Car Of The Day: January 5, 2011

Today's car of the day is Yat Ming's 1982 Ford Granada MK II.

The Ford Granada was a large executive car manufactured by Ford Europe at both its German factory in Köln (Cologne) and its British factory in Dagenham from 1972 until 1976 when production switched entirely to Germany. From 1985–94 the Granada name was used in the UK only, for a model sold in other European markets as the Ford Scorpio.

For more information and pictures of the real car please visit: Ford Granada

Here's Yat Ming's take on the second generation European Granada.  Maisto also did this car (the Yat Ming is a smaller casting, but aside from that they have a very similar look and feel).  A nice looking sedan from Yat Ming, screaming for a more realistic color scheme.  The real car is the current banger racing model of choice, and the Yat Ming model is wearing tampos that would likely look right at home on the banger track.

The square and straight-lined Granada '78 appeared in August 1977 and was produced until April 1985 following a mild facelift and attention to drivetrain NVH in 1982. It was a development of the previous car, the main differences being the "Cologne" V6 engine in 2.0 L, 2.3 L and 2.8 L forms replacing the older "Essex" unit (which had never been offered in the Cologne built Granadas), and the introduction of features such as air conditioning and, for the top price 2.8 litre versions, fuel-injection. In mainland Europe, a 1.7 L V4 was originally available. By the time of its introduction, UK Granada production had been quietly abandoned "for some time": UK market Granada IIs were imported from Germany. Internally within Ford, the "Cologne" 1.7, 2.0, 2.3 and 2.8 units were the last derivatives of the 'V-Taunus' range of engines.

The coupé was discontinued when the new model began production, although there was a 2-door saloon version in certain European markets. A relatively low number of vehicles were also produced with the Peugeot 504 / 505 four-cylinder diesel engine in 1.9, 2.1 and 2.5 litre capacities. Originally only available as four-door sedans (the later 2.5 also as an estate), most of these went to taxi operators and few survive.
As the range matured another two models were introduced. A sports based Granada was introduced as the Granada 2.8 Injection which had white alloy wheels and a black bootlid spoiler. This model borrowed the 2.8i "injected" engine from the Ghia model range. Towards the end of its production run, the introduction of the 2.0 and 2.3 LX saloon and estate UK marketing packs provided versions with a slightly higher specification than the "base" L models.

A special Ford of Britain only marketing pack edition of the Ghia X model was later introduced as the "Ford Granada Ghia X Executive" which standardised luxury appointments such as the high grade Connolly Leather interior that had previously been an optional fitment. There was also a special "Taxi" edition, available only in black, which included a foot-operated "panic button" in the drivers' footwell which would operate the alarm system. In addition to these two models the range was complemented by estate models which reflected the same appointment levels as the entire saloon range including the Ghia X, but not the Ghia X Executive model.
Ford subcontracted assembly to Hyundai Motor Company in South Korea for export of this model to Southeast Asian countries, where it continued to be sold, from October 1978 to 1986 when it gave way to the Hyundai Grandeur unlike smaller European Fords like the Sierra and Escort.

Additionally, hearses were offered by outside conversion companies, as well as a series of four-door limousines built by Coleman Milne. These included the slightly stretched "Minster" 15 cm, and the 68 cm longer "Dorchester" and better equipped "Grosvenor". As of autumn 1982 the Dorchester was also available in an estate version with elongated rear doors, called the "Windsor".