BREATHTAKING 1984 Mk2 FORD GRANADA 2.8 GHIA X AUTO LOW MILEAGE.SHOW CONDITION

PRESENTING

A very rare opportunity to acquire a 1984 Mk2 (Facelift) Ford Granada 2.8 V6, Ghia X Automatic.

Desirable and sought after none injection with carburettor.

In the same family since the early nineties. Always garaged, cosseted, cared for and maintained regardless of cost.   

 Retaining all of its original panels, never welded and remarkably rust free.

Low mileage and presented in exceptional original condition. Completely unmolested, un-restored and standard specification. Extensive service history.

 Exceptional interior, as good as you could hope to find on any forty year old Ford.

A rare matching numbers car with the engine number matching the chassis number - both clearly visible on the car.

 One of the best of the best original un-restored examples available of what is now becoming one of the rarest of all Granada's - a Mk2 2.8 non injection Ghia X.

An absolute must for any Ford collection or enthusiast and a sure fire investment opportunity.

Everyone, without exception, when they see this car has the same reaction.......

.....WOW!

After the success of the Zephyr and Zodiac ranges in the Sixties a new decade brought the need for an all new large Ford Luxury Saloon. That new car with a new name, the Granada, made its debut in the Spring of 1972 to great acclaim both from the motoring press and, more importantly, the car buying public.

Initially the lower spec models in the range were known as Consuls with the higher range models, that were to become game changers in the executive car market, badged Granada.

In 1975 the Consul name was dropped and all MkI models were rebadged Granada.

Ford's takeover of Italian coachbuilder Ghia resulted in the luxurious Granada Ghia in 1974 and was the beginning of one of the most recognisable luxury trim levels that was to symbolise the top of the range refinement across all of the Ford models for most of the remainder of the century.

In August 1977 Ford introduced the completely redesigned Granada Mk2, with a more angular Detroit inspired look. The new styling, overseen by Filippo Sapino, adopted Ford's new pan-European sharp-suit, and followed on successfully from the Fiesta and Cortina Mk4. It also ushered in the era of the all-German made Granada.

Fresh Cologne V6 engines were added in 2293cc and 2792cc, replacing the old Essex units (in 2.5- and 3.0-litre forms)

Flag ship of the fleet and much in demand was the superbly equipped 2.8 Ghia - Always regarded by many as a 'cool car' that, decked out with "all the bells and whistles", was to give BMW and Mercedes a run for their  money!

In 1981 the Mk2 received its first major facelift that was to see the model through the next 4 years before being replaced by what was seen by many as 'not really a proper Granada at all' - the Mk3.

Eighties Fords have become very much in demand with the Mk2 Granada no exception.

As these final series facelift Granada's are, or are approaching, forty years or more they have become highly sought after and desirable.

None more so than the model that many aspired to back in the day and that remains the most wanted variant today - The 2.8 Ghia with its standard equipment including slide and tilt sunroof, alloy wheels, bright inserts to trim, headlamp wash and deep bumpers, fog lights, smoke tinted glass, velour electric seats, wood door cappings, deep pile carpet, cloth head lining, power steering, central locking, air conditioning,  and many more electric items as standard.

Today, as with most classics, it is the models with low mileage in original and unmolested standard condition that are the most sought after.

However they are now very rare indeed.

You will certainly have your work cut out to find a MK2 Facelift Granada Ghia with the rare 2.8 non injection engine and that meets the above criteria. If you did find one though our advice would be grab it while you can - because it may be a very long time before you get the chance again.

A974 GHN

Supplied new to its first owner, a large PLC, A974 GHN is a Ford Granada 2.8 V6 facelift Ghia X Automatic.

The user of the car was the company finance director who was based at the company's head office in Hayes in West London not far from Heathrow Airport.

Back in the mid eighties company car tax was only payable by senior managers and directors. However in his position the first user, no doubt, would know exactly how to best interpret by whom, or indeed not, those taxes should be paid.

A974 GHN was rarely used on company business. For his daily commute to the office the user would walk the short distance to Twyford station where he lived and catch the train to Hayes and Harlington, a 20 odd minute journey, and then it was only a minute walk to the office from there.

The reality then was that the Granada was a perk of the job and although registered in the company name, serviced and looked after by them to all intents and purposes it was car that was really for private use that covered very little annual mileage. So much so that instead of changing the car every couple of years, which they normally did, the company kept it until it was 6 years old. By which time it had covered just 16,100 miles according to the 1990 MOT present in the history file.

In 1990 A974 GHN was acquired by its second owner, a Granada enthusiast who continued to care for the car in the way the first owner had and to use it very little covering around just 12,000 miles during his 3 year ownership.

In 1992 the second owner had the car professionally treated with an under body waxoyl treatment. This treatment carried a guarantee and would only be carried out following a full steam clean of the underside and inspection for any signs corrosion - if any were found the treatment would not be done and if/when it was done it was only after the car had stood inside for a couple of days to allow it to dry out thoroughly first. The warrantee certificate is present in the file.   

A letter also in the history file to the last owner informs him that the car was self serviced as required and that in addition the oil and filter were changed every 2000 miles. Further information in the file invites the third owner to kindly give the second owner first refusal to buy it back should he ever wish to sell.

The third owner acquired A974 GHN on the 4 July 1993. It was the start of nothing short of a love affair that was to last for the next 30 odd years and that following his death 4 years ago was carried on by his widow.

Whilst in the third owners care A974 GHN was his absolute pride and joy. He cherished this car with a passion.

He had for many years wanted a 2.8 Ghia X which had to be none injection as a close friend who had worked at a Ford dealer (and who carried out many services on this car) had told him that whatever he did he should avoid the more troublesome injection engine. The owner searched high and low rejecting many others before he found the ideal car, A974 GHN to which he transferred his cherished registration number.

There are many maintenance invoices in the history file from the third owners time. Routine servicing though was carried out exactly as per the manufactures recommendations by the owners friend who, as we say, was a highly experienced mechanic at a Ford main Dealer. Genuine ford parts were always used.

The maintenance records go way back and are to extensive to list but more recent items attended to in the last 1000 miles were, to name but a few, replacement steering rack, water pump, rear diff pinion oil seal battery, brake fluid and prior to that but in the last 4,000 miles an exchange reconditioned automatic gear box and torque converter.

MOT history from when the third owner acquired The Granada shows minimal usage with in the early years annual mileage averaged around 3,000. By the year 2000 the total recorded mileage had risen to just 52,000.

As time moved on into the new century the annual mileage dropped even lower as the owner aged.

In the 11 years from 2006 to when the owner died in 2017 he covered just over 4,600 miles.

As the law demands the owners widow informed DVLA of the loss of her husband and there is a letter in the file from the DVLA thanking her for informing them and confirming that they have, as a consequence, transferred her as the new registered keeper. The car was at this time transferred back to its original registration number.

Since her husband's passing the Granada has only covered circa 1,000 miles but has continued to be maintained and serviced as it was before.

As the owners widow is also now ageing it was decided that the Granada was just too big for her to manage and the extremely difficult decision had to be made to part with the car that really had been a part of the family for almost 3 decades.

BODYWORK

Finished in its striking original colour of, we believe, Glacier Blue A974 GHN really does look stunning.

Due no doubt to its low usage from new and that rust proofing treatment and years kept garaged it is remarkably rust free for a neigh on forty year old Mk2 Granada.

We can find no trace of welding or previous body work and all the panels would seem original from new (front wing still have its 1984 factory production numbers stamped into it) with even shut lines and doors that close with that reassuring thud that you can never replicate on restored cars.

All of the glass including the windscreen would seem original from the factory.

Shortly after the third owner got A974 GHN he decided that he would  have the areas below the bumpers and side trims professionally painted in a contrasting ford metallic blue to give a two tone finish, which was a factory option in 1984 when the car was new.

This was done to a high standard. However the choice of colour for the lower areas although a Ford Blue was not available as an option with the colour of the top section - so it was not right, let alone standard. In a couple of other areas the lacquer had deteriorated where sunlight had caught it over the years through the garage window.

For the sake of uniformity and colour match we got our body shop to paint the lower half. No bodywork (filler rust repairs etc) was necessary just a cosmetically refinish of the top coat in these areas.

There is the odd chip that has been touched in with a touch up brush over the years.

All of the chrome, very hard to replace now, is also very good indeed.

The underside protected by the waxoyl treatment is in excellent condition with no previous welding or repairs - nor any required.

Door, boot and bonnet shuts are excellent.

The wheels have been professionally refurbished and have been painted light grey (the correct colour) on the inner faces with the correct silver on the outer.

Four new tyres have also been fitted.

INTERIOR

The interior of this car is particularly note worthy.

Many Ford Granada aficionado's now place as much, if not more, importance on interior condition as they do exterior condition as it is now all but impossible to get new, used or decent replicas of many of the trim items or material that Ford used forty years ago.

The Navy velour cloth seats, front and back, are unmarked with no stains, rips, or fading.

The door cards are all in excellent condition.

The electric sunroof slides as it should.

The electrics we tested all seemed to function correctly although the N/S/ central locking is very intermittent but does operate manually.

The Air Conditioning seems to be functioning correctly with a dip in engine revs when switched on, the air blown seems cold.

The door capping's are in good original condition.

The deep cut pile carpets are excellent and unmarked with no signs of wear. Original carpet under felt remains. The floors below are also perfect.

The standard Radio has been replaced with a later kenwood multi disc player (Untested) the correct door and rear shelf speakers remains and none of the trim has ever been cut to accommodate after market speakers Etc, so easily put back to original radio cassette .

No holes drilled or cut in dash anywhere.

Trip computer.

The dash is good but small split an inch or so on top joint of the instrument pinnacle - but barely visible and repairable.

Rear seat belts.

Cloth headlinning.

Electric heated seats.

UNDER THE BONNET

There is lots of room around the tried tested and much loved Cologne V6 2.8 engine.

The engine bay is very clean

Original stickers are still in place.

The slam panel has been painted.

IN THE BOOT

The generous sized boot is, again, in excellent condition with no tears, wear, or stains to the carpet - which also covers the spare wheel.

Spare wheel, jack and wheel brace present.

The boot floor and other areas are all good and solid.

ON THE ROAD

A974 GHN starts on the button with automatic choke. There is no undue smoke or noises.

On the road the car drives like a dream.

Excellent oil pressure

The auto box changes up and down as it should and the engine is smooth and responsive.

The car has a real luxury, but classic, feel as you look out over that long bonnet.

Everything tested works as it should.

Lee our mechanic has performed his pre sales checks and test drive - we almost had to prise it away from him he loved it so much! - he reports no issues whatsoever.  

HISTORY FILE

1.   V5c in our name showing 4 previous keepers but of course the last two were husband and wife.

2.   Old MOT's from 1993

3.   Current MOT August 2022

4.   copies of all previous registration documents.

5.   old parts and maintenance invoices

6.   waxoyl warrantee

7.   letter from keeper 2 confirming self servicing and every 2000 mile oil & filter change.

8.   letter from DVLA re transfer of keeper

9.   old sorn staements and tax reminders

10.     old letter from the chairman of the Granada Mk 2 owners club that declares "The vehicle is in excellent condition in every respect"

11.     handbook

12.     trip computer book

SUMMARY

Mk2 Granada's are a very popular choice of classic car. They are easy to work on parts are inexpensive and readily available there are clubs and events, and their values have seen strong increases which are set to continue.

Want to buy this car?