Launch

1972 - Granada launched

This article was taken from Punch magazine published on the 10th of May 1972.

They certainly know how to build performance saloons on the Continent.And any British car that challenges them has got to meet them on their own terms.Nobody's going to buy British just because there's a Union Jack on the bonnet.This philosophy has produced the Granada, a new car built by Ford to match the European competition in terms of looks, engineering and performance. Mechanically, the Ford Granadais a very sophisticated car, embodying engineering and safety features which are not only relevant to today's motoring but have been specifically designed to meet all anticipated developments and regulations for years to come. The fully independent suspension, for example, was designed to achieve outstanding handling and road holding characteristics, and is mounted directto the body on rubber insulators to reduce noise and vibration. The responsive rack and pinions teering system incorporates a safety tested collapsible column. As for the engine itself, you can choose between the 106 m.p.h. V6 2.5 litre (0-60 in 10.8 seconds) and the 113 m.p.h. V6 3.0 litre(10-60 in 9 seconds flat).* Both are well matched by a self-adjusting, servo-assisted dual-line braking system. The Granada's looks, as you can see, are as handsome as its performance. But there's more to styling than mere good looks. Every line has been functionally designed to minimise overall dimensions while providing a spaciously proportioned interior.

The result: leg room, elbow room, and head room on a scale unmatched by any car in the Granada's class.There are two Granada models, the Granada and the Granada GXL. Features such as fully reclining front seats, face level 'Aeroflow' ventilation, individual rear seats and colour keyed cut pile carpeting are fitted as standard in both models. Which is what you would expect in a car of this quality.The GXL has in addition such items as power steering, automatic transmission, a vinyl top with a sliding sun roof, all round tinted glass, and a radio with dual speakers. But, if the Ford Granada can take on European performance saloons for looks, engineering and comfort, in one respect it falls short.It can't match their prices. The Ford Granada is not a cheap car. Far from it. But, line for line,and feature for feature, it's better value than anything in its class. Several hundred pounds worth of better value.