Donald N. Frey, Designer of the Mustang, Dies at 86

WSJ ^ | March 28, 2010 | Douglas Martin

[Ready4Freddy]

Donald N. Frey, the engineer who spearheaded the design and development of the Mustang, the spunky, stylish, affordably priced “pony car” that the Ford Motor Company rolled out in the mid-1960s in one of the most successful car introductions in automotive history, died March 5 in Evanston, Ill., where he lived. He was 86.

/...../

Though much of the Mustang was borrowed from other Ford vehicles, including a Falcon chassis, the car developed an identity all its own for a younger generation in search of new looks and experiences. It was designed to appeal to both men and women, had a dash of elegance copied from European sports cars, and featured a galloping steed in the middle of its grille that buyers thought was, well, really cool.

Steve McQueen was almost upstaged by the souped-up Mustang he drove in the movie “Bullitt.”

Mr. Frey and his team created the car — from approval by top management to the showroom — in just 18 months, and expectations were modest when it was introduced on April 17, 1964, at the New York World’s Fair. Ford figured it would sell 80,000 Mustangs in its first year. It sold more than a million in its first two years.

Mr. Frey (pronounced fry) would go on to other achievements. He was chairman and chief executive of the Bell & Howell Company, recipient of the National Medal of Technology and a member of the executive board of the World Bank. He was proudest, he said, of helping to introduce safety improvements like disc brakes and radial tires to Ford cars.

But to automotive cognoscenti and just plain car lovers, the Mustang was his defining accomplishment. At gatherings of Mustang enthusiasts, Mr. Frey was often besieged by autograph hunters in the manner of a rock star.

[Ready4Freddy]

[Ready4Freddy]

Ooops, it’s NYT, not WSJ, obviously...

[LuvFreeRepublic]

A beautiful car. I hope there will be pictures (hint, hint). RIP Mr. Frey.

[Loud Mime]

OOPS....wrong Mustang!

[BunnySlippers]

My Mom bought me the first year as my first car. I think it was 1965. I was 15 1/2.

[Mr. Mojo]

[Loud Mime]

The first Mustang....the prototype

[taildragger]

As a Ford fan and former owner of some old stangs that I never got to restore, Job well done Mr. Frey. You made tons of people happy and given the accolades of the new V6 and V8, "your Stang' " is in good hands.

RIP....

[omega4179]

RIP, Don the Predator Frey.

[jessduntno]

[SparkyBass]

My 1966 (sold 7 years ago) to put a down payment on a home) salutes you!

[LuvFreeRepublic]

WOW, never would have guessed that was the first Mustang. Thanks for the post.

[SHOOT THE MOON bat]

Greatest car ever.

[ReleaseTheHounds]

My wife was given a ‘64 1/2 Mustang (pony embossed seats; wooden steering wheel; turquoise) — used with about 12,000 miles on it — by her Dad when we were dating. What a fun car! A few years later, when we had our first child, it was time to move on to a larger car. I didn't know what I could get for it at the time — so I put it in the paper asking for $500... and then I cleaned it up and I think I could have gotten 2X that. But our first offer came from a recently returned Vietnam vet and we were happy to let it go — I hope he enjoyed it as much as we did.

[Leo Farnsworth]

“Greatest car ever.”

Ouch!

You're a cheap date...

[Interesting Times]

Five for Fighting: '65 Mustang

[jakerobins]

One of the great American Muscle Cars....I think there's a Car in this picture...LOL

[Loud Mime]

Looks like the Corvair, or that Fiat thingy, doesn’t it?

[Richard Kimball]

Best Mustang commercial EVER.

The whole Bullitt car chase.

A whole lot of bets were made on how many hubcaps the Charger lost and how many times they passed that Volkswagen.