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Lee Iacocca, the Man Who Helped Make the Mustang and Saved Chrysler, Dead at 94

On July 3, 2019, the auto industry lost one of the biggest names in its history. Lee Iacocca, the man responsible for some of the most impressive developments for the auto world in the past decades, has died at the age of 94.
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Photo: ntelligentfanatics.com
According to Iacocca's youngest daughter, the former auto executive died of natural causes. No funeral arrangements were immediately made public.

Iacocca started his career in the auto industry in 1946, when he joined Ford as an engineer. His career there didn’t last long and he moved to the Blue Oval’s sales and marketing division, where he became a legend.

He was instrumental in developing the auto loan market, creating in the 1950s a commercial campaign that drew the attention of Ford’s top brass. In 1960, Iacocca was appointed vice-president and general manager of the Ford Division. Ten years later, he became the company’s president.

From his position, the executive had a decisive hand in making the Mustang and several other iconic models like the Continental, Pinto and Escort.

Seeing the rise of the Ford manager, rival company Chrysler, at the time struggling on the verge of collapse, repeatedly tried to get him to change sides. The company managed to do so in the early 1980s and, steered by the hands of Iacocca, saved its business.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Chrysler, now part of a joint company with Fiat, said Iacocca was one of the greatest leaders they had and that it plans on continuing his legacy.

“Lee gave us a mindset that still drives us today – one that is characterized by hard work, dedication and grit,” FCA said.

“His legacy is the resiliency and unshakeable faith in the future that live on in the men and women of FCA who strive every day to live up to the high standards he set.”
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About the author: Daniel Patrascu
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Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies.
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