A couple of weeks ago I read, “Donald Frey, Mustang Creator dies at 86.”
The headline hung there before my eyes like an aroma faintly familiar but just to the edge of explanation. I’d heard more than a few times that Lee Iacocca created the Mustang. He was the general manager of Ford at the time. As Ford’s chief engineer, Donald Frey and his team designed the Mustang prototype, unveiled in 1962 as a mid-engine, 2-seater. In April 1964, the Mustang drove into the nation’s showrooms.
His pony car – predicted to sell 80,000 in the first year, sold more than a million in two years. Such success was accomplished on a tiny budget out of sight from Henry Ford II, who bluntly told Frey he would be fired if the Mustang was not a hit. Ford’s warning came with more than a few unprintable words. Mr. Frey kept his job.
Henry Ford Number Two is remembered for introducing the Edsel and firing Lee Iacocca. Iacocca went on to save Chrysler and Mr. Frey went on to introduce radial tires, disc brakes, become the CEO of Bell & Howell and served on the board of the World Bank. In 1967, Time called him “Detroit’s sharpest idea man.”
We could use him today.