By Tim Odell
Let’s take three distinctly different looks at a common formula: two doors, eight cylinders and three pedals. Most interestingly, they capture three specific moments in time: a Camaro ushering the descent into the Malaise Era, the very mascot of the Malaise Era: a Ford Granada and the car that best embodied the end of the Malaise Era: a Foxbody 5.0 Mustang.
When defending second-generation Camaros, the ’70-73 stub-nose models generally get a pass, but the slant-nose impact bumper face of the ’74 signaled the beginning of the end. At this point, compression ratios were dropping, horsepower were down to net things were just lame. This particular example managed to avoid a the typical autumn hues of the 70s in favor of a decent white and blue over black color scheme. The 350 makes whatever power a mid-spec 350 makes, and is thankfully backed by a proper four speed. Alas, the floors will need replacing, but that’s about it. The opening bid’s $5,300…whether or not there’s a reserve atop that remains to be seen.
We’re going out of chronological order to take a look at this ’85 Ford Mustang. ’85 was the first year of the roller-cam, higher-flow 5.0 with a decent Holley 600CFM carb backed up by a five-speed overdrive transmission. This one’s of the earlier “four-eye” Fox chassis example, sporting early-80s era-appropriate T-Tops. It’s been sitting for years, but only has 35,000 miles (on a five-digit odometer). It’ll need some love to get back in proper running condition, but the current $1,800 price (with three days left) reflects that. (Side note: the P71 Crown Vic and Rolls Royce in the background of the Mustang’s listing suggest the seller might be an interesting guy to hang out with) 
Lastly, the most perplexing vehicle of the group: a mint condition brown-over-tan Granada Sport Coupe. Rather than some pathetic badge-only special, that title actually holds water: this thing has a 302 and a four speed. As a reminder, the Granada shared a chassis with the engineered-in-the-late-50s Falcon, meaning this car is frightfully close to a ’60-whatever Mustang GT underneath. That is, so long as we ignore the curb weight and the fact that a ’77 302 made like 120 horsepower. Still, there’s little preventing one from swapping that 302 for an angry 347 from the nearest Summit catalog. The only holdback? This car is in perfect condition. Like, museum-grade. So, if you’re looking for the absolute best of the absolute worst Ford had to offer, this is your time capsule. It’s sitting at $4,400 with an unmet reserve and two days to go. So, what’ll it be? The maybe-not-that-Bitchin’ Camaro, the Mullet-and-Oakleys Mustang or Triple Distilled Malaise?