sweden or in Finland. It was a 1976 99 GL 2d sedan in light green colour.
The Finnish built Talbot cars in the 80's I think were only for Finnish market, as they used a lot of Finnish made parts, and for example seats were Saab seats, and therefore had even heated front seats.
I don't need to imagine what it's like to drive , I have a 3 litre GXL at my place in Holland , I bought it from it's original owner in Landsberg an der Lech near Munich , 1976 model with dagenham engine specified from new , I'm the second owner of mine . Factory fitted steel sunroof and a fabulous tow vehicle with automatic gearbox . Mine is white with no vinyl roof
An uncle of mine worked for Ford and had one of these as his company vehicle. He used to travel to Germany a lot in the 70s and early 80s. I do love the styling, especially the rear .
The rear end is amazing. My nabour used to banger race thease in the early 90s, even then I would think what a waste 😢
My dad had a couple of Triumph Heralds before he got 'new car' - a K reg Renault 16. When that died in the early 80s he bought an old Renault 6, then a Morris Marina. My mum had one of the Triumph Heralds, then later inherited her father's F reg Hillman Imp, when that finally died she got an Austin Allegro. I did steer the Renault 16 whilst sitting on my dad's lap when I was about 9 ... Not sure if that counts as driving! I also got to drive the Renault 6 round our garden just before we moved (at 16) - so my mum didn't worry too much about the veg patch! Great 5 / 7 point turn practice!
I drove the marina once after passing my test (and killed the transmission) and had my mum’s Allegro as my first car
Looking at the cars available, they don't have any Triumph Heralds and I've driven all the others ... I wouldn't mind driving a Renault 16 properly though ... The Imp would be interesting too, though the one my mum had was fading red and never appeared to have much oomph (probably my mum's driving tbf!)😅
Oh no Ian, don't mention the Sweeney while standing next to a Granada, the Sweeney's original bronze coloured car was a Consul GT, the confusing fact is that the GT version of the Consul used the Granada front grille.
My nieghour has recently bought a LHD Mk1 Granada 2.6, it looks so small next to the usual modern junk, I'm quite jealous.
Is the windscreen washer on the floor? It was on my 73 3000GXL capri, a rubber bellows (the Ford 'pump and hope' system) surrounded by a metal ring that's held for the wiper action.
Love the Essex V6 growl. 👍
You're right. I make the same comment elsewhere, on my Mk 3 K reg Cortina, you operated the washers by means of a pedal located on the lhs of the footwell. I'm surprised Ian didn't check for this
Around 1987 my mates dad had a n reg gold 3.0 ghia he allowed us to borrow it and we certainly did
I wonder if the washers were switched by a foot pedal, if i remember the first mk3 Cortinas had a foot switch/pump. Mind you we are talking more than 50 years ago so my memory may not be so good😮
Yep, I drove the Granada earlier this year, along with the Rolls Royce, Rover P4, Vauxhall Viva, and Morris Marina. Believe it or not, I was impressed by the Marina the most ~ maybe because I'd had 3 of them years ago? Anyway the Rolls had a problem starting when hot? Took a few turns. The Viva drove like a Chevette, The Rover steering is quite heavy, The Rolls has lots of power and very smooth. The Marina, very impressed with this one and I'd certainly take it on the roads now. As for the Granada, not bad, and I enjoyed driving it. I'd recommend the experience to anyone with an interest in these cars though, well worth it.
I think I've just seen Mr Hubnut's Ford on the A53, heading towards Loggerheads (the English one)!
That was us!
My dad had a 74 3.0 Ghia in green. I crashed it near Helston in Cornwall in 1978. Had a blow out. We got it back eventually but it was never the same.
Aw.
The best Ford. I always wanted to drive one, but had to be content with a Mk II... SOO JELOUS of you.❤❤❤❤
What a car, what a brilliant experience, will be paying a visit in the new year
What a lovely old car Ian
I had a 1974 Granada 2.6l Automatic Coupé Guia in France. It had some wood upholstery inside as I well remember, and the confort and torque you describe.
Unfortunately, it ended on a stone wall on a rainy day of 1989, evoiding a motorbike ridden by a friend of mine (he was not injured).
Aw!
Bodies in cars reminded me of an episode of Taggart in which the victim - a professional business woman - was found dead in the boot of her car.
Nothing amazing about that, it happens all the time. The really amazing thing was that it was a Mazda MX-5.
I had one and while it does have a fairly decent boot, I could even fit my kids into mine without them complaining loudly.
Oh yes, that brings back a ton of memories for me - my dad really did have one of these! As I recall, it was white with a Seventies-tastic velour interior, and the first car he ever owned which had an automatic 'box. I remember being fascinated by the big T-shaped gear lever and the big brake pedal. I was too young at the time to know what engine it had, but I do know I thought that it was like sitting on a sofa in the back! That car sticks in my mind because of an operation to remove a hedge when he was having a garden wall built - rope around the towbar, other end around the massive trunk of the bush, into "D" and foot down. Hauled that hedge out like it was no effort at all!