1985 Ford Granada Ghia X Estate
Discussion
Fantastic shed. I'd love one of these again.
I first drove one back as a student in around 1981, we were off on a camping weekend with and odd assortment of studenty vehicles such as clapped out GPO vans and rusty Rileys when Big Malc from Bearsden turned up in his Dad's brand new Granada Sport Chasseur, 2 tons of two tone s
t brown and puke beige Premium Ford. I absolutely loved it although the 'sport' referred to the capacity for carrying half a football team and their kit rather than any racing pretensions. Six sweaty students, tents and sleeping bags, and enough beer to float a supertanker wafted around the Scottish countryside at 'high' speed.
Ten years later, I bought one on a long weekend trip to Fort William. It was cheaper to buy from an ad in a newsagents window than hire a car for the trip and at the end of the trip it was given away to a local who we'd befriended. I wish I'd kept it although it would have probably been dead long ago.
Well done for reviving this one.
I first drove one back as a student in around 1981, we were off on a camping weekend with and odd assortment of studenty vehicles such as clapped out GPO vans and rusty Rileys when Big Malc from Bearsden turned up in his Dad's brand new Granada Sport Chasseur, 2 tons of two tone s
t brown and puke beige Premium Ford. I absolutely loved it although the 'sport' referred to the capacity for carrying half a football team and their kit rather than any racing pretensions. Six sweaty students, tents and sleeping bags, and enough beer to float a supertanker wafted around the Scottish countryside at 'high' speed.Ten years later, I bought one on a long weekend trip to Fort William. It was cheaper to buy from an ad in a newsagents window than hire a car for the trip and at the end of the trip it was given away to a local who we'd befriended. I wish I'd kept it although it would have probably been dead long ago.
Well done for reviving this one.
I have enjoyed reading about this lovely old beast over on Autoste. My dad bought a facelift MK2 crystal green 2.8 Ghia saloon with brown velour in '82. I have fond memories of it. I remember the Mk2 Granada being fairly popular choice of sub-Jag motor - it wasn't until the Mk3 that the big Ford was swept away by the 5 Series/W123/124/Audi100 et al. - at least up here. Things could have been different further south of course - or my memory could be faulty (you always see lots of any car you own).
I find my enjoyment-level of PH is very much determined by where I visit. Reader's cars/Classic cars - even General Gassing has some good threads in it (smoker Barge 1-5K is a good example). I stay away from NP&E though! - I haven't visited SP&L. Is it as bad as NP&E?
te. My dad bought a facelift MK2 crystal green 2.8 Ghia saloon with brown velour in '82. I have fond memories of it. I remember the Mk2 Granada being fairly popular choice of sub-Jag motor - it wasn't until the Mk3 that the big Ford was swept away by the 5 Series/W123/124/Audi100 et al. - at least up here. Things could have been different further south of course - or my memory could be faulty (you always see lots of any car you own).I find my enjoyment-level of PH is very much determined by where I visit. Reader's cars/Classic cars - even General Gassing has some good threads in it (smoker Barge 1-5K is a good example). I stay away from NP&E though! - I haven't visited SP&L. Is it as bad as NP&E?
SPL is bad, but not in the same way as NPE is bad. NPE is all bile, hatred, doom and gloom, antiscience and so on. It reminds me of a Trump supporters' convention. SPE has a bit of fk you selfish right wingery, but nothing like the amount you get in NPE. The SPL variety is mostly of the "I should be able to park wherever I like, drive as fast as I like, and all legal rules and obligations should apply to everyone else but never to me" kind. The place is full of wannabe lawyers dishing out massively incorrect legal advice in trenchant terms. Don't bother going there!
k you selfish right wingery, but nothing like the amount you get in NPE. The SPL variety is mostly of the "I should be able to park wherever I like, drive as fast as I like, and all legal rules and obligations should apply to everyone else but never to me" kind. The place is full of wannabe lawyers dishing out massively incorrect legal advice in trenchant terms. Don't bother going there!Mk 1 and 2 Granadas have apparently been ruthlessly destroyed via the banger ovals, whereas many Cortinas and Escorts and Capris have survived. Grannies, which in any event never sold in the same numbers as their smaller cousins, seem to be quite rare now. My (one third of) one might have been destined for bangering or scening if it had ended up on eBay, but it is far too good for either fate. One of the co-owners wants to do it up, the other to keep it more or less as it is, with just some mild tinkering. What will happen to it in that regard I do not know, but it will be kept going, and not raced or turned into a Scene Queen.
S. Gonzales Esq. said:
Breadvan72 said:
...the trip computer would have had a separate instruction book, and I can't find one of those on eBay.
Until you turn up a physical copy, try this:http://www.flickriver.com/photos/granada_turnier/s...
Loving the sci-fi font used for the RTFM! I reckon that the alarm I set off was the OMG U R SPEEDIN U R GO 2 JAYEL alarm. I must have accidentally set it at some point, and then hooned, or maybe it still had some 80s settings in it (eg 100 MPH for urban roads), and I, er, accidentally tripped it.
S. Gonzales Esq. said:
With regards to their desirability for racing, some improved security should be an early upgrade. Fords of the 80's weren't the most secure...
I once had to break into my housemates 1986 Escort as it was blocking me in and there was no sign of him or the keys. I managed to unlock, start and then re-lock the car with a plastic nail file my girlfriend had in her handbag. Another friend used to have a massive crooklock on his Citroen AX and we used to have much fun levering it off just by bending of the hideous cheap plastic of the wheel rim and brake pedal!Breadvan72 said:
Mk 1 and 2 Granadas have apparently been ruthlessly destroyed via the banger ovals, whereas many Cortinas and Escorts and Capris have survived. Grannies, which in any event never sold in the same numbers as their smaller cousins, seem to be quite rare now. My (one third of) one might have been destined for bangering or scening if it had ended up on eBay, but it is far too good for either fate. One of the co-owners wants to do it up, the other to keep it more or less as it is, with just some mild tinkering. What will happen to it in that regard I do not know, but it will be kept going, and not raced or turned into a Scene Queen.
Great to see you back OP! Not sure too many Cortinas, Escorts and Capris survived though - they were banger fodder for those weekends when you couldn't find a Granny!
(My first banger race at Arena Essex was in a V4 Consul)! Too slow with that engine, but probably the most fun I have ever had in a car!I have no opinion on your car but am delighted to see you are back and active on the forums. Don't blame you for avoiding the rabid subsections of this forum but like many others was disappointed that you felt forced into leaving PH for a while. Think many of us enjoyed and respected your posts.
Oh, and your new car is hideous and do you even understand the legal complications of sharing car ownership. Because under the Sale Of Good Stuff Act 2019 you are obliged to... etc etc
Oh, and your new car is hideous and do you even understand the legal complications of sharing car ownership. Because under the Sale Of Good Stuff Act 2019 you are obliged to... etc etc
Cheers! The car is indeed a right gopping old shed, and much worse in real life than in the photos. I may post some horrible pics of the worst bits later. As to the ownership position, complex multi jurisdictional litigation involving various anstalts, stiftungs, blind trusts, BVI companies and so on has already commenced and is expected to continue for the next decade or so.
I did not feel forced to give up PH. I just gave it up for a while. Because reasons, but nothing to do with the forum itself; although the shouty rage monster bits of the forum can be enervating, and these days I avoid those bits.
I did not feel forced to give up PH. I just gave it up for a while. Because reasons, but nothing to do with the forum itself; although the shouty rage monster bits of the forum can be enervating, and these days I avoid those bits.
The aircon is one of the few amazing technowonders that no longer works on this car. If I tried to make it work, I might invent fire, but in the engine bay, so I'll leave it for now.
I can confirm that the power seats and the seat heating work. Toasty and irradiated Chernobyl nadgers achieved.
I can confirm that the power seats and the seat heating work. Toasty and irradiated Chernobyl nadgers achieved.
I was at a rather posh school in the 80s and when an Audi 100 Avant was a supremely left-field choice the Granada Estates looked the part next to the default 240 and 740 wagons. Funny to imagine a pre-SUV world, but a Granada was a pukka huntin', shootin' & fishin' motor.
Needless to say my father let the side down somewhat, with a Chrysler Alpine - and a base-spec LS in sunburn-inducing orange at that. Mind you, my parents were always late when it came to collecting me at the end of term, so no one ever saw it. To think he could've had a Rancho...
Needless to say my father let the side down somewhat, with a Chrysler Alpine - and a base-spec LS in sunburn-inducing orange at that. Mind you, my parents were always late when it came to collecting me at the end of term, so no one ever saw it. To think he could've had a Rancho...
When I was running a B-reg one of these as a daily driver, I used to enjoy passing other Granadas at night and seeing whether they had more of the overhead warning lights illuminated than me.
I wonder how much a working electronic dipstick is worth these days? Enough to make you take the bulb out of the warning light, I'd guess.
I wonder how much a working electronic dipstick is worth these days? Enough to make you take the bulb out of the warning light, I'd guess.
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