Lee Iacocca, RIP

Newport 66

Old Man with a Hat
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Passed away today at 94 yrs old....

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RIP Lee, and thanks for everything...even the Mustang.
For if there'd been no Mustang, 'Cudas, Challengers and Javelins would have nothing to beat.
 
I read his biography circa 1983, after reading the John DeLorean book "On A Clear Day, You Can See General Motors" the prior year. BOTH books together, then positioned against Bob Lutz's book "GUTS" will give you a pretty good representation of how things were in the automotive industry in the '50s and later. VERY interesting!

"Chairman Lee" was the right person at Chrysler at the right time in its history. He brought over some former Ford people later on, which helped. He had supreme confidence in Chrysler products, which also helped a bunch! From what Tom Gale mentioned about some of Lee's "desired styling features" (i.e., straight belt-line moldings at the bottom of the door windows) and very possibly the "pillared hardtop" 4-door styling (which Ford had used), Lee got his way on those things. Which made the later LH cars just that much more striking in appearance, by comparison.

There was a second Iacocca book, after the LH cars had been out and Chairman Lee wanted back in at Chrysler (after his retirement). He and Kirk Kerkorian were allegedly working together to get support for that move. The book states that Tom Gale didn't want that to happen, so he flew to Vegas and "crashed the party". I have no doubt that in order to keep Iacocca out, the whole situation of merging with Daimler was started that evening. And we all know how that worked out!

Chairman Lee did pretty much save Chrysler, at the time. For that,, we can be thankful and appreciative of his actions. RIP, sir.

Just some thoughts,
CBODY67
 
I read his biography circa 1983, after reading the John DeLorean book "On A Clear Day, You Can See General Motors" the prior year. BOTH books together, then positioned against Bob Lutz's book "GUTS" will give you a pretty good representation of how things were in the automotive industry in the '50s and later. VERY interesting!
I did the same, but in reverse.
First the autobiography of Iacocca (in 1985), then the John DeLorean book (in 1996).
I agree, it's a great dive in the US automotive industry from the "Golden Years".
 
R.I.P. :(
Lee leaned pretty hard on my dad and 2 others, known internally at Chrysler Financial as the 3 Musketeers, to help him pull Chrysler through.
 
Thanks to Lee, Chrysler was there for me to get a job!
The rest is history.

Thanks, Lee!!
 
One aspect of his success was dealing with the unions. His ability to give Chrysler some breathing room in negotiations was another reason the Company still exists. RIP
 
I'm SO going to restore a LeBaron with a big paper mache Lee Iacocca head on it.


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