Was the Ford Granada a Fox body?
The Ford Granada was not a Fox body. The Fox designation refers to Ford’s U.S. platform used for Mustang-related models from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, while the Granada was a European Ford model developed on Cortina-derived underpinnings. In short: they belong to different engineering families within Ford’s global lineup.
Understanding the terms
To keep the discussion clear, here is what the terms mean and where the Granada fits in Ford’s lineup.
What is the Fox platform?
The Fox platform is Ford’s internal chassis code used for a family of North American cars built roughly from 1978 to 1993. It underpinned the Mustang and several related models in the U.S. market, and is associated with the era’s distinctive body styles and engineering layout. It is not related to Ford’s European Granada models.
What is the Granada?
The Granada is a European Ford model that was introduced in the 1970s as a mid- to large-size family car. Early generations were built on Cortina-derived platforms, with later generations evolving on European chassis that were distinct from the Fox platform. It was primarily sold in European markets and never shared the Fox architecture with U.S.-market Ford cars.
Platform differences at a glance
Below is a concise comparison highlighting why the Granada is not a Fox body:
- Platform origin: Granada uses Cortina-derived European underpinnings; Fox is Ford’s U.S. platform used for Mustang and related models
- Market orientation: Granada targeted European family-car buyers; Fox-era vehicles served North American pony/muscle car segments
- Engineering characteristics: Different chassis codes, suspension layouts, and drivetrain configurations between Granada models and Fox-platform cars
- Historical timeline: Granada was produced in Europe from the 1970s through the 1990s; Fox platform cars spanned roughly 1978–1993 in the U.S.
In short, the Granada and the Fox-body Mustangs belong to separate lines of Ford engineering and should not be considered the same platform.
Summary
The Ford Granada was not a Fox body. The Fox name designates Ford’s U.S. platform used for Mustang-related models from about 1978 to 1993. The Granada was a European model developed on Cortina-derived underpinnings and later European-platform chassis, independent of the Fox architecture. They represent different branches of Ford’s global automotive strategy.
Is a Ford Granada a Fox body?
The second-generation Ford Granada is based on the rear-wheel drive Ford Fox platform, sharing its 105.5-inch wheelbase with the Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr. In the shift from the Ford Falcon chassis (dating from 1960) to the Fox chassis, the suspension and steering systems were modernized.
Why was it called Fox Body?
The Fox Body Mustang was called that because it was built on Ford's "Fox" platform, a versatile and long-running vehicle architecture used for many different models from 1978 to 1993. The name was an internal codename for the platform that the public, particularly car enthusiasts, adopted to identify the 1979-1993 generation of the Mustang.
- Platform-based name: The name "Fox Body" directly refers to the "Fox" platform the car was built on.
- Platform shared with other models: The platform was not exclusive to the Mustang; it was also used for many other Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln vehicles, such as the Fairmont, Thunderbird, and Mercury Capri.
- Internal codename: The "Fox" was an internal engineering codename that became popular among enthusiasts, much like the "Panther" platform used for other large Ford sedans.
- Long-lasting platform: The Fox platform was used for a significant period, with the Mustang generation built on it lasting from 1979 to 1993, making it a recognizable and iconic part of automotive history.
What was the sister car to the Ford Granada?
The Ford Granada was a mid-size car built and marketed by Ford Motor Company in North America from 1975–1982, along with its sister models, the Mercury Monarch, and Lincoln Versailles.
What Ford vehicle is based on the Fox body?
Fox Body Ford Mustang
You can't talk about the 1980s without mentioning the Fox Body Ford Mustang. Over 30 years after it ended production, Ford is celebrating this rich era of Mustang history with the Mustang FX Package, a new appearance package inspired by the third-generation Mustang.
