61polara 454 Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 https://jalopnik.com/auto-industry-legend-lee-iacocca-dead-at-94-1836060734 Automotive giant Lee Iacocca died this morning. Link to post Share on other sites
keiser31 5,702 Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 Very sad to hear. He was quite talented in so many ways. Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Gregory 689 Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 (edited) I remember him well during the Chrysler crisis and he inspired me with his confidence . I remember when I worked in construction we had a Chrysler imperial drawn in on the driveway of an artists perspective of the front of a new building Edited July 3, 2019 by Mark Gregory (see edit history) Link to post Share on other sites
John_S_in_Penna 3,253 Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 (edited) A few years ago, I was thinking of interviewing him for our AACA regional newsletter. I wanted his insights about the limited selection of today's options, in contrast to prior years. However, one person who knew him said he wasn't doing so well, even then, so I interviewed a different car executive. He must have been an interesting man--- Edited July 3, 2019 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history) Link to post Share on other sites
knee-action 60 Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 My favorite auto industry.person. His books are great. Link to post Share on other sites
zepher 816 Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 Sad to hear he has passed. He changed the auto industry in countless ways. Link to post Share on other sites
victorialynn2 1,560 Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 Sad to hear. My dad has at least one of his books in his garage. I’ve been meaning to read it. Link to post Share on other sites
1937hd45 3,213 Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 He made a huge mark on the American auto industry but will be remembered for the restoration of The Statue of Liberty as well. Bob 1 Link to post Share on other sites
J3Studio 347 Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 (edited) Many things are being written about him. I'll just say: Ford Mustang, Lincoln Continental Mark III, Dodge Aries/Plymouth Reliant, Dodge Caravan/Plymouth Voyager. https://eightiescars.com/2019/07/03/1981-plymouth-reliant/ Edited July 3, 2019 by J3Studio (see edit history) Link to post Share on other sites
8E45E 1,119 Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 Lee Iacocca was an excellent marketing man, as his efforts with his "$56 for '56" new-car financing campaign, bringing the Mustang and the Continental Mark III to market showed when he worked for Ford. But despite his early success with marketing the K-cars and the T-115 mini-vans, arguably, his best move while he was at Chrysler was purchasing Jeep/Eagle from Renault to get the iconic Jeep brand, which contributes to FCA's success in no small way to this day. Craig 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Pfeil 609 Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 7 hours ago, 8E45E said: Lee Iacocca was an excellent marketing man, as his efforts with his "$56 for '56" new-car financing campaign, bringing the Mustang and the Continental Mark III to market showed when he worked for Ford. But despite his early success with marketing the K-cars and the T-115 mini-vans, arguably, his best move while he was at Chrysler was purchasing Jeep/Eagle from Renault to get the iconic Jeep brand, which contributes to FCA's success in no small way to this day. Craig I'll just add, there is something to be said for these geniuses. It seems to be the really great ones come from a engineering background. Iacocca had a degree in industrial engineering. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
marcapra 68 Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 Chrysler Corp. would have died in the early 80s if they had not hired Iacocca. He literately raised them from the dead! I still remember that great commercial of Lee with Frank Sinatra trying to get people to buy Chrysler again. It was lucky for Chrysler that Ford had fired him. I read his autobiography back in the 80s and it is worth reading even today! Marc. Link to post Share on other sites
42319DB34 41 Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 The loss of a True Visionary , He shall be missed ...... Link to post Share on other sites
60FlatTop 6,243 Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 I was never a fan of Chrysler products so I was pretty excited when he came onto the scene. They knew it at home too. Book is still at my fingertips. That was back in the days of Global Warming and I wondered why he was spending so much time restoring the Statue of Liberty when it was going to be under water. He must have known it was changing to Climate Change. He had a tough job cleaning up Chrysler. Bernie 1 Link to post Share on other sites
8E45E 1,119 Posted July 4, 2019 Share Posted July 4, 2019 13 hours ago, marcapra said: I read his autobiography back in the 80s and it is worth reading even today! Marc. I also highly recommend the book, An American Icon: Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Company by Bryce G. Hoffman, if you like corporate boardroom drama. A VERY good read, actually. Mulally had to face the same stale management 'team' at Ford in 2006, just as Iacocca did when he first joined Chrysler in 1978. Craig Link to post Share on other sites
MochetVelo 397 Posted July 4, 2019 Share Posted July 4, 2019 (edited) Here is Lee Iacocca's appearance on Leno's YouTube show back in '83. Edited July 4, 2019 by MochetVelo (see edit history) Link to post Share on other sites
Mikefit 133 Posted July 4, 2019 Share Posted July 4, 2019 VL2. Please take time to read his books I read lots of books but his books and life was one that I could not stop I did a binge reading ( my English teacher would be proud ) take care and be safe. Mike 1 Link to post Share on other sites
B Jake Moran 602 Posted July 4, 2019 Share Posted July 4, 2019 Reading Robert Lacey's book on Ford gave me the insight into Iacocca. When you add the fact that he was prominent in my formative years, I can really relate to his passing away. Everyone should read Lacey's book on the Fords. By now, they are likely $2.00 on Amazon, and the author is/was a crazy researcher who somehow gained unprecedented access to his subjects. Iacocca was not perfect. He had a huge ego but that ego served him well. He was able to lead, sometimes making mistakes. I like the fact that he challenged Henry Ford II for leadership of Ford. Ford did O.K. after he was fired, but with him I suspect they would have done much better. I never sent him a letter, but I did send him an email a couple of years ago. I received a response. I asked him his opinions on the 1981-83 Imperials as I had just read the article in Collectible Automobile on them and was considering buying one as a collector car. The response was "Mr Iacocca states that the Imperials were one of his favorite cars while chairman of Chrysler but they were old before they were sold." I listened carefully to the Leno interview, and he is a shell of his former self by this time, as expected. But let's face it, he lived and worked and played with titans in the industry during the golden years of the automobile. We wish we could have been so lucky. I never read his books, I am not necessarily a fan of those types of books. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
victorialynn2 1,560 Posted July 4, 2019 Share Posted July 4, 2019 (edited) 21 hours ago, 60FlatTop said: I was never a fan of Chrysler products so I was pretty excited when he came onto the scene. They knew it at home too. Book is still at my fingertips. What a thoughtful gift. That’s the book in my dad’s office. I believe I spared it from the sales as I do intend to read it. I distinctly remember him saving Chrysler. I graduated HS in 83 and it was around then that he was involved. Edited July 4, 2019 by victorialynn2 (see edit history) Link to post Share on other sites
victorialynn2 1,560 Posted July 4, 2019 Share Posted July 4, 2019 8 hours ago, Mikefit said: VL2. Please take time to read his books I read lots of books but his books and life was one that I could not stop I did a binge reading ( my English teacher would be proud ) take care and be safe. Mike Thanks. I’ve heard it’s a great read. I believe my father is in his last days, so I’m sure I will return to Tx soon. 😔 He’s loosing weight and not eating well. Link to post Share on other sites
knee-action 60 Posted July 5, 2019 Share Posted July 5, 2019 (edited) Back in 1989, my then twelve year old son Mike made a sketch of Lee Iacocca. Pretty good likeness. So Mike sent it to Mr. Iacocca. See Mr. Iacocca’s reply attached. Today, Mike is a top Oncologist in the Memphis area. Bill Martin Germantown, Tennessee Edited July 5, 2019 by knee-action fixed attachment (see edit history) 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Mikefit 133 Posted July 5, 2019 Share Posted July 5, 2019 VL2. My prayers go with you and your dad he had to be one great father and an inspiration to all around him. Mike 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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