L. David Ash

Ash also worked on the styling of the Presidential Parade car — the vehicle in which U.S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

[1] As Lee Iacocca's assistant general manager and chief engineer, Donald N. Frey, was the head engineer for the Mustang project — supervising the development of the Mustang in a record 18 months[2][3] — while Iacocca himself championed the project as Ford Division general manager.

Ash, in a 1985 interview — with David R.Crippen, Curator of special Collections, Archives & Record Center at the Henry Ford Museum — speaking of the origin of the Mustang design, when asked the degree of his contribution, said: I would say substantial.

[1]Joe Oros, speaking about the design of the Mustang: I guided the overall appearance, especially the front end, but Dave Ash, Gale Halderman, and John Foster did an outstanding job in guiding the Mustang's development with the various committees that came through the studio -- manufacturing, engineering, product planning.

Charlie Phaneuf, another manager with a lot of ideas, also helped tremendously, as did the interior studio headed by Damon Woods.

Ash distinctively raised the height of the rear fenders and upper back panel (two inches higher than the Thunderbird), thereby giving Mark III a hunched look that recalled cars of the 1920s.