[DeTomaso] L Bumpers—the designer’s story!

[Mike Drew]

Hi guys,

I was fascinated to receive this a few minutes ago. All this time people (mostly thanks to Wally Wyss’s books) attributed the design of the L-Model bumpers to Tom Tjaarda, as unlikely as that was considering the timeline of its introduction and the relationship between De Tomaso and Ford at that time. Turns out it was a kid working in an unknown corner of the Ford design studio in Detroit that came up with it!  He writes:

Hello Mr. Drew.

I recently saw a great review of Jay Lenos
Pantera with your sharing background
Data and history. It was exciting.

I believe Jay's Pantera was a 72 which was
Pre 74 75 federal impact requirments, concerning high low impact, corner hits etc.

Well, I am the retired Ford Designer who
Was responsible for the front black impact
Bumper and Tom Holka our studio engineer 
Defined,the simple, functional rear black
Horizontal bumper.

We both worked in Larry Shinoda's Ford
Design studio. Stephen Scheer was executive
Ken Nelson was studio chief. Tom Land
Was my Design manager and I was a little
Over 3 years into my tenure as a Senior
Designer. 

The assignment to federalize the Pantera
Happened pretty quick. Less than a week.
We were moving fast as talk of canceling
Pantera, due to the new and restrictive
High and low hit federal impact rules
Were going to destroy the aesthetic
Of the 72 DeTomaso, Tom Tjaarda
Design.

Basically nobody wanted to touch the
Assignment as a no win corporate
Political process, besides....their
Was an internal battle going on to
Design, engineer an all new 1975
Pantera with integrated body color
Front and rear bumpers with Lasers to
Ghilbi flying buttress pillars. It was
Pretty cool but we still had to get
The current Pantera to that timeline
So I was given the ( see what the kid can
Do) and if the project went south
It was on me. I didn't care as it was
Just exciting anyhow.

Clay modeler was Sam Borg. Outstanding
Modeler and artist. I did a quick sketch
And Sam just made the sketch look
So much better. I mean.....the hi and low
Hit began to define the form.
Black color was cost saving and it
Just evolved in a short 3 or 4 days.
One week total.

The rear number was a bar...extended
From the body and defined by a section
That would be as non controversial
As possible....and Tom Holka, studio
Engineer was mostly responsible as
There really was nothing aesthetic we could
Do. The rear bumper was defined solely
On function, with a little sex to the shape
And that was it.

Of course nobody liked the results
And the thought at the time was
Ford would move forward with all
New 75 Pantera....and these impact
Bumpers placed on the pure 72
Shape would be temporary.

However, 75 Design theme was never
Approved. There was some serious
Political fallout from DeTomaso
And the bean counters. 

Larry Shinoda at this time actually
Proposed a brand new Pantera
Design that would be a Ford in house
Proposal and had the backing
Of Bunkie Knudsen. However the
Political battles going on were
Much darker than any of us could
See and Mr. Iacocca was able to
Do an end run around both
Knudsen and Shinoda...with the new
Concept of Shinoda's Pantera Design
Being killed at the little stage.

It was of course, an absolute thrilling
Design that would be iconic today
If It had ever evolved to production.

Anyhow. I thought you might Enjoy
Some background on Pantera trivia.

I am semi retired. Inventing a few
Concepts. Painting automotive fine
Art and freelance Design etc.

My latest Design concept that I've
Been able to bring to maker with 
help of investor is a new Truck Bed
Cap called AERO X from MVS.

Kind of a radical out of the box fastback
Truck cap that so far has been well
Received....of course also criticized.
It's not for everyone hah hah.

Anyhow, I enjoyed your Pantera
Passion, and knowledge. I wish
You the best and keep in touch
If I can share a few stories from that
Era.

I was actually laid off from Ford Design
During Arab oil crisis and never went
Back. Spent,7 years in California
And then in 82 came back to Detroit
And joined ASC Design working
For Mark Trostle and Mr. Heinz Prechter.

Take care and many blessings.

Cheers
Christopher Dowdey

PS Tom Holka is correct spelling of studio
Engineer in Larry Shinoda's studio.

He also worked on Bricklin design
With Herb Grass after hours.
Talented engineer....

——

Wow. Almost 50 years later and we are still learning things about these cars every day!

Mike

Sent from my iPad
-------------- next part --------------
   Hi guys,

   I was fascinated to receive this a few minutes ago. All this time
   people (mostly thanks to Wally Wyss's books) attributed the design of
   the L-Model bumpers to Tom Tjaarda, as unlikely as that was considering
   the timeline of its introduction and the relationship between De Tomaso
   and Ford at that time. Turns out it was a kid working in an unknown
   corner of the Ford design studio in Detroit that came up with it!  He
   writes:

   Hello Mr. Drew.

   I recently saw a great review of Jay Lenos

   [1]Pantera with your sharing background

   Data and history. It was exciting.

   I believe Jay's [2]Pantera was a 72 which was

   Pre 74 75 federal impact requirments, concerning high low impact,
   corner hits etc.

   Well, I am the retired Ford Designer who

   Was responsible for the front black impact

   Bumper and Tom Holka our studio engineer

   Defined,the simple, functional rear black

   Horizontal bumper.

   We both worked in Larry Shinoda's Ford

   Design studio. Stephen Scheer was executive

   Ken Nelson was studio chief. Tom Land

   Was my Design manager and I was a little

   Over 3 years into my tenure as a Senior

   Designer.

   The assignment to federalize the [3]Pantera

   Happened pretty quick. Less than a week.

   We were moving fast as talk of canceling

   [4]Pantera, due to the new and restrictive

   High and low hit federal impact rules

   Were going to destroy the aesthetic

   Of the 72 DeTomaso, Tom Tjaarda

   Design.

   Basically nobody wanted to touch the

   Assignment as a no win corporate

   Political process, besides....their

   Was an internal battle going on to

   Design, engineer an all new 1975

   [5]Pantera with integrated body color

   Front and rear bumpers with Lasers to

   Ghilbi flying buttress pillars. It was

   Pretty cool but we still had to get

   The current [6]Pantera to that timeline

   So I was given the ( see what the kid can

   Do) and if the project went south

   It was on me. I didn't care as it was

   Just exciting anyhow.

   Clay modeler was Sam Borg. Outstanding

   Modeler and artist. I did a quick sketch

   And Sam just made the sketch look

   So much better. I mean.....the hi and low

   Hit began to define the form.

   Black color was cost saving and it

   Just evolved in a short 3 or 4 days.

   One week total.

   The rear number was a bar...extended

   From the body and defined by a section

   That would be as non controversial

   As possible....and Tom Holka, studio

   Engineer was mostly responsible as

   There really was nothing aesthetic we could

   Do. The rear bumper was defined solely

   On function, with a little sex to the shape

   And that was it.

   Of course nobody liked the results

   And the thought at the time was

   Ford would move forward with all

   New 75 [7]Pantera....and these impact

   Bumpers placed on the pure 72

   Shape would be temporary.

   However, 75 Design theme was never

   Approved. There was some serious

   Political fallout from DeTomaso

   And the bean counters.

   Larry Shinoda at this time actually

   Proposed a brand new [8]Pantera

   Design that would be a Ford in house

   Proposal and had the backing

   Of Bunkie Knudsen. However the

   Political battles going on were

   Much darker than any of us could

   See and Mr. Iacocca was able to

   Do an end run around both

   Knudsen and Shinoda...with the new

   Concept of Shinoda's [9]Pantera Design

   Being killed at the little stage.

   It was of course, an absolute thrilling

   Design that would be iconic today

   If It had ever evolved to production.

   Anyhow. I thought you might Enjoy

   Some background on [10]Pantera trivia.

   I am semi retired. Inventing a few

   Concepts. Painting automotive fine

   Art and freelance Design etc.

   My latest Design concept that I've

   Been able to bring to maker with

   help of investor is a new Truck Bed

   Cap called AERO X from MVS.

   Kind of a radical out of the box fastback

   Truck cap that so far has been well

   Received....of course also criticized.

   It's not for everyone hah hah.

   Anyhow, I enjoyed your [11]Pantera

   Passion, and knowledge. I wish

   You the best and keep in touch

   If I can share a few stories from that

   Era.

   I was actually laid off from Ford Design

   During Arab oil crisis and never went

   Back. Spent,7 years in California

   And then in 82 came back to Detroit

   And joined ASC Design working

   For Mark Trostle and Mr. Heinz Prechter.

   Take care and many blessings.

   Cheers
   Christopher Dowdey
   PS Tom Holka is correct spelling of studio
   Engineer in Larry Shinoda's studio.
   He also worked on Bricklin design
   With Herb Grass after hours.
   Talented engineer....
   ----
   Wow. Almost 50 years later and we are still learning things about these
   cars every day!
   Mike

   Sent from my iPad

References

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   6. x-apple-data-detectors://6/
   7. x-apple-data-detectors://7/
   8. x-apple-data-detectors://8/
   9. x-apple-data-detectors://9/
  10. x-apple-data-detectors://11/
  11. x-apple-data-detectors://12/