Hal Sperlich, Man Behind the Ford Mustang, Dies at 95

Hal Sperlich, known as the “godfather” of the Ford Mustang and chief architect of that iconic model, died on January 20, 2025, at the age of 95.

A mechanical engineer turned product strategist, he was the last surviving member of the trio behind the Mustang, alongside Lee Iacocca and Gale Halderman, who died in 2019 and 2020 respectively. Sperlich is survived by his wife of 11 years, Dr. D'Anne Kleinsmith. His passing has prompted tributes from across the industry, including from Ford CEO Jim Farley.

Hal Sperlich's legacy at Ford
Sperlich joined Ford in 1957 as a product planner. In the 1960s, he foresaw the importance of creating smaller and more accessible vehicles, in line with the expectations of the youth of the time. He convinced Ford – with some difficulty - to develop an affordable, elegant and customizable car: the Mustang.

Launched in 1964, the revolutionary pony car has just celebrated its 60th anniversary, proof of its timeless success.

Sperlich also played a key role in the creation in 1967 of the Ford Fiesta, the brand's first front-wheel-drive subcompact and a model that marked Ford's entry into the fast-growing European market.

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