Robert McNamara, father of the Ford Falcon, dead at 93 [w/VIDEO]
Click above to watch video after the jump
Former Ford President Robert McNamara passed away in his sleep yesterday at the age of 93. McNamara joined the Blue Oval in 1946 and quickly ascended the ranks, becoming the General Manager of the Ford Division in 1955.
During McNamara's tenure, the Ford brand bested Chevrolet in U.S. sales for the first time in 22 years. McNamara's biggest success was the 1960 Ford Falcon, which sold 500,000 units in its first year. McNamara also made the decision to convert the sexy two seat Thunderbird into the less attractive but more salable four-seat version. As unattractive as that decision seemed at the time, Thunderbird sales increased four-fold after the change.
After only one month as President of Ford Motor Company, McNamara went to Washington to be the Secretary of Defense for John F. Kennedy. He held the position until 1968. After his time in politics, McNamara spent 12 years as the head of the World Bank. Hit the jump to watch a commercial touting the 1960 Ford lineup, including the introduction of the Falcon.
[Sources: Mustang Monthly; Autoweek]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
John P. 8:09AM (7/07/2009)
I really like and would drive any one of those 3 Fords. Rest in Peace Mr. McNamara.
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Jay Evans 8:39AM (7/07/2009)
Since the Falcon was the basis for the Mustang that would make McNamara the Mustang's Grandfather.
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jon 10:27AM (7/07/2009)
so does that make the 'Golf of Tonkin Resolution' like, the uncle or something?
Jay Evans 8:42AM (7/07/2009)
My Dad had a 60 Galaxie Starliner that I remember well and my first car was a 62 Falcon Deluxe.
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Tdogg 8:45AM (7/07/2009)
Some of the best cars in America was in the 60's and very early 70's. It all went downhill after that oil crisis.
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Swede 9:09AM (7/07/2009)
Wow that guy's been busy!
Sell cars - check
Invade Vietnam - check
Exterminate diseases in Africa - check
Creating huge goverment debt in developing countries by lending out enormous sums which was used to buy guns instead of food - check
Stop nuclear wepons proliferation - check
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Glenn 9:20AM (7/07/2009)
Swede,
You forgot develop plan to firebomb japan leading to 900,000 civilian deaths.
but win war so your not a war criminal
CHECK
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MM 9:37AM (7/07/2009)
Makes me misty eyed for the heyday of the U.S. military industrial complex.
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Sanders 10:30AM (7/07/2009)
This guy is New World Order material. And so the chess master moves his pieces...
Holden Miecranc 9:47AM (7/07/2009)
Ford outsold Chevrolet in 1957 due to the prolonged UAW strike against GM, not because of product.
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Larry in Miami 2:38PM (7/07/2009)
Not because the 57 Ford Fairline 500 was all new bumper to bumper, and the 57 Bel-Air was a face-lifted, and tail pinched 55? It was received as an "ugly duckling" when it came out, only in later years did it become so beloved, even by me.
Joan of Arc 9:53AM (7/07/2009)
I agree American cars were outstanding in those early days... I don't know what happened to them, but it looks like Ford's coming back... let's see it from Chrysler and GM! It'd be nice to have a balanced industry!
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Tal 10:00AM (7/07/2009)
The S.O.B. was the grand architect of the Vietnam War..he along with Lyndon "F...king" Johnson just about destroyed this country. The veterans of that period have him to thank for their nightmares.
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David Woodbury 10:41AM (7/07/2009)
There's no doubt that McNamara left his mark. A couple of good books that cover his life, particularly in the auto industry are "The Reckoning" and "The Whiz Kids."
Wikipedia's "The Whiz Kids" entry is a pretty good summary.
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4DSC_Man 10:17AM (7/07/2009)
My 1961 Ford Falcon Futura will pour out a little oil for it's home boy
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jon 10:24AM (7/07/2009)
despite his many mistakes (starting and escalating the Vietnam war, to name one) I have tremendous respect for this man and the vast accomplishments he has made throughout his life. I never knew he was in charge of Ford, but this only increases the level of respect i have for this larger than life man, RIP Robert McNamara.
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psijas73 10:31AM (7/07/2009)
Robert McNamara, father of the Vietnam War wich caused 3 to 4 million Vietnamese deaths, 1.5 to 2 million Laotians and Cambodians deaths, and 58,159 U.S. deaths.
God Job M.F!!
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Rick C. 10:53AM (7/07/2009)
He admitted the war was wrong on all fronts. He was just taking advice from certain military, political, industrial and yes, religious, circles--with an agenda. No different than Iraq.
tuna 1:58PM (7/07/2009)
Those excuses do not wash the blood from his hands, Rick.
creigs9 11:16AM (7/07/2009)
It needs to be added that he admitted that Vietnam war was terribly wrong, and apolgized for our involvement. I sure thats nothing for the people and their families who lost loved ones, and had their lives devastated. People thought very differently in the 60's. The 60 Fords were great looking cars. My X-Wife had a 60 galaxy 4 door. We drove it from 1977 until 1980, lent it to he Uncle who promptly totaled it.
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