1975 Ford Granada GL - Back on the road after 27 years

I almost can't believe I'm typing this but after 5 years of work I've managed to get the car finished. It's been quite the ride and an experience I'll never forget.
I managed to do most of the work myself at weekends and it took 1350 hours in total. I paid to keep the car stored at my place of work which allowed me to undertake most of the restoration work in my spare time.
The car is a 1975 coupe model. Trim is GL and the colour is Carnival Red. Its left hand drive as this specific model of Granada was never officially sold in the UK. My car was imported to the UK in 1985, came off the road in 1994 and sat in gardens and sheds until 2016 when I bought it.
I've still a few teething problems to sort out and the endless cleaning and polishing to do. For the most part the car is finished. If you'd like to see more pictures and read the story of the restoration you can do so at the below link...
autoshite.com/topic/25964-197...

[@rebelyank6361]

I see you resisted the urge to weather it lol.

[@nickclark2278]

That’s gold

[@stephenbates8370]

Tickled me this 😂

[@roberttemple8462]

Give it to Tim (scrap line), he'll sort it!

[@olivernikolai3045]

A trick : you can watch series on Flixzone. Me and my gf have been using them for watching all kinds of movies lately.

[@robertbox5399]

I knew it was around Newport Pagnell or Northampton!

[@paulvozman842]

One word, "stunning".

[@miketherefurbisher8000]

Fantastic!! You should be very proud of all that hard work. "Thanks for sharing it with us" 👍

[@johngoodfellow168]

I had one identical to yours when I was in Germany in the 70's. You've done a grand job.

[@EverardJunction]

I see a number of red coupes in GL spec have survived overseas. I had to get quite a few parts from Germany. Very handy the car has a strong following there. Cheers

[@hughbishopnh]

If we hadn't followed you through building Everard Junction (twice) and you were just some bloke who had restored this classic we might be astounded at the quality of this job. But as we know you well in your modeling we would expect nothing less than perfection. And you delivered. Nice one Richard.

[@drazj]

I can't believe you did all in 5 years. This is by far the best restoration I've seen. She's beautiful.

[@JamesSmith-mv9fp]

Amusing, I used to have Granada Estates, 3 of them one after the other, because it's amazing how much model railway equipment you can squeeze in the back when taking layouts to exhibitions !

[@tsufordman]

Great job on the car, and resisting the urge to weather it to a late '80's patina.

[@bjmorley]

Crickey I thought you were born in the 80s and EJ was based on your actual memories! I didn't have you down as being a 1992 baby! I'm only a year before you! Learn new things every day.

[@stewitwooit9744]

I think you owe it to the Everard Junction Scrap Yard, to have a pristine Granada ready to drive out of one of the arches in honour of your restoration. The real Granada looks really good, well done!

[@shed66215]

I'm not a 'car person' - never had a licence, or even sat behind a car steering wheel, but I can appreciate the time and effort that goes in to a project like this. Great job Richard.

[@kawaiisaki3538]

Incredible, can't believe you persisted for 5 years! Beautiful machine

[@Wikkus]

Good job. Haven't seen a "fastback" Granada (resisted the urge to type "granddad") for at least 30 years. I grew up in a ford household; 105E Anglia Deluxe, MkIII Cortina 1600XL, Mk2 Popular Plus, '71 Mustang...

[@HooverLux]

That’s simply amazing! You’re work on every single inch of that vehicle, dedication, blood sweat and tears! Well done

[@EverardJunction]

Thanks, there were many stressful and daunting moments! I'm not sure I'd do it again haha. Cheers

[@AVFCAM]

How have I missed this?! I don’t even like cars but I’ve been dying to see this one!!!

[@pikachus5m166]

Probably the most spacious coupe ever.

[@thespookdeville5112]

Brilliant, what a credit to you, All the detail you put into your trains, loads of respect and support for your excellent videos. Rodge David Kidderminster UK

[@mooster5014]

What a lovely job! I worked at a Ford dealership in the ‘70s and this brought back tons of memories. Excellent, if possibly accidental, recording of a chiff-chaff in the early minutes too.

[@derickl436]

Absolutely outstanding job! All your hard work has paid off.

[@TT.Hell.]

That V6 sounds like it have 300 horses, I love that sound!

[@garytaylor6961]

Under that bonnet is just so fresh and clean you did a really good job on the restoration work 5 years well spent brilliant 👍😊

[@sku70]

Magic! Absolutely stunning restoration mate.....all credit to you!

[@SteveS3667]

Wow, that is one top quality restoration absolutely brilliant job, would love to see a blue '76 MK3 Cortina in that condition, my first car or someone should send you 40118 from Tyesley Depot, bout time that got restored lol :)

[@AidansRailways]

Hi Richard, it's not very often that I comment on any video but in your case I thought I would get in touch. Like yourself we are very much into the hobby of model railways. However we are also very much into our classic cars and and I thought it was interesting that you also share these two interests as well. You have done a wonderful job over the five years on the restoration and it's great to finally see the fruits of your labour. I know exactly what you mean when you refer the softness of the suspension and how newer cars are just not the same in that resect. Great job maintaining the original tyre sizes. We always laugh when we look at how small and thin car tyres were in the past in comparison to todays vehicles. Anyhow if you are interested we currently have a Mk1 Range Rover 3 door 1972, Series 3 Land Rover 1972 (winner of the spirit of the rally London to Dakar 2004), The oldest known Mk1 Cavalier in the UK manufactured 1975 GL a 1.9l, another MK1 1978 also a 1.9Gl. Most recently we have just completed a full restoration on a 1983 4 door MK2 cavalier GLS 1.6. We have put some videos on the channel if you fancy a look but I tend not to put them on the channel normally due to the channel topic. Anyway Richard brilliant video and hope you get many years of joy from the Granada .

[@darwinsmonkeybutler2113]

Beautiful. I wish I still had my '75 MkIII Cortina 1.6L, white with a tan vinyl roof. The first car I ever bought. Love 70's Fords and the Granada fastback was the boss.

[@martincussell7939]

Great work and car !!👍👍 Funny, i was stationed at RAF Gütersloh at the time this car would be knocking around. Great.

[@tanyacharbury4728]

I'm in awe, wow. Someone took me for a drive in the South African version of the Granada; same basic body style. I was very impressed. Seeing your car brings back many memories. Thank you!

[@philcorrin1035]

Love the MK 1. my Dad and Uncle worked for Ford at the Halewood plant. My favourite was the MK 1 Cortina. Back in the day when proper cars were made. I was 16 in 94!

[@peterthornton8039]

I really enjoyed the your video. You did a great job on your car. In 1979 I purchased a 1977 3ltr Granada and loved it, they are great cars

[@greatbritannialine]

Absolutely stunning!!! My absolute favourite model and colour of Granada that. Very beautiful job.

[@MGC.GT.1968]

What a great job on the restoration, I used to own a 3.0 ghia coupe (1977) and resprayed it in Ford Vista Pheonix Orange 🍊. Mine had a brown vinyl roof. Beautiful car to drive and fast back in the day. 17 mpg as a daily driver.......

[@benediktsaurer381]

Wow! What abgewartetem Job! My deepest respect! I am also a Granada driver from Switzerland.

[@philtucker1224]

This is a beautiful restoration!

[@BrockwellLanemodelrailway]

Love it. I'm a model railway fan and a car nut. You were blessed with far too many talents sir. Owning a classic car is on my bucket list. I'd like a car made the same year I was born which was 1977. I often go looking on classic car sites to see what's available but haven't yet taken the plunge. until I do I'll keep collecting the Oxford diecasts for the layout. Good work

[@highlandaecfan5372]

Very enjoyable run, nice normal driving, beautiful sounds and the car looks stunning - well done Sir ! 👍

[@Teesbrough]

Congratulations Richard. My Dad drove a Granada Estate around that time - I think it was the best car he ever had. My Uncle restored and sold classic cars - he would definitely be impressed. Superb job.

[@EverardJunction]

Thanks, I'd love an estate. Very rare now, they don't come up for sale very often.

[@kraig800i]

You're 7 years younger than me . . . . I feel gutted I've been watching your rail stuff for about 3 months now and genuinely thought you were 20 years older than me.

[@clivegeary4587]

Excellent restoration. The car looks factory fresh. You said the magic words "carnival red", my first car was a 1976 Mk2 Ford Capri 1.6S in carnival red.

[@blairgowrieforestrailwayan2786]

I never thought that in my youth a car like this would be desirable to restore. the cars that I would have considered where anything pre 1960s. nice job.

[@davegill8634]

Talented Lad with the Cars and the Model Trains 👍👍

[@martinwarner1178]

What a super restoration, well done. Peace be unto you.

[@darrenhillman8396]

An absolute labour of love and a credit to your hard work and perseverance! Well done indeed. The same attention to detail you have with Everard Junction is clear to see. There is a history of mine and Dads love affair with Fords finest; I had an 1982 X 2.3 Ghia Mk2 in Caribbean Blue, Dad had a 1983 A 2.3 GL in Glacier Blue, then I sold the 2.3 Ghia and bought a 1989 G 2.4i Ghia Mk3 in silver, gave that to Dad and bought a 1993 L 2.9i Ghia, in Mineral Blue then part-exed that for a 1992 K Scorpio Cosworth, 2.9 24v saloon in white. That was my last Granada, so it was good to go out on a high. Next car was a 2001 Ford Cougar, 2.5 V6.

[@theangelsmodellingandrailways]

A quality build of a timeless classic, the best version of that model, remember them fondly. Well done Richard, I doff my cap too you, sir. Happy trails. Brian @ The Angels.

[@charliecozens]

Always loved Grannies. Lovely job.

[@giulius7176]

Very nice job!! I restored a 1978 Chevy Camaro...so I know how much work is involved !!! now enjoy it!

[@paulderby2117]

Excellent work EJ. Same as your layout. Very conciencious

[@coddiwomplecolster7329]

Perfect period music to match the era of the car. Bravo!

[@martinpiggins5772]

Superb thank you for taking us along. Well done the car looks awesome in the truest sense of the word.

[@philtucker1224]

Great video! ( I still think you were born 40 years too late though! 😁) thanks for sharing! 🙏

[@sgtgrash]

Gorgeous car, well done sir. I owned a mk2 Granada 2.3 Ghia for a good few years and I treasured its ability to waft me to my destination sans stress and in total comfort. 👍🖖

[@AndreiTupolev]

What a beauty! This is one of my favourite cars, and this is a stunning example. And what a delicious colour. So 70s orangey-red. It sounds terrific on high revs.

[@stevesmith4771]

A huge credit to you and all the hard work that has been put in over the last 5 years. Looks stunning and I'm sure you'll have many a happy hour cruising around in it.....just don't take it to railway exhibitions!

[@2112pk]

such an 'orrible lot with sticky fingers

[@callumk5]

That’s not a car, it’s a time machine! Absolutely stunning job and yes the vinyl roof HAD to stay. I wish KZbin had smell-o-vision for the interior because I bet it’s au d’ 1975. Well done on the restoration. Enjoy every minute driving it now.

[@EverardJunction]

Cheers! It certainly has a very particular smell.

[@grahammellstrom4995]

Fantastic achievement, all your hard work has paid off. thanks for sharing I really enjoyed that.

[@oneminutefarming9521]

Excellent job and your paint looks spot on , the five speed gearbox is a good mod , takes me back driving around with my late dad , no seat belt on watching the world go by 👍😎.

[@joetopper2380]

Restoration turned out Fantastic.

[@douglaskinloch6272]

Always loved these, my scout master had one in the mid 70s - similar spec but with an auto box. Superb job

[@davidstrains4910]

Always good to see a classic car back on the road would love an old Ford car myself

[@simonbaxter8001]

Fantastic Job Richard. Nice to see another old classic with a brand new lease of life.

[@2sk21]

This was a posh car for its time! Looks beautiful!

[@bevenhall]

In Sweden, we had the 2.6L engine. A bit throatier sound. Otherwise the exact version I learned how to drive in (except the steering wheel, which had the upside down "V"). A flashback like no other - thanks for sharing this!

[@geoker55]

Ok, this is just amazing work. As someone who is in mid-resto mode for a Grand Wagoneer, this just makes me happy. Great job! And I know it's the wrong year, but I kept hearing a soft piano and David Bowie singing: It's a God awful small affair To the girl with the mousey hair...

[@trevorgilbert7284]

You should be proud of yourself you've done a fantastic job it looks just as it should, my dad had two mk 1 saloons back in the 70s a red and a yellow one .

[@alanbartlett9523]

Had a Mk2 Granny, loved it. Best car I ever owned, wished I had it now.

[@Martin.]

Hi. Great video, enjoyed. 👍Good work man👍Thanks for sharing. Cheers, Martin

[@philiplettley]

Making me feel old, I'm the same age as the car, though I do feel like I need a full restoration at the best of times lol. Looks great, keep up the good work

[@wdubbelo]

Finaly the legendary car we heard so much about

[@CHESEABUN]

Looks 👍 great. A vaguely remember these. You have turned your hand to this car very well.

[@TiberiusWallace]

Mate, you're an artist!

[@tonybarfield5148]

Well done Richard. Nice looking restored Ford.

[@simod]

Brilliant. But when you said it took ages on the paint job I could picture you sitting there with your modelling Air Brush saying "This will take a while" 😄. Great video. Nice to see history being kept alive. 👏🏻👏🏻

[@dangerousandy]

You’ve done a fantastic job on that! I was 12 in 1994... Also, I used to have quite a few Mk3 Capris in my youth, and I actually got a LHD driver’s mirror with the remote toggle control and fitted it to my passenger door on my 2.0 S Capri. Looked much better. I’m surprised Ford never offered that as an option.

[@Thereishope664]

You're right, much more character than a modern car. Anything with an OBD port is boring. And a brilliant job you've done too.

[@deanbevis8534]

Excellent work…… Fantastic job 👍👍👍

[@frankneher9192]

Thanks for a trip down memory lane enjoy the fruits of your labor.

[@JohnSmith-sl1my]

Well done . Sounds nice in side when driving . Plus the weather was on your side that day . Nice.

[@julianlyons711]

Amazing job and detail .. a credit to your skill and enthusiasm

[@sadasulna6056]

Stunning job! Absolutely mint. Very well done.

[@greig8376]

Great job, you are great at building things!

[@gregoryhale2202]

Richard, I take my hat off to you for the amazing restoration job you have done on the Ford Granada. I hope you have many enjoyable miles of motoring. Congratulations Greg

[@EverardJunction]

Thanks Greg, I look forward many more miles in the car.

[@Artyminime]

Gosh! I remember watching about 4 years ago when you showed the Granada being restored... and seeing it now! what a brilliant restoration!... it gives me the courage to keep going with my long term projects! Thanks!

[@JamesSimpsonn]

Utterly incredible. You've done a gorgous car credit 50 times over. Immaculate job

[@Cortinaman63]

I have been waiting to see this video for a very long time, and the wait was worth it, she looks GORGEOUS, the work you have put in to this and your attention to detail shows, and I adore the car, having spent 8 years on my Ford Cortina Mk.3, KZbin restoration, I can appreciate the effort you have put in to this, and am very impressed, but expected her to look no less stunning, as it was you building her, great paintwork, and a beautiful Classic, a real credit to you, and well done, I really love her.thank you for showing her, this has made my night, Excellent work Richard.

[@EverardJunction]

Cheers! Glad you enjoyed it. I'll certainly never forget it, learnt a lot and had some very memorable moments during the process.

[@Cortinaman63]

@@EverardJunction Thank you for your Reply Richard, Now you can enjoy looking at and driving a car that is one of the very best Granada Mk.1's out there, and knowing that you have created a stunning example others like me will truly admire, together with your outstanding quality of workmanship, You will never know just how much I have been looking forward to seeing her finished, the detail on your train layout is something I always love to see, so I knew the car would be just as good, and built with the same care, detail and commitment, and you have produced a "FABULOUS" Coupe, built with love. and passion and it shows.in every aspect of the car, from the vinyl roof, to the underneath, first class work.

[@EverardJunction]

@@Cortinaman63 Thanks for the kind words! It was much more work than I had anticipated but I was determined to repair it. Learnt many valuable skills along the way that I ended up using on customers cars. An experience to remember for sure. Cheers

[@markbridge5769]

Admire the dedication 👏 another characterful classic saved , happy motoring.

[@bullettube9863]

I've noticed watching your other videos on the layout how neatly you applied the plaster and how well your detailing was done. Now I know where you learned; from patching and restoring your car! Now please don't ruin the cart by weathering it!

[@ListerDavid]

Rich you have done an outstanding job restoring this beautiful Granada, loving the interior. Happy cruising.

[@benstutley2904]

Exemplary Job! Very nice work, lovely car, thanks for sharing : )

[@PedalBox]

Can confirm, when you video as you learn and build a car, it takes a LOT longer. Granada is looking superb!

[@neilmustow368]

Wow Granada MK 1 coupe we only had the Ghia model in the UK in coupe form I was probably only a year old when this car came off the Cologne production line beautiful job well done engine sounds great lovely cruiser

[@turboslag]

Very impressive job, incredible as a first timer!!! Bought back alot of memories of the time my dad had a series of these as company cars. First was a Consul 2.5 estate, GL spec in an orangy bronze metallic. Seemed huge at the time, big enough to squeeze my Yamaha DT125 trail bike in on it's side to take it to the dealer when it wouldn't start one Saturday morning!!! Next was a funky metallic purple Granada 2.5 GL, used to take me hours to clean because of all the chrome!! Next and last was a Mk3 (?) Granada 2.8 GL in Jupiter Red metallic. That was an auto, I think the previous 2 were manual but I can't be sure. Generously my dad let me use all three, so I put some reasonable miles on all of them. My favourite was the purple Granada, that dropped some knickers in it's time!! The Consul was just huge, there was nothing like it at the time, some even thought it was American! My mum and dad towed their caravan to Italy several times in it and it just soaked it up without any complaint. Well done on your restoration, it is really impressive.

[@markjohnson9136]

Fantastic job. I love it. Enjoy it for many years!

[@mauriceleach3558]

Takes me back to my childhood, going several hundred miles on holiday. My dad said that he liked it because it had a large fuel tank (fuel shortages). thanks for restoring it.

[@willparker8303]

Beautiful that Richard, well done!

[@Hound87]

Just watched this video again…. I’m gutted to say the least! Having been an avid watcher of your channel and admiring your work for years, I saw the Granada at Grimsthorpe Castle on Saturday and instantly thought of you…. Now I’ve rewatched this video and realized it WAS you! I’m gutted I didn’t manage to say hello and congratulate you on the fantastic work you did on this, it is amazing and honestly, my favorite car of the event - stunning work. Hope I get to see it again someday, and manage to say hello next time. 👏

[@friendlypiranha774]

What a beautiful car. Congratulations on such a great restoration. Here in South Africa we got these with the American 5.0 V8 under the bonnet. Interestingly, we also got both the Coke-bottle coupé with the arches over the rear wheels and the straight-line coupé like yours.

[@alyciamarrison2916]

Makes me think of "The sweeney" Damn you have the cleanest car I have ever seen & the underside looks like one could eat of it! Paint job looks pristine on your video too!

[@frankfeely9235]

Nice to see a bit of motoring history kept alive, well done.

[@jonathanhall9668]

Fantastic restoration, I like the fact you still have the original dealer sticker in the back window. Thank you for sharing and sharing the project with us all!

[@quarryjunction-1969]

Fantasic workmanship and looks well worth it congrats the hard work paid off.

[@ewardbach8955]

So nice done, very good you didnt make any extra styling! Love original!