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'''John Najjar Ferzely''' known as '''John Najjar''' (Nov. 11, 1918; Jan. 6, 2011), was a lead [[designer]] and executive [[automotive stylist|stylist]] at [[Ford Motor Company]] for over 40 years.
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He is credited for having co-designed the first prototype of the [[Ford Mustang]] known as [[Ford Mustang I]] with [[Philip T. Clark]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Douglas A. |last=Bakken |first2=David R. |last2=Crippen |title=Automotive Design Oral History Project: Remembering John Najjar |url= http://www.autolife.umd.umich.edu/Design/Najjar3_interview.htm |page=3 |publisher=University of Michigan |date=1981 and 1984 |accessdate=22 July 2012}}</ref>


{{Infobox person
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John Najjar was born to a working-class [[Greek Orthodox Christianity in Lebanon|Greek Orthodox Christian]] [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] family in [[Omaha]], [[Nebraska]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Douglas A. |last=Bakken |first2=David R. |last2=Crippen |title=Automotive Design Oral History Project: Remembering John Najjar |url=http://www.autolife.umd.umich.edu/Design/Najjar1_interview.htm |page=1 |publisher=University of Michigan |date=1981 and 1984 |accessdate=22 July 2012}}</ref> He joined Ford Motor Company's Apprentice School in [[Dearborn, Michigan]]. While working there as a mere [[machinist]], he was approached by [[Henry Ford]] during a plant tour who asked him if he enjoyed his work. John's response that he'd "rather be drawing cars" led to an invitation for him to add his talents to Ford's newly created Design Center. {{Citation needed|date=September 2012}}
|image =
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|name = John Najjar
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1918|11|11}}
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|birth_place = [[Omaha, Nebraska]], U.S.
|death_date = {{Death date and age|2011|01|06|1918|11|11}}
|death_place = [[Sarasota, Florida]], U.S.
|employer = [[Ford Motor Company]]
|awards =
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|}}


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'''John Najjar''' ({{lang-ar|جون نجار}}; {{Birth date|1918|11|11}} – {{Death date|2011|01|06}}) was an American [[designer]] and executive [[automotive stylist|stylist]] at [[Ford Motor Company]]. He is credited for having co-designed the first prototype of the [[Ford Mustang]] known as [[Ford Mustang I]] with [[Philip T. Clark]].<ref>{{cite web|first1=Douglas A. |last1=Bakken |first2=David R. |last2=Crippen |title=Automotive Design Oral History Project: Remembering John Najjar |url= http://www.autolife.umd.umich.edu/Design/Najjar3_interview.htm |page=3 |website=University of Michigan |date=1984 |access-date=23 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.muscularmustangs.com/clark/clarkdrawings.php |title=Original Mustang Designer - Phil Clark or John Najjar? Original Mustang Sketches |website=Muscular Mustangs |access-date=23 December 2014}}</ref>
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He continued working as a designer for Ford for over 40 years. He worked with E. T. Gregorie, George Walker, Elwood Engel, Gene Bordinat and [[Lee Iacocca]]. For many years his work was centered on [[futuristic]] [[show car]]s whose revolutionary features later appeared in many [[Ford]], [[Lincoln (automobile)|Lincoln]] and [[Mercury (automobile)|Mercury]] vehicles.<ref name="Auto Consumers Guide ">{{cite web |author=Auto Editors of ''Consumer Guide'' |title=John Najjar: Designer of the Ford Mustang I Concept Car|url= http://www.auto.howstuffworks.com/john-najjar.htm |publisher=www.auto.howstuffworks.com |date=7 February 2007|accessdate= 22 July 2012 }}</ref>


==Career==
John's Advanced Styling Studio developed the 1962 [[Ford Mustang I]] [[concept car]] - so named because of his love for its namesake, the [[P-51]] Mustang fighter plane. His design talents span decades - from work on the [[M4A3]] Sherman tank and [[B-24]] bomber in the 40s, the 1957-58 [[Lincoln Continental]]s, the XM-800, the soybean car, the LevaCar concept, the Gyron, Detroit's People Mover and Renaissance Center. {{Citation needed|date=September 2012}}
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Najjar was born to a [[Greek Orthodox Christianity in Lebanon|Greek Orthodox Christian]] [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] family in [[Omaha, Nebraska]].<ref>{{cite web|first1=Douglas A. |last1=Bakken |first2=David R. |last2=Crippen |title=Automotive Design Oral History Project: Remembering John Najjar |url= http://www.autolife.umd.umich.edu/Design/Najjar1_interview.htm |page=1 |website=University of Michigan |date=1984 |access-date=23 December 2014}}</ref> He joined Ford Motor Company's Apprentice School in [[Dearborn, Michigan]]. While working there as a [[machinist]], he was approached by [[Henry Ford]] during a plant tour who asked him if he enjoyed his work. Najjar's response that he'd "rather be drawing cars" led to an invitation for him to add his talents to Ford's newly created Design Center.<ref>{{cite web |title=John Najjar Obituary (January 2011) Herald Tribune |url= https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/heraldtribune/name/john-najjar-obituary?id=20939839 |website=legacy.com |access-date=26 July 2022}}</ref>


⚫
He continued working as a designer for Ford for over 40 years. He worked with E. T. Gregorie, George Walker, Elwood Engel, Gene Bordinat, and [[Lee Iacocca]]. For many years his work was centered on [[futuristic]] [[show car]]s whose revolutionary features later appeared in many [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]], [[Lincoln (automobile)|Lincoln]] and [[Mercury (automobile)|Mercury]] vehicles.<ref>{{cite web |title=John Najjar: Designer of the Ford Mustang I Concept Car |url= http://auto.howstuffworks.com/john-najjar.htm |website=How Stuff Works |date=7 February 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210111132158/http://auto.howstuffworks.com/john-najjar.htm |archive-date=11 January 2021 |access-date=26 July 2022}}</ref>
John Najjar also co-designed jointly with fellow Ford Motor Company stylist Bill Schmidt the [[groundbreaking]] [[Lincoln Futura]], a [[futuristic]] [[concept car]] that served as a base for the [[Batmobile]] for the 1966 TV series [[Batman]], as well as for the first movie adaptation of the Batman comics.

The Advanced Styling Studio developed the 1962 [[Ford Mustang I]] [[concept car]] - so named because of Najjar's love for its namesake, the [[North American P-51 Mustang]] fighter plane.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McGlaun |first1=Shane |title=How The Mustang Got Its Name Is A Mystery |url=https://fordauthority.com/2019/09/how-the-mustang-got-its-name-is-a-mystery/ |website=fordauthority.com |date=30 September 2019 |access-date=26 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=It's a Plane! It's a Horse! No, It's the Ford Mustang and One of the World's Favorite Cars |url= https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/features/it_s-a-plane--its-a-horse--no--its-the-ford-mustang-and-one-of-t.html |website=media.ford.com |date=31 October 2013 |access-date=26 July 2022}}</ref> His design contributions span decades and include the [[M4 Sherman|M4A3 Sherman]] tank and [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator|B-24]] bomber in the 1940s, the 1957-58 [[Lincoln Continental]]s, the [[Mercury XM-800]], the LevaCar concept<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.motorcities.org/Story/Remembering+the+Levacar+Mach+I+by+Ford+br+By+Robert+Tate+Automotive+HistorianResearcher+br+ImagesCourtesy+Bob+Tates+collection-342.html |title=Remembering the Levacar Mach I by Ford |date=25 February 2014 |first=Robert |last=Tate |website=Motor Cities |access-date=23 December 2014}}</ref>

Najjar also co-designed jointly with fellow Ford Motor Company stylist Bill Schmidt the [[groundbreaking]] [[Lincoln Futura]], a [[futuristic]] concept car.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Panait |first1=Mircea |title=1955 Lincoln Futura Concept Reimagined As a Low-Riding Roadster |url= https://www.autoevolution.com/news/1955-lincoln-futura-concept-reimagined-as-a-low-riding-roadster-144116.html |website=autoevolution.com |access-date=27 July 2022 |date=26 May 2020}}</ref> It that served as a base for the [[Batmobile]] for the 1966 TV series [[Batman]], as well as for the first movie adaptation of the Batman comics.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bows |first1=Autumn |title=How The Lincoln Futura Became The Batmobile |url= https://www.hotcars.com/ford-lincoln-futura-batmobile/ |website=hotcars.com |access-date=27 July 2022 |date=10 July 2020}}</ref>

Najjar and his wife Virginia retired to [[Sarasota, Florida]], in 1985.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/heraldtribune/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=147765208 |title=John Najjar - Obituary |newspaper=Herald Tribune |date=12 January 2011 |access-date=23 December 2014}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


*{{cite web|url= http://www.coachbuilt.com/des/n/najjar/najjar.htm |title=John Najjar 1918-2011 |website=Coachbuilt |access-date=23 December 2014}}
{{Persondata

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| NAME = John Najjar

| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American automobile designer
| DATE OF BIRTH = Nov. 11, 1918
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| PLACE OF BIRTH = Omaha, Nebraska
| DATE OF DEATH = Jan. 6, 2011
| PLACE OF DEATH =
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}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Najjar, John}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Najjar, John}}
[[Category:People in the automobile industry]]
[[Category:Ford designers]]
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[[Category:Ford people]]
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[[Category:Ford executives]]
[[Category:American automobile designers]]
[[Category:American automobile designers]]
[[Category:People from Omaha, Nebraska]]
[[Category:Artists from Omaha, Nebraska]]
[[Category:People from Dearborn, Michigan]]
[[Category:People from Dearborn, Michigan]]
[[Category:American people of Lebanese descent]]
[[Category:American people of Lebanese descent]]
[[Category:American people of Levantine-Greek Orthodox Christian descent]]
[[Category:People from Koura District]]
[[Category:Antiochian Orthodox Christians]]
[[Category:Members of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch]]
[[Category:1918 births]]
[[Category:1918 births]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
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[[Category:Ford people]]
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[[Category:Ford Mustang]]

Latest revision as of 17:16, 2 October 2023

John Najjar
Born(1918-11-11)November 11, 1918
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
DiedJanuary 6, 2011(2011-01-06) (aged 92)
Sarasota, Florida, U.S.
EmployerFord Motor Company

John Najjar (Arabic: جون نجار; (1918-11-11)November 11, 1918 – (2011-01-06)January 6, 2011) was an American designer and executive stylist at Ford Motor Company. He is credited for having co-designed the first prototype of the Ford Mustang known as Ford Mustang I with Philip T. Clark.[1][2]

Career[edit]

Najjar was born to a Greek Orthodox Christian Lebanese family in Omaha, Nebraska.[3] He joined Ford Motor Company's Apprentice School in Dearborn, Michigan. While working there as a machinist, he was approached by Henry Ford during a plant tour who asked him if he enjoyed his work. Najjar's response that he'd "rather be drawing cars" led to an invitation for him to add his talents to Ford's newly created Design Center.[4]

He continued working as a designer for Ford for over 40 years. He worked with E. T. Gregorie, George Walker, Elwood Engel, Gene Bordinat, and Lee Iacocca. For many years his work was centered on futuristic show cars whose revolutionary features later appeared in many Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles.[5]

The Advanced Styling Studio developed the 1962 Ford Mustang I concept car - so named because of Najjar's love for its namesake, the North American P-51 Mustang fighter plane.[6][7] His design contributions span decades and include the M4A3 Sherman tank and B-24 bomber in the 1940s, the 1957-58 Lincoln Continentals, the Mercury XM-800, the LevaCar concept[8]

Najjar also co-designed jointly with fellow Ford Motor Company stylist Bill Schmidt the groundbreaking Lincoln Futura, a futuristic concept car.[9] It that served as a base for the Batmobile for the 1966 TV series Batman, as well as for the first movie adaptation of the Batman comics.[10]

Najjar and his wife Virginia retired to Sarasota, Florida, in 1985.[11]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Bakken, Douglas A.; Crippen, David R. (1984). "Automotive Design Oral History Project: Remembering John Najjar". University of Michigan. p. 3. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  2. ^ "Original Mustang Designer - Phil Clark or John Najjar? Original Mustang Sketches". Muscular Mustangs. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  3. ^ Bakken, Douglas A.; Crippen, David R. (1984). "Automotive Design Oral History Project: Remembering John Najjar". University of Michigan. p. 1. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  4. ^ "John Najjar Obituary (January 2011) Herald Tribune". legacy.com. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  5. ^ "John Najjar: Designer of the Ford Mustang I Concept Car". How Stuff Works. February 7, 2007. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  6. ^ McGlaun, Shane (September 30, 2019). "How The Mustang Got Its Name Is A Mystery". fordauthority.com. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  7. ^ "It's a Plane! It's a Horse! No, It's the Ford Mustang and One of the World's Favorite Cars". media.ford.com (Press release). October 31, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  8. ^ Tate, Robert (February 25, 2014). "Remembering the Levacar Mach I by Ford". Motor Cities. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  9. ^ Panait, Mircea (May 26, 2020). "1955 Lincoln Futura Concept Reimagined As a Low-Riding Roadster". autoevolution.com. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  10. ^ Bows, Autumn (July 10, 2020). "How The Lincoln Futura Became The Batmobile". hotcars.com. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  11. ^ "John Najjar - Obituary". Herald Tribune. January 12, 2011. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
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