Was there a single automotive designer for the, say, 83-88 t-bird or was it a team of designers? Were they responsible for the cougar also or were there completly different design teams? Anyone have an idea? Thanks.
Jack Telnack was the main design chief at Ford. He was solely responsible for the overall design approval for the cars. Gary Senior worked on the Fox and MN12 cars. There was an understudy working at Ford that actually came up with the rear window design for the Cougar. I have some info at home that I can dig up if you want.
No need to go to any trouble. I just never knew if there were any names associated with the design of our cars. Are these guys still around?
I think they're all retired now...I know Jack Telnack is.
For the record--1983 Cougar/T-Bird Design Team:
Jack Telnack - Director of International, Special Vehicles and Advanced Concept Design at Ford
John Aiken - Design Executive Chief
Allen Ornes - Studio Manager in charge of Cougar/T-Bird design
Gary Haas - Assistant to Allen Ornes; designer of the Cougar's vertical backlight and C-shaped window
1987 Redesign:
David Turner - Studio Manager
Gerry Senior - Senior Designer; responsible for 20th and 25th Anniversary Cougar
This is the most complete information I have.
And who can we thank for the MN12's. Just curios if it was the same guys who did the 87 - 88.
Short Answer: Jack Telnack
Long Answer: Jack Telnack and his team of designers
Really Long Answer: Telnack, his team, and the visionary management of Donald Peterson.
More about Peterson here:
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1316/is_v18/ai_4473382
Since the TBird was so popular, there are probably some books that were published specifically about the TBird and you may even find one or two that cover the past five decades.
A good place describing the Cougar of the 80's and it's designers is the book that came out with the 20th, "Mercury Cougar 1967-1987" by Gary Witzenburg.
Of course, for anyone (not you, bduly) who hasn't found it yet, I can't let it go unsaid that the best place available to us with information about these cats is http://www.coolcats.net, the Fox Cougar ahthoritah.
Answers here:
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3165/is_n10_v24/ai_6732168