Auto industry icon Lee Iacocca — forever connected to the Ford Mustang and former chairman of Chrysler — has died … according to a family source.
A family member tells TMZ Iacocca passed away, but could not provide any further detail.
Iacocca is credited with saving Chrysler from bankruptcy back in the 1980s … and he’s often referred to as the father of the legendary Ford Mustang. While he was always known within the auto industry … he became a household name across America when he starred in a series of TV advertisements for Chrysler.
ht/ js
Someone will probably straighten me out on this, but I never heard of any scandals or bad behavior about him. I hope that stays true. RIP Mr. Iacocca
The father of Corinthian leather. RIP
He did create the original government buyout of a car company. But he actually paid it back, with interest.
I.A.C.O.C.C.A.
I am chairman of Crysler Company America.
“Lead, follow, or get out of the way.”
Democraps STILL don’t understand that.
LCD, I remember that now. Thanks for the reminder. A man that pays his debts is a good man.
RIP old friend!
I read His Book back in the Day…I remember that His Boss was worried
that the Southern Folk wouldn’t respond well to “Lee Iacocca”
So He introduced Himself as “Iacocca Lee” and everyone loved Him.
I will also say, going from driving an USAF 4×4 F250 back and forth
to the Arm/De-arm area …to A K-Car sucked ass (85 Homestead AFB)
Lee Iacocca is the ONLY reason I was willing to take another look at buying a Dodge.
As of today, I have owned a Dodge p.u. for the last 25 years.
It’s probably safer to say I own a Cummins that a Dodge but the sheet metal has also been upgraded since Lee.
The man is on a fast ride to heaven.
We had Mach 1s, big block Cyclones and Fairlanes, a GT 350H, and preferred 66 mustangs for racing 350 production until we got a 70 Boss 302 that was pretty well stripped out for track racing. The big blocks were street cars. The Iococa era holds a special allure for me, but if I ever own another Mustang it will be a late model. I have driven box stock GT Mustangs and they would eat the above on a road course. Way more comfortable too. Probably couldn’t hang with a big block 406 tripower, 427 dual quad, 428 or 429 SCJ on a strait up muscle match if the big block were set up right. But it would be close. But the comfortable ride and handling (oh those brakes are sweet) would have me going for a late production.
An honest man. RIP.
@Bobcat – My last duty station was Homestead 76-79!
@JDHasty. Dam, you got me hot. Whew *wipes brow…..
Had a cyclone, JHC was that dangerous. I killed myself a couple undred times in that. And i loved my mustangs. A GT350H??? sheeeeeet man.
I relish the old iron but even at my best all i could do was an engine swap or r&r stuff. Not good at it but BUT I would love another classic. I did have a fox mustang 5.0 and i know the newer is sweeter but….anyone can buy one of those.
His biography was one of the better books I’ve read.
Are we doin’ cars again?
Cuz I found a sweet Mustang for cheap.
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/d/gilbert-1967-ford-mustang-coupe/6924235546.html
Or a Cougar. You know, its a Mustang, but it has power windows.
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/cto/d/glendale-1967-cougar-xr7-390/6925657401.html
No doubt the guy was a genius. Mustang was the ultimate secretary’s car. Omni/Horizon begat the K-car which begat the Minivan that finally saved Chrysler’s bacon back in the 80s. And Lee’s persona helped sell a shitload of them.
To anyone misinformed about the Chrysler “bailout” back in the eighties:
Not one thin dime of government money was paid to Chrysler by the government, i.e. the taxpayer. The government merely acted to co-sign the loan; had Chrysler failed to pay the loan, the government would have been on the hook for it.
Since Chrysler did pay the loan off, WITH INTEREST, the government did not spend any money, did not provide the loan; it cost the taxpayer NOTHING! NADA! ZIP! ZILCH! GOOSE EGG!
So, the government DID NOT “bailout” MoPar. PERIOD. (if you are interested, the operative term was ‘loan guarantees’).
Note to Joe6pack: Lee was associated with the Ford Pinto.
In any event, RIP and thank you, Engineer Iacocca.
Requiescat in Pace Mr. Iacocca……… 94! pretty good run!
I read Lee Iaccoca’s biography book back in the eighties and thoroughly enjoyed every page, and that surprised me just a bit, but he was a great guy and businessman who paid back with honor what Regan loaned his company. RIP Mr. Iaccoca.