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Tag: lee iacocca

September 20, 1979 – Lee Iacocca elected chairman of Chrysler
20Sep By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
This Day

September 20, 1979 – Lee Iacocca elected chairman of Chrysler

Industry giant Lido “Lee” Anthony Iacocca was elected chairman of Chrysler on this day in 1979, 10 months after joining the company as president. It was Lee’s career at Ford Motor Company that would lead him to the top of Chrysler. As a vice president at Ford more than a decade prior Iacocca was instrumental in the introduction of the Ford Mustang. From there he forecast the need for fuel efficient, domestically made cars, which led to the development of the Pinto. He became president of Ford in 1970 but Henry Ford II fired him unceremoniously in 1978. He attributed the event to fundamentally different business ideologies than those of Ford II (even though Ford saw a profit of more than $2 billion in Iacocca’s final year). Above: Iacocca leaning on Mustang (NY Times). Top: Iacocca with...
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December 10, 1970 – Lee Iacocca elected President of Ford Motor Company
10Dec By Automotive History4 Comments
This Day

December 10, 1970 – Lee Iacocca elected President of Ford Motor Company

On this day in 1970 Lido Anthony “Lee” Iacocca became the president of Ford Motor Company. He would serve in the role for nearly eight years before a jealous Henry Ford II kicked him to the curb. His career in the auto industry is the stuff of legend, and it may have never happened if not for getting sick. Due to a childhood illness, Lee was barred from service during WWII. Though this may have saved his life, Lee recalled wanting nothing more than to fly a bomber over Nazi Germany. Unable to join the fight, Lee took the opportunity to study engineering at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He would later attend Princeton before joining Ford’s own educational engineering program. Following his graduation from the Ford institution he became an engineer with the company. He soon found a ...
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October 15, 1924 – Lee Iacocca is born
15Oct By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
Features, This Day

October 15, 1924 – Lee Iacocca is born

On this day in 1924 Lido Anthony “Lee” Iacocca was born. During his career he would achieve many incredible feats throughout the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s at Ford and Chrysler, making him one of the most influential drivers of the industry (pun intended!).  Due to a childhood illness, Lee was barred from service during WWII. Though this may have saved his life, Lee recalled wanting nothing more than to fly a bomber over Nazi Germany. Unable to join the fight, Lee took the opportunity to study engineering at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He would later attend Princeton before joining Ford’s own educational engineering program. Following his graduation from the Ford institution he became an engineer with the company. He soon found a better fit in sales and marketing after being ...
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