I pride myself on being able to find the redeeming factor in just about every possible vehicle made, ever. There is usually a point or purpose to every automobile out there that justifies it’s existence. But like every good rule, there is that one car that I cannot find justification for: the Ford Granada and it’s twins, the Mercury Monarch and the Lincoln Versailles. Coming from a guy who likes oddball Mopars, Eagle Wagons and the stranger offerings from GM, it seems a bit off for me to say that, but it’s true. The Granada/Monarch/Versailles were redundant vehicles. They were based off of the Falcon platform, stuffed to the gills with Brougham quality (ugh…that made me sick) and originally were intended to replace another Falcon-platform Ford product, the Ford Maverick/Mercury Comet twins. The trouble was, those two were selling well, so Ford doubled down and sold them both at the same time. Look at a Maverick, then look at a Monarch. Which one would you take home first?
At first glance, this 1976 Monarch looks like a textbook case in why I can’t stomach these cars: Ford’s 1970s baroque styling, diaper roof, too-small Magnum 500 wheels, overstuffed interior with super-fake plastic wood, and the most lacking gauge cluster package of any car made in the last fifty years as far as I’m concerned. In fact, this car wouldn’t be written up if it wasn’t for one thing: the engine. This Monarch is packing around the 351 Windsor, which just might make an argument for the car, because you couldn’t get the 351 in the Maverick/Comet duo. 149 horsepower wasn’t going to do much, but it’s a 351…hot-rodding the hell out of it is a straightforward process and over 500 horsepower out of one isn’t farfetched in the least. Car Craft managed to get one to bust out 595 horsepower a couple of years ago on the dyno…now, take another look at the Monarch. Find some rolling stock that will absorb the abuse, stiffen the hell out of the body, and keep all mods hidden. Suddenly, even I can get on board with the program.
eBay Link: 1976 Mercury Monarch
Keep the wheels and crush the rest as it is too hideous for words!
As usual, Geordie is an idiot.
That would be an AWESOME daily driver. Sure, the engine could use some help, but I really dig it. I might lower it about 2 inches, but that’s it. And I don’t like Ford products.
Beef up the drivetrain and make it a sleeper.
My family owned a Granada back in ’76…pretty ugly, but then again, I always thought these cars would make a nice, straightforward drag platform…
I remember when these cars were new and yes they are ugly! Fast forward 40 years later and the car doesn’t look so bad. Put a FI unit on it, an OD trans, lower the suspension, some better wheel/tire combo and you have a nice ride.
has some potential and im kind of digging the body style, but 10 grand? Haha no.
My Friends Dad had one of those when we were young and it was also white, don’t remember the engine but it was a 4 speed manual.
I like it. They really aren’t THAT ugly – the big thing (and I DO mean BIG thing) is the locomotive bumpers which could be trimmed to fit – Chip Foose does it all the time.
The engine would wake up readily – Lord knows there are plenty of goodies for the Windsor family.
Not sure on the price – it IS really clean.
Dan