The original idea for the Ford Granada was a "luxury compact" that would be available in every trim level from spartan to fairly plush. Size and styling wise, they were aiming at the Mercedes-Benz 280SE, but were intended to replace the Maverick as the compact in the Ford lineup.
The '73 Oil Crisis and the general economic slump that followed caused the Maverick to stay in the catalog for a couple years longer as an economy option while the Granada debuted as a 1975 model that was advertised a sort of pocket-sized, more fuel efficient alternative to an LTD or Elite.
The price was held down by the fact that they used the same Falcon-derived chassis that underpinned the first generation Mustang as well as the Maverick. Riding on a 109.9" wheelbase and with a leaf-sprung live rear axle, the original '75 Granada could be had with a range of engines from the standard 200 cid inline six, the bigger 250 six, or the 302 or 351 Windsor V-8s.
For '78 the Granada's snout got a revised grille and the round sealed beam headlights were replaced with rectangular ones atop amber turn signals, as can be seen on the Light Blue sedan with optional Midnight Blue vinyl roof in the picture, giving a familial resemblance to the then-current LTD.
By this time, the engine choices had dwindled to the base 250 cubic inch OHV inline six with a 1-barrel carburetor and DuraSpark ignition making 97 SAE net horsepower, or the two-barrel 302 Windsor V-8 rated at 133 horses. Either could be had with a 4-spd manual or SelectShift three-speed slushbox.
Road & Track tested a 1975 Granada sedan with the 302 and automatic and noted a zero-to-sixty time of 12.0 seconds and an 18.7 second quarter mile at 73 mph. The car topped out at 101 miles per hour, circled a skidpad at 0.668g and stopped from sixty in 172 feet.
The one in the photo was snapped with a Canon EOS-1D Mark IV and EF 24-105mm f/4L IS zoom lens in June of 2023.
No comments:
Post a Comment