A big name in the history of the car industry is no longer: Gale Halderman, the man who wrote the first lines of the first Ford Mustang on paper, died at the age of 87 after a short battle against liver cancer.
In the early 1960s, Ford worked on a new model that particularly appealed to young and sporty customers. It turned out to be a prelude to one of the greatest icons in the history of the American car industry: the Mustang. Under the leadership of Lee Iacocca, a plan was drawn up for the appearance of the newcomer and various employees (including Halderman) started working with that requirement package. Allegedly at his home at the kitchen table, Halderman sketched several cars in the summer of 1962. Iacocca really liked one of those sketches and became the ‘winning’ design.
The winning sketch by Gale Halderman
That design would ultimately largely stem from what became the first Ford Mustang. Not only did the main lines of the Mustang remain the same as Halderman’s design, the ‘grab’ on the side and the three-part rear lights are both exclusive to Halderman’s creations. The 1963 Ford Mustang Concept II (photos 3 and 4) best embodied Halderman’s first sketches and it clearly shows that Ford was already close to the final production version of the Mustang. Halderman also worked on the fastback version with a few colleagues (according to an interview with Halderman from Collectable Automobile without the knowledge of Iacocca). We all know that it eventually came about.
Halderman eventually had a long career with Ford. He worked there for a total of 40 years and played a major role in the creation of various designs. After a period in the Ford truck department, Halderman took the helm of Lincoln and Mercury’s design studio. The Lincolns Continental Mark VI, VII and VIII were designed under the watchful eye of Halderman, among others. Especially the latter remains a very striking car. Still, Halderman, who has had legendary status among Mustang fans for many years, will be especially remembered as the man behind the Mustang.
After his retirement, the American set up a museum in the shed at his birth house, where, in addition to a collection of cars, he also exhibited design sketches by fellow designers and protegees. It almost became a place of pilgrimage for Mustang fans and Halderman was often there to chat and talk about his work. The museum, in Tipp City, Ohio, is well worth a visit if you are ever in the area.