Corgi: Ford 1/43 Granada Mk2 2 8i Red (Cardinal Red)

Corgi presents Vanguards, a series of die-cast 1:43 scale model automobiles spanning half a century of motoring in Britain. Each model carries a detailed, authentic livery and comes complete with a miniature history of the vehicle and its engine performance.The Granada modelled was ordered in this striking specification by Ford dealers R. C. Edmondson, Spalding, Lincolnshire, to be displayed at a local motor show. They registered it in June 1983 and used it as a demonstrator before selling it to John Naylor, a local farmer, who kept the car for over ten years. Current owner Tim Brown used to deliver to Naylor’s farm in his job as an HGV driver and always admired the car, never dreaming he would be able to buy it. He was surprised to see it for sale in a local dealership in early 1995 showing 46,000 miles and went to view it but decided not to buy, even though he wanted to, feeling unable to justify the expense.Only days later he rounded a corner in his lorry and saw the Granada coming towards him occupied by his wife, Tina, and her father who’d bought it for him as a surprise! Tim was bowled over and the family used it regularly until a change in circumstances forced a regretful sale in 2010. Less than two years later, Tina met an old friend in the hospital where she worked who mentioned that he knew the current owner who lived less than fifty miles away. Tim and Tina were able to buy the car back and totally restored it in 2014. It remains one of the most admired cars in the Granada Drivers Guild.