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As We See Things
, Ford
by Philip Powell on May 28, 2008
Barack Obama admits he enjoys driving and says that being driven around by the Secret Service is a drag. During an interview with Indianapolis radio station WFBQ, as reported in the Detroit News, he got to chatting about what, in his opinion, was the worst car ever to emerge from Motown. Obama's choice may have been influenced by experience, for he nominated the Ford Granada, the car in which he learned to drive. "This thing was a tin can. It was during the '70s when oil had just gone up, so they were trying to compete with the Japanese," Obama said. "They wanted to keep the cars big, so they made them out of tin foil. It would rattle and shake. You basically couldn't go over 80 (miles per hour) without the thing getting out of control." I'm rather hurt by this assertion because, indirectly, I was responsible for naming the car. It happened in the 1970's when, as creative director of the Ford of Europe ad account in London, I was asked to select a name for a new vehicle that would replace the aging Ford 20M. Granada was my recommendation, Ford agreed, and later transferred the badge to one of its upcoming Detroit sedans. Do I dare disagree with the man who may be president? Not on most subjects but on this one I might, for I've driven more than my share of Detroit turkeys. And the Granada was not the worst.
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Vote for Obama's Running Mate? It Won't be a Ford Granada:
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Rating: 9.50 out of 4 vote(s) cast.
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Response from:
Harley Ferguson
(05/28/08 9:52am)
Ok then, let's have Philip's Worst Detroit Iron list. Would the Henry J make the list? How about the "other Ford pony", the Pinto?
Response from:
Zarba
(05/28/08 10:23am)
After I totalled my parents '73 LTD a month after getting my license (not my fault), my main car was a '76 Mercury Monarch Ghia, a rebadged Grenada.
While equipped with a 351/2 bbl V-8, the car was painfully slow. Emissions regs had strangled the Detroit V-8's, and I think it made around 150 bhp. 0-60 time of around 12 seconds, if I remember correctly.
Quality-wise, it was a piece of junk. Interior bits falling off, a suspension that specialized in wallowing understeer, and 1-finger power steering.
The Monarch was plagued with a plastic gas cap cover on the rear that ALWAYS broke off. I can't remember seeing one that didn't say MO CH on the rear valance where the "NA" was mssing along with that plastic trim piece.
It rode nicely, in an American Interstate-cruising sort of way. Gas mileage with the big V-8 was pathetic, around 17-19 mpg. It was disappointing to my father, who bought the car to "economize".
I had one memorable moment in the car. After work at my summer job, I drag-raced a 1980 (+/-) Turbo Trans Am (with the crappy 305 4-bbl turbo V-8), and beat the poor guy. I'll never forget his look as my vinyl-topped sled pulled away from his T/A.
All in all, not a terrible car, but certainly not a classic. Just another forgettable malaise-era Ford destined for the crusher.
Does anyone remember the Grenada ESS, the "sporty" model that came with blacked-out trim and rear disc brakes? They pitched it as a competitor to European sports sedans. I'm sure they're a rare as hen's teeth now.
While equipped with a 351/2 bbl V-8, the car was painfully slow. Emissions regs had strangled the Detroit V-8's, and I think it made around 150 bhp. 0-60 time of around 12 seconds, if I remember correctly.
Quality-wise, it was a piece of junk. Interior bits falling off, a suspension that specialized in wallowing understeer, and 1-finger power steering.
The Monarch was plagued with a plastic gas cap cover on the rear that ALWAYS broke off. I can't remember seeing one that didn't say MO CH on the rear valance where the "NA" was mssing along with that plastic trim piece.
It rode nicely, in an American Interstate-cruising sort of way. Gas mileage with the big V-8 was pathetic, around 17-19 mpg. It was disappointing to my father, who bought the car to "economize".
I had one memorable moment in the car. After work at my summer job, I drag-raced a 1980 (+/-) Turbo Trans Am (with the crappy 305 4-bbl turbo V-8), and beat the poor guy. I'll never forget his look as my vinyl-topped sled pulled away from his T/A.
All in all, not a terrible car, but certainly not a classic. Just another forgettable malaise-era Ford destined for the crusher.
Does anyone remember the Grenada ESS, the "sporty" model that came with blacked-out trim and rear disc brakes? They pitched it as a competitor to European sports sedans. I'm sure they're a rare as hen's teeth now.
Response from:
Philip
(05/28/08 3:35pm)
Hey, that was a great test review, Zarba! As a Canadian I, of course, remember the Monarchs. My list of all-time Detroit turkeys, Harley? One of these days, I'll write just such a blog. Beware... it won't include the Vega.
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