Ford · 1975–present

Ford Granada North America

The North American version of the Ford Granada is a range of sedans that was manufactured and marketed by Ford over two generations (1975–1982). Developed as the original successor for the Ford Maverick, the Granada shares its name with Ford of Europe's flagship sedan. The model line was marketed as a luxury compact vehicle, expanding the segment in the United States. The first generation of the Granada was a compact sedan, between the Maverick and the Torino (and the Fairmont and LTD II that replaced them) in the Ford sedan range. The second generation was a mid-size sedan, marketed alongside the Fairmont and LTD. For the 1983 model year, the Granada underwent a mid-cycle revision, taking on the Ford LTD nameplate; the model line was ultimately replaced by the Ford Taurus after the 1986 model year. In total, over two million examples of the Ford Granada were produced for the U.S. market. The first generation was produced by Mahwah Assembly and Michigan Assembly with the second generation produced by Atlanta Assembly and Chicago Assembly.

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Predecessor: Ford Maverick · Successor: Ford Taurus

All Ford Granada North America data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Background

While originally intended to replace the Ford Maverick, design work for the Ford Granada predated the 1973 fuel crisis. In 1969, Ford began research predicting the emergence of the luxury compact segment, driven by gasoline prices, multiple-vehicle families, and urban traffic. In 1970, Ford began design work on a prototype vehicle, later becoming the production Granada. In what would later become a central theme of the marketing of the Granada, Ford benchmarked the Mercedes-Benz 280 (W114), using it as a basis for styling and dimensions. As an alternative, Ford considered importing the Granada produced by Ford of Europe; it was rejected as cost-prohibitive. To expand its sales potential of fuel-efficient automobiles, the Ford Granada was redeveloped before its launch, becoming an additional compact model line. While not intended as a direct competitor for European luxury sedans (such as Mercedes-Benz or BMW), Ford intended for the Granada to be sold to buyers either downsizing from a larger intermediate or full-size car while wanting to retain the same comfort and convenience features along with buyers seeking to upgrade from a lower-content compact car.

First generation (1975–1980)

The first generation of the Granada was introduced for the 1975 model year, slotted between the Maverick and the Torino within the Ford product line. Originally intended as the successor for the Maverick, the development of the Granada was heavily influenced by the 1973 oil crisis. In response to increased demand for compact-segment automobiles, Ford continued the production of Maverick (through the 1977 model year); the Granada was repackaged as a premium vehicle in its segment. In its most basic form, the Ford Granada offered few standard features over the Maverick (including manual steering, non-power brakes, and a column-shifted manual transmission). To allow for a high degree of owner customization, the option list for the Granada was long, adding many features traditionally included on the Ford Gran Torino and Ford LTD. Chassis. The Granada derives its rear-wheel drive chassis from the 1960–1965 Ford Falcon (effectively giving the model line mechanical commonality with the first-generation Ford Mustang and Mercury Cougar). Using unibody construction, the Granada was equipped with coil-spring front suspension and a leaf-sprung live rear axle (in contrast to larger Ford sedans). Both versions of the Granada have a 109.9 inch wheelbase, derived from the four-door Ford Maverick. While the Granada was largely a clean-sheet design, the forward part of the floorpan of the Maverick was adopted into the unibody structure, along with elements of the steering gear and suspension. The standard brakes for the Ford Granada were front disc (11-inch rotors) and rear drums (10-inch). Four-wheel disc brakes were optional with an optional anti-lock system (marketed as "anti-skid" brakes), powered by a central hydraulic system. The Granada was equipped with a 200 cubic-inch inline-

Second generation (1981–1982)

For the 1981 model year, Ford introduced a second generation of the Granada. Slotted between the Fairmont and the LTD in the Ford model line, the Granada was redesigned as a premium version of the Fairmont. While the model line shifted to the larger mid-size segment, its exterior footprint would decrease in size; though far less extensive than the downsizing applied to the 1979 Ford LTD, the 1981 Granada shed an inch in length, four inches in wheelbase length, and approximately 300 pounds of curb weight (depending on powertrain). For the 1983 model year, as part of a major realignment of the Ford and Mercury product lines, the Granada nameplate was withdrawn. As part of a mid-cycle revision, the model line effectively continued as the Ford LTD (the LTD Crown Victoria remaining as full-size sedan). Following the 1986 model year, the mid-size Ford LTD was displaced by the Ford Taurus as Ford shifted its mid-size sedans to front-wheel drive. Chassis. The second-generation Ford Granada is based on the rear-wheel drive Ford Fox platform, sharing its 105.5-inch wheelbase with the Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr. In the shift from the Ford Falcon chassis (dating from 1960) to the Fox chassis, the suspension and steering systems were modernized. In line with all Fox-platform vehicles, the second-generation Granada used MacPherson strut front suspension (replacing short/long-arm suspension) with a coil-sprung live rear axle (replacing leaf springs). A rack-and-pinion steering system was introduced, replacing the previous recirculating-ball system. While the optional four-wheel disc brakes and anti-lock brakes were discontinued, power brakes became standard equipment. Shared with the Fairmont, a 2.3-L Lima inline-four was the standard engine, with a 3.3-L inline-six (the Ford 2

Variants

During its production, the North American Ford Granada was also marketed by the Lincoln-Mercury, with the division selling three counterparts of the model line. The first generation was sold as the Mercury Monarch and Lincoln Versailles; the second generation by Mercury as the Mercury Cougar (replacing the Monarch). Mercury Monarch (1975–1980). Introduced alongside the Ford Granada in 1975, the Mercury Monarch was slotted above the mechanically-similar Mercury Comet. Nearly externally identical to the Granada, the Monarch received its own grille, fascia trim, and interior trim. The trim nomenclature was common between both lines, with both offered in top-level Ghia trim. As a Mercury-exclusive model, the Grand Monarch Ghia was marketed as a junior version of the (far larger) Mercury Grand Marquis, including virtually every available feature as standard equipment. For 1977, the Grand Monarch Ghia was repackaged as a Lincoln, becoming the Lincoln Versailles. Mercury Cougar (1980–1982). For 1980, for its fifth generation, Mercury shifted the Cougar from the intermediate Ford Torino chassis to the mid-size Ford Fox chassis, paring the model line solely down to the Cougar XR7 coupe. Marketed alongside the 1980 Ford Thunderbird, the downsizing was poorly received in the marketplace; sales of the 1980 Cougar collapsed (falling nearly 65% from 1979). For 1981, Mercury expanded the Cougar from the XR7 coupe to its entire mid-size model range. Replacing the Monarch, the 1981 Cougar added two-door and four-door sedans to its model range as Mercury counterparts of the Granada; a Cougar station wagon was introduced (adopted from the Mercury Zephyr) for 1982. In line with the previous-generation Monarch, the Cougar sedan/station wagon were nearly externally identical to their For

Production

== Ford Granada in Venezuela (1983–1985) == Versions of the 1983–1986 North American Ford LTD manufactured in Venezuela continued using the Granada name complete with uplevel Elite badged versions.

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