L. David Ash
Encyclopedia
L. David Ash was an automotive stylist who worked variously in the Lincoln, Continental, Edsel and Ford studios at Ford Motor Company
. He is known for his contributions to the styling of the Ford Mustang
, Ford Thunderbird
and Lincoln Continental Mark III
— and his innovative work on the plexiglass skylights of the 1954 Ford Victoria Skyliner and Mercury Monterey Sun Valley
— forerunners of today's moonroof. Ash, who ultimately received the title of Chief Stylist at Ford, died July 2, 1991.
At Ford, Ash worked with other interior and exterior Ford stylists and executives, including Joe Oros
, John Najjar, Eugene Bordinat
, John J. Nance, Bob Thomas, John Reinhart, Roy Brown, Ken Spencer, Larry Doyle, Dick Krafe, Bob MacGuire, Virginia VanBrunt, Helen Vincent — as well as designers outside Ford including George Barris
and Gene Winfield
. With Ford of Germany, he worked on the Ford Taunus
project. Ash also worked on the styling of the Presidential Parade car — the vehicle in which U.S. President John F. Kennedy
was assassinated
.
As Lee Iacocca
's assistant general manager and chief engineer, Donald N. Frey
, was the head engineer for the Mustang project — supervising the development of the Mustang in a record 18 months — while Iacocca himself championed the project as Ford Division general manager. The Mustang prototype was a two-seat, mid-mounted engine roadster
, later remodeled as a four-seat car styled under the direction of Project Design Chief Joe Oros
and his team of L. David Ash, Gale Halderman, and John Foster — in Ford's Lincoln
–Mercury
Division design studios, which produced the winning design in an intramural design contest instigated by Iacocca. Ash's styling exercise, originally internally named the Cougar, was the winning styling exercise.
The design team had been given five goals for the design of the Mustang:
it would seat four, it would have bucket seats and a floor mounted shifter, it would weigh no more than 2500 pounds and be no more than 180 inches in length, it would sell for less than $2500, and it should have multiple power, comfort and luxury options for the buyer to select from.
Ash, in a 1985 interview — with David R.Crippen, Curator of special Collections, Archives & Record Center at the Henry Ford Museum — speaking of the origin of the Mustang design, when asked the degree of his contribution, said:
Joe Oros, speaking about the design of the Mustang:
As Chief Stylist at Ford, Ash contributed to the styling of the Mark III, which had derived heavily from the mid-sixties Ford Thunderbird
. Ash distinctively raised the height of the rear fenders and upper back panel (two inches higher than the Thunderbird), thereby giving Mark III a hunched look that recalled cars of the 1920s. When Henry Ford II
saw the end result, said "I want to drive that one home."
In a break from company tradition, the newly promoted Ash, was given a Mark III to use as his company vehicle, in acknowledgment of his contribution to its design.
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
. He is known for his contributions to the styling of the Ford Mustang
Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, as a "1964½" model, the 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A...
, Ford Thunderbird
Ford Thunderbird
The Thunderbird , is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States over eleven model generations from 1955 through 2005...
and Lincoln Continental Mark III
Lincoln Continental Mark III
The Lincoln Continental Mark III was a personal luxury car produced by Lincoln and sold in North America in the 1969 through 1971 model years.-Introduction:...
— and his innovative work on the plexiglass skylights of the 1954 Ford Victoria Skyliner and Mercury Monterey Sun Valley
Ford Victoria Skyliner
The Ford Crestline Skyliner was an automobile featuring a 2 door hardtop body style with an integrated acrylic glass panel over the front seating area. Part of the 1954 American Ford range, it boasted a "freshness of view" through the green-tinted panel...
— forerunners of today's moonroof. Ash, who ultimately received the title of Chief Stylist at Ford, died July 2, 1991.
At Ford, Ash worked with other interior and exterior Ford stylists and executives, including Joe Oros
Joe Oros
Joseph E. Oros was an automobile stylist for Ford Motor Company over a period of 21 years — known as the Chief Designer of the team at Ford that styled the original Mustang, and for his contributions to the 1955 Ford Thunderbird.Oros was born to non-English speaking Romanian parents...
, John Najjar, Eugene Bordinat
Eugene Bordinat
Eugene Bordinat, Jr. was a Ford Motor Company styling executive whose career spanned several decades.-Early career:...
, John J. Nance, Bob Thomas, John Reinhart, Roy Brown, Ken Spencer, Larry Doyle, Dick Krafe, Bob MacGuire, Virginia VanBrunt, Helen Vincent — as well as designers outside Ford including George Barris
George Barris (auto customizer)
George Barris is a designer of custom cars.-Early history:George and his brother Sam were born in Chicago in the 1920s. After the deaths of their parents, they moved to Roseville, California as children to live with relatives. Both were good students, interested in drama, music, and design...
and Gene Winfield
Gene Winfield
Gene Winfield is an American automotive customizer. In the mid-1960s, his designs caught the attention of the film community, resulting in a large body of his work being seen on screen, including in the iconic 1982 film Blade Runner...
. With Ford of Germany, he worked on the Ford Taunus
Ford Taunus
The Ford Taunus is a family car sold by Ford in Germany and other countries. Models from 1970 onward were similar to the Ford Cortina in the United Kingdom...
project. Ash also worked on the styling of the Presidential Parade car — the vehicle in which U.S. President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
was assassinated
John F. Kennedy assassination
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, was assassinated at 12:30 p.m. Central Standard Time on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas...
.
Mustang
Lee Iacocca
Lido Anthony "Lee" Iacocca is an American businessman known for engineering the Mustang, the unsuccessful Ford Pinto, being fired from Ford Motor Company, and his revival of the Chrysler Corporation in the 1980s...
's assistant general manager and chief engineer, Donald N. Frey
Donald N. Frey
Donald Nelson Frey , was widely known as the Ford Motor Company product manager who, along with Lee Iacocca and others, developed the Ford Mustang into a viable project — and who ultimately supervised the development of the car in a record 18 months.At times besieged by autograph seekers for...
, was the head engineer for the Mustang project — supervising the development of the Mustang in a record 18 months — while Iacocca himself championed the project as Ford Division general manager. The Mustang prototype was a two-seat, mid-mounted engine roadster
Roadster
A roadster is a two-seat open car with emphasis on sporty handling and without a fixed roof or side weather protection. Strictly speaking a roadster with wind-up windows is a convertible but as true roadsters are no longer made the distinction is now irrelevant...
, later remodeled as a four-seat car styled under the direction of Project Design Chief Joe Oros
Joe Oros
Joseph E. Oros was an automobile stylist for Ford Motor Company over a period of 21 years — known as the Chief Designer of the team at Ford that styled the original Mustang, and for his contributions to the 1955 Ford Thunderbird.Oros was born to non-English speaking Romanian parents...
and his team of L. David Ash, Gale Halderman, and John Foster — in Ford's Lincoln
Lincoln (automobile)
Lincoln is an American luxury vehicle brand of the Ford Motor Company. Lincoln vehicles are sold mostly in North America.-History:The company was founded in August 1915 by Henry M. Leland, one of the founders of Cadillac . During World War I, he left Cadillac which was sold to General Motors...
–Mercury
Mercury (automobile)
Mercury was an automobile marque of the Ford Motor Company launched in 1938 by Edsel Ford, son of Henry Ford, to market entry-level luxury cars slotted between Ford-branded regular models and Lincoln-branded luxury vehicles, similar to General Motors' Buick brand, and Chrysler's namesake brand...
Division design studios, which produced the winning design in an intramural design contest instigated by Iacocca. Ash's styling exercise, originally internally named the Cougar, was the winning styling exercise.
The design team had been given five goals for the design of the Mustang:
it would seat four, it would have bucket seats and a floor mounted shifter, it would weigh no more than 2500 pounds and be no more than 180 inches in length, it would sell for less than $2500, and it should have multiple power, comfort and luxury options for the buyer to select from.
Ash, in a 1985 interview — with David R.Crippen, Curator of special Collections, Archives & Record Center at the Henry Ford Museum — speaking of the origin of the Mustang design, when asked the degree of his contribution, said:
Joe Oros, speaking about the design of the Mustang:
Continental Mark III
Ford Thunderbird
The Thunderbird , is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States over eleven model generations from 1955 through 2005...
. Ash distinctively raised the height of the rear fenders and upper back panel (two inches higher than the Thunderbird), thereby giving Mark III a hunched look that recalled cars of the 1920s. When Henry Ford II
Henry Ford II
Henry Ford II , commonly known as "HF2" and "Hank the Deuce", was the son of Edsel Ford and grandson of Henry Ford...
saw the end result, said "I want to drive that one home."
In a break from company tradition, the newly promoted Ash, was given a Mark III to use as his company vehicle, in acknowledgment of his contribution to its design.
See also
Ford MustangFord Mustang
The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, as a "1964½" model, the 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A...