NACAT Member Update
Jim Halderman & Jimmy Dinsmore Write the Book on Mustang Design NACAT member Jim Halderman is known as a textbook author. But he now has a book out that’s different from his normal automotive technology textbooks. He teamed up with ConsuLab’s Jimmy Dinsmore to write a book called Mustang by Design. This book tells the story of Jim’s cousin Gale who was the designer of the original Ford Mustang. Gale worked 40 years at Ford, playing a key role in design, including ascending to Design Director for Ford. It was Gale’s sketch that was chosen, by Lee Iacocca, to become the legendary Ford Mustang. “I’m proud of this book,” Jim said. “Teaming up with Jimmy Dinsmore, who as a long-time automotive journalist was a great collaborative partner. He told Gale’s story in such a great and interesting way that my entire family is proud of it. I know Gale is thrilled with how the book turned out. His story needed to be told.” Mustang by Design contains many historical photos from throughout the Mustang’s design process and multiple generations of this iconic muscle car. There are some never-before-seen photos of concepts as well as interesting stories told by Gale, who worked side-by-side with many legends of the industry. In fact, twice in his career, Gale was Bill Ford Jr.’s boss. Mustang by Design serves as a testament to Gale’s career. “Mustang by Design serves as a non-fiction correction of some of the misinformation of the Mustang,” Jim said. “There’s a lot of tales, rumors, and myths that Gale corrects. He lived through it. He was there with the likes of Iacocca and Hal Sperlich.” In Mustang by Design, there are quotes from an extensive interview with Hal Sperlich, who according to Gale, is really the father of Mustang. When Hal and Iacocca were fired in the late 70s and went to Chrysler, they tried to woo Gale to join them at Chrysler. Gale stayed loyal to Ford and finished out an illustrious career. Gale Halderman’s stellar career at Ford saw him oversee several of the Mustang generations in the 1960s, then he moved on to design the big Lincolns of the 1970s. His culminating career highlight was in 1990 when his design of the Lincoln Town Car was chosen as North American Car of the Year. Gale is a member of the Mustang Club of America’s Hall of Fame. “It’s always inspiring to see Gale at car shows,” Jim said. “The Mustang enthusiasts worship him. He’s beloved amongst the Mustang owners throughout America.” Gale has a museum honoring his career at Ford at their family barn in Tipp City, Ohio. Jim said, “The Halderman barn museum is a treasure. Our fathers were brothers and I know his dad and my dad would be so proud of what he’s done to the family barn. He’s created quite a legacy. And the book is a small part of that legacy,” Jim said. Mustang by Design: Gale Halderman and the Creation of Ford’s Iconic Pony Car is available now on Amazon and at most bookstores, nationwide.
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EPA Airbag Module and Inflator Update The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued, in July 2018, a memorandum clarifying the regulatory status of undeployed automotive airbag modules and airbag inflators, including both those that have never been installed in a vehicle and those removed from vehicles. The memorandom can be viewed at: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-08/documents/airbags_memo_signed_7-19-18.pdf
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