Vehicle Description
1978 Ford Granada
"My parking ticket says Cadillac, but my car is a Granada"
proclaimed the ads of the 70s from Ford regarding the Granada.
Instead of saying they were better than the competition Ford ceased
upon the idea that if they compare themselves to a more expensive
Cadillac or even Mercedes Benz, that their Granada will appear more
attractive, because indeed it did look like these more expensive
models. They never said it was any better!
For consignment, a 2-owner car, (from a mother to a son), with a
rebuilt souped up long block engine with a mild cam and 600 cfm
Holley carb. Mostly original paint with some resprayed repaired
areas, original vinyl top, and original interior.
Exterior
While tuning my TV to Laverne and Shirley, or reading Erma
Bombeck's bestselling nonfiction book titled "If life is a bowl of
cherries-what am I doing in the pits?" I look out in my driveway
and see this straight and true, square and rectangle design Ford
Granada. Bathed in 9DYR white paint which has some areas of
respray, and some areas of original paint along with a green vinyl
top which is original. Emulation of the Cadillac Seville, or
Mercedes Benz with its chromed grille surround and flanking
rectangular headlights and turn signals below, it is a sporty 2
door and just the right size baby bear. The top is of Landau style
just after the B pillar and padded with an angled dual vertical
window design. Trimmings are nicely preserved, gaps are fairly well
minded and I do not see any rust on this body. 15-inch Boyd
Coddington polished wheels are wrapped with BFG Radial T/A
235/60R15's on all 4 corners. Baby Come Back, any kind of fool
could see...
Interior
GREEN and when I say GREEN it's very green vinyl with vertical
stitched padded panels, some chrome surrounding trimming, shiny
handles and a molded armrest, and an ash receptacle on the end most
likely for the rear seated smokers, make up the pristine door
panels. Jade green vinyl covers the extra wide overstuffed split
back bench with an armrest in the center front seating, and solid
rear bench. The seats are as nice as the door panels with slight
wear but it's in a good way. More green for the padded dash
surround, but the inserts for the gauge cluster and over the glove
box panel is a burl wood applique. More square and rectangle design
and showing AC and the factory AM/FM radio. Even the factory
Precaution label is still stuck to the dash, reminding you to put
the car in PARK prior to exiting, (maybe this was an issue in the
late 70's?). Added into the cigarette station are two aftermarket
gauges which show oil pressure and water temp. Nice clean green
carpeting floods the floors, and above is a tight green vinyl
headliner. I think I'm having a close encounter of the third
kind?!
Drivetrain
Under the hood in the clean engine bay is a rebuilt, (at 48K
miles), 302ci V8 mill. The rebuild includes a Crane Energizer cam,
and an Edelbrock intake manifold topped by a Holley 600cfm 4-barrel
carburetor. On the back is a C4 3-speed automatic transmission and
a Ford 9-inch 2.79 TracLoc rear axle. Mallory provides the
ignition, and Mustang manifolds for the exhaust and dual exhaust
system. Lookin' good under this hood!
Undercarriage
Nicely aged with very little areas of surface rust, and some of the
usual suspects like the leaf springs and drive shaft. Floor pans
and rockers are nice and solid, and the underside of the bottom end
of the mill shows no drips. Independent coil springs in front and
leaf springs for the rear provide the cushy ride. And front power
disc brakes and rear power drums bring this mass to a halt.
Flowmaster gives this car a throaty sound but not too
obnoxious.
Drive-Ability
A quick starter, and it handled the test track with ease. Nice
acceleration, smooth automatic shifting and good handling. All
functions were working as they should.
At first glance I poo pooed this car as just another used car, but
after giving it the go around and running it through the paces, it
is a really great example of the 78 Granada. Yes it does have
European styling, yes it has a rebuilt engine, and yes the interior
is to die for, so just say Yes! And I'm changing the channel to
Mork and Mindy...Nannu Nannu.
VIN DECODE
8E81F195493
8-1978
E-Mahwah, NJ
81-Granada 2 Door Hardtop
F-302ci V8 2bbl
195493-Sequential Unit Number
DOOR STICKER
COLOR 9DYR-White, Jade Valino Half Vinyl Roof
DSO 16-Philadelphia
BODY 66H-Granada 2 Door Hardtop
TRIM KR-Jade Vinyl
SCH DATE 10E-May 10th
AXLE B-Ford 9" 2.47 Conventional
TRANS W-C4 Automatic
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
