SOTW: Ford Granada Cosworth

A Cosworth for 700 quid? That'll be the Granny...

Here at Shed we had started the day hunting down a late bug-eyed Ford Scorpio Cosworth as this week’s SOTW. Sadly the work experience boy turned to stone from looking at its hideous features too long, so we settled for the earlier Granada.

The third generation Granny still has bags of old school charm and looks like it could reach out and give you a friendly tweak of the cheek like an East End gangster. It is also one of those huge five-door hatchbacks that seem to have all but died out, a bit like big Fords themselves. This is football manager, Sunday league-style - an attainable chunk of wafting power and affordable cowhide.

The Mark III appeared in 1985, but was freshened up to keep it on sale all the way until 1994. Engine options included the SOHC Pinto engine and the Cologne V6 in 2.4L and 2.8L form, but these were replaced by the range-topping 24-Valve, re-badged the Scorpio. The V6 had been extensively reworked by Cosworth Engineering and was packed with quad camshafts and 24 valves.

The new EEC V engine management system with sequential multipoint fuel injection was also fitted, and a second catalyst, one for each bank of cylinders, gave the car better breathing. This Cosworth jiggery pokery raised the power from 195bhp to 206bhp at 6000rpm and torque is raised to 207lb ft at 4250rpm.

Of course, the most important bit was that it had a ‘Cosworth’ badge glued to the boot, not unlike the ones that had sat in the shadow of ridiculously oversized whale tails elsewhere in the Ford range. The Granny Cosworth had a 0-60mph time of 8.1 seconds and a top speed north of 150mph.

So, what you have now is a car that is familiar but rare, with a huge unit that has been fettled by a legendary name. All for £750? This sounds seriously tempting to the PH office. Throw in just 103,000 miles, leather, a ‘brake upgrade’, new tyres, original alloys, history and an MOT and you have got yourself a bargain barge. Ignore the badge snobs and look after the car – you could be looking at a future classic…

Ad reads: '1995 Ford Cosworth Granada Scorpio 24v 2.9i Metalic, leather,alloys, ac, history, mot Nov. 2009. One of the last Cosworths excellent condition for year, great engine on leaks or blow back recommend viewing, brake upgrade, good rubbers. £750 ONO.