Back on the Road: A Father-Son Revival of a Classic Ford Granada

After eight months of dedication, spanner work, and more
than a few trips down memory lane, my dad’s Ford Granada
is nally restored and ready to turn heads once again. What
began as a tired example of a once-proud cruiser is now a
gleaming tribute to one of Ford’s iconic executive saloons.
And it’s been a family a air every step of the way.
A Two-Tone triumph
The Granada’s lower body has been resprayed in Strato Silver
with the upper section in what’s believed to be the original
Nimbus Grey. A red coach line strip adds a subtle period
correct air. Rust in the wings was cut out and sealed before
repainting, and a set of chrome headlight surrounds—
sourced from a pre-facelift MKII – now grace the front end,
adding a touch of classic character.
Under the skin
Mechanically, the car is now in ne fettle. All electric windows
have been repaired and now operate as they should. The
carburettor was rebuilt from a kit, and we tackled the tappets
ourselves – just dad and me, tools in hand, on the driveway
like old times. A persistent battery drain issue was nally
traced and xed by returning the electrics to factory standard.
A 1990s CD player has been tted (with great period charm),
and the electric radio aerial now rises to attention with
satisfying precision.
Details matter
We’ve tracked down original interior door surrounds, sourced
and tted Ford badges (not easy – sizing matters!), and
reattached various pieces of interior trim that had worked loose
over the years. A real gem is a genuine Ford Granada 1983 tax
disc – saved by dad four decades ago and now proudly displayed
on the windscreen, giving a touch of period correctness.
The wheels posed their own challenge. We hunted down a
full set of original TRX alloys, a must for correctness, but the
metric tyres are the stu of legends and only Michelin makes
them. We’ve had a quote of £1268 inc VAT for a set. They’ll be
tted this summer once we recover from the shock.
Spares and serendipity
Parts acquisition became a mission of its own. I’ve travelled
across southern and central England – Birmingham, Milton
Keynes, Biggleswade, Newark, Welwyn Garden City – doing it
the old-school way: cash on collection. It’s a method that’s not
only saved us from scammers but also brought unexpected
bonuses: freebies, genuine connections and even a few parts
couriered to us by friends and family from further a eld.
The Facebook Granada group has been invaluable.
Posting ‘wanted’ ads not only turned up rare parts but also
reconnected us with previous owners who shared more of
the car’s backstory, adding layers to its already rich narrative.
More than just a restoration
The car still needs a deep interior clean – it has acquired the
sort of ingrained patina only time can bestow, but she will
soon be show-ready. We’ve got several events lined up this
summer, including a joint Ford and MG-Rover stand, so both
dad and I can attend with our pride and joys.
And the bug has bitten: I’m already eyeing up a MKII Granada
estate of my own. There’s something wonderfully boxy and
honest about those lines – especially on a long-roof wagon.
Yes, we’ve had our disagreements along the way (show me
a father-son project where that doesn’t happen), but this
restoration has done more than revive a car – it’s brought
us closer. Fittingly, our nal test drive took us back to my
childhood hometown. This time, though, I was the one in
the driver’s seat, while memories of earlier Granadas and
GameBoy cartridges ickered in the rear-view mirror