Ford Granada Mk1
The executive express, and star of The Sweeney.
The story
Ford's big car for Britain and Germany replaced the Zephyr and Zodiac. Cheaper versions were called Consul. With all-independent suspension it rode and handled far better than the old cars. The Ghia version became the thing for a successful boss to have.
Inside
Wide velour seats, fake wood, a sliding steel sunroof and, on a Ghia, a vinyl roof outside.
In period colours
Tap a colour to respray the drawing.
Detective Inspector Regan's bronze car in The Sweeney was a Consul GT, the Granada's sporty cousin.
On screen
The Sweeney TV, 1975
Regan and Carter's bronze Consul GT, the Granada's sister, screeches through 1970s London.
Meanwhile, in 1972
A miners' strike brought power cuts across the country.
Best-selling single of 1972: Amazing Grace by The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Band
Before you buy a 1970s car
- Rust is common in sills, wheel arches, front panels and the bottom of the doors.
- Check the wiring and electrics carefully, as they age badly.
- Many volume-selling cars still have good parts support, but badge-engineered and low-volume models can be harder to source.
General notes, not specific to this model. Check the model's own history before buying.
Rivals of its day
Picked automatically: cars on sale at the same time with similar size, speed and price.
See the real thing
These open in a new tab: the car on Wikimedia Commons, the interior and the badge as Google image searches.
Today's money: the launch price adjusted for inflation to 2026, using the Office for National Statistics price index.