Lee Iacocca Dies

[Acylum]

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2019/07/03/lee-iacocca-auto-industry-icon-dead-at-94.html

Most people on here probably too young to know him, but he was a huge influence in the auto industry.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I read his autobiography about 25 years ago (or more). It was interesting, but it's been too long ago for me to remember much about it.

 

[Knownothing]

Probably one of the biggest people in the car industry since Ford.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2019/07/03/lee-iacocca-auto-industry-icon-dead-at-94.html

Most people on here probably too young to know him, but he was a huge influence in the auto industry.

With Ford he helped design the Mustang and unfortunately the Pinto as well.

He saved Chrysler in the 80's when they hired him as CEO and he introduced the world to the minivan.

 

[3TrueFans]

he introduced the world to the minivan.

He's a monster.

 

[somecyguy]

I disagreed with some of his ideas, but he helped produce the Mustang, so he's alright in my book.

 

[dmclone]

I remember him being an icon back in the 80's. Looking back, it's hard to see that when you see the kind of junk the Big 3 was putting out during that time.

 

[JP4CY]

I disagreed with some of his ideas, but he helped produce the Mustang, so he's alright in my book.

 

[Acylum]

With Ford he helped design the Mustang and unfortunately the Pinto as well.

He saved Chrysler in the 80's when they hired him as CEO and he introduced the world to the minivan.

I would include the Kcar as well. It's completely conceivable that Chrysler wouldn't be around today without him.

 

[SEIOWA CLONE]

A true American Success story, the mustang and the minivan changed America for the better.

 

[Knownothing]

A true American Success story, the mustang and the minivan changed America for the better.

I hate mini vans.

 

[Acylum]

Good take by Lehto:

 

[NorthCyd]

I would include the Kcar as well. It's completely conceivable that Chrysler wouldn't be around today without him.

My first car was a hand me down Dodge Aries from my parents. It was a piece of crap but it worked.

 

[c.y.c.l.o.n.e.s]

I remember him being an icon back in the 80's. Looking back, it's hard to see that when you see the kind of junk the Big 3 was putting out during that time.

Not attempting to send this to the cave, but the blame wasn't totally on them. They had fuel efficiency standards forced on them by the government due to the fuel crisis and heavy reliance on an unstable mid-east for oil. They were unable to quickly design new engines that could produce good horsepower while still increasing efficiency. The result was under powered,poorly built (lighter) cars. To the government's credit, though, they achieved their goal. Cars by the end of the 80s were 40% more efficient than they were in the 70s.

 

[SEIOWA CLONE]

I hate mini vans.

Great to know, but for a family they are a God sent. Try loading a bunch of kids, car seats and all their crap into a normal vehicle.
In a minivan, they can watch a movie, and play around in the back, while the misses and I can listen to our own music far away from their fooling around.

 

[SEIOWA CLONE]

Not attempting to send this to the cave, but the blame wasn't totally on them. They had fuel efficiency standards forced on them by the government due to the fuel crisis and heavy reliance on an unstable mid-east for oil. They were unable to quickly design new engines that could produce good horsepower while still increasing efficiency. The result was under powered,poorly built (lighter) cars. To the government's credit, though, they achieved their goal. Cars by the end of the 80s were 40% more efficient than they were in the 70s.

American made cars in the 60's and 70's were for the most part junk, the final straw was the gas crisis of 72. Most cars of the period rusted out within 7 to 10 years, were unreliable, and the major reason so many people traded vehicles every few years.

In 72 when the gas crisis hit, and gas prices started to rise, people started to buy the more fuel efficient Japanese cars. What they found out was they not only got better gas mileage, but the damn thing ran forever. 100,000 to 200,000 miles on a car were not unusual. American auto companies would spend the next decade or two trying to play catch up on a market here at home that they had just took for granted.

 

[c.y.c.l.o.n.e.s]

American made cars in the 60's and 70's were for the most part junk, the final straw was the gas crisis of 72. Most cars of the period rusted out within 7 to 10 years, were unreliable, and the major reason so many people traded vehicles every few years.

In 72 when the gas crisis hit, and gas prices started to rise, people started to buy the more fuel efficient Japanese cars. What they found out was they not only got better gas mileage, but the damn thing ran forever. 100,000 to 200,000 miles on a car were not unusual. American auto companies would spend the next decade or two trying to play catch up on a market here at home that they had just took for granted.

Agree completely. And that is the part where the automakers should be blamed. They were very slow to adapt to change.

 

[somecyguy]

American made cars in the 60's and 70's were for the most part junk, the final straw was the gas crisis of 72. Most cars of the period rusted out within 7 to 10 years, were unreliable, and the major reason so many people traded vehicles every few years.

In 72 when the gas crisis hit, and gas prices started to rise, people started to buy the more fuel efficient Japanese cars. What they found out was they not only got better gas mileage, but the damn thing ran forever. 100,000 to 200,000 miles on a car were not unusual. American auto companies would spend the next decade or two trying to play catch up on a market here at home that they had just took for granted.

Totally agree. And they continue to not learn that lesson. They got burned a decade ago when they refused to pay attention to the market when gas prices kept rising. Fat margins on bloated SUVs instead of fuel effeciency. And they are going to get burned again as many of them are dropping cars all together. When gas jumps up $1-2/gallon, people will look to ditch those SUVs and "crossovers" for something that gets better gas mileage. My wife's Equinox with the Ecoboost 4 banger gets worse gas mileage than my Audi V6 engine.

 

[mdclone]

My first car was a hand me down Dodge Aries from my parents. It was a piece of crap but it worked.

Seemed to go plenty fast when you were driving it.

 

[somecyguy]

Seemed to go plenty fast when you were driving it.

If it was anything like my first car, a POS Ford Escort, it was only plenty fast down hill.