Some classic race cars in South Africa

Some classic race cars in South Africa

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TonyRPH

Original Poster:

13,144 posts

175 months

Sunday 10th December 2023
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The group is public, however I'm not sure if you need to be on Facebook to view it.

These were taken at a local race track (East London I think) - South Africa. Good to see some old metal surviving the rust there!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/60359659684




Skyedriver

18,916 posts

289 months

Sunday 10th December 2023
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OK I'm beaten, what's the yellow car? looks like a cross between a stretched Avenger and an Opel Kadett.

AMGSee55

666 posts

109 months

Sunday 10th December 2023
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Skyedriver said:
OK I'm beaten, what's the yellow car? looks like a cross between a stretched Avenger and an Opel Kadett.
Mk1 Granada Coupe

daqinggregg

3,091 posts

136 months

Monday 11th December 2023
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Possibly a, Mk1 Ford Granada Perana Coupe V8.

Built by Basil Green Motors SA, Green, in fact enjoyed a similar relationship with Ford as Carroll Shelby. Both were the only men Ford would allow to modify its cars and then sell on with its support and a warranty.

As with other Peranas, the Granada was marketed through Ford dealers in South Africa, but with this car Ford's interest went further. A number of Granada Peranas were exported to Europe and America, with one of them being for the personal use of the then Ford President Lee Lacocca. Because the Granada Perana was so well engineered, Ford came close to producing it in Europe. Unfortunately this did not happen, probably as a result of the fuel crisis of the middle seventies.

V8 the Granada Perana was powered by a Ford Mustang 5 litre V8 (Windsor Small Block Ford) engine. Although I suspect the one pictured has been heavily breathed on.

aeropilot

36,596 posts

234 months

Monday 11th December 2023
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daqinggregg said:
As with other Peranas, the Granada was marketed through Ford dealers in South Africa, but with this car Ford's interest went further. A number of Granada Peranas were exported to Europe and America, with one of them being for the personal use of the then Ford President Lee Lacocca. Because the Granada Perana was so well engineered, Ford came close to producing it in Europe. Unfortunately this did not happen, probably as a result of the fuel crisis of the middle seventies.
o t
Ford had designed the Granada to accept the small block V8 from day one, as it had been their intention later on to offer a rival the V8 Opel Diplomat in some markets, but as you say, the 73 fuel crisis put paid to any V8 version for European markets, although Ford AVO at Aveley built a one off Granada V8 in 1974 for use of Henry Ford II when he visited the UK. This car was displayed on the stand of the Ford AVO OC at the NEC Classic Car Show back in spring of 1984.
AVO also built a prototype 2-door RS Granada at the same time, with a turbocharged 3.1 Essex V6, and painted Purple Velvet.....sadly that car no longer exists.