Jack Telnack

Jack Telnack
Born	John J. Telnack 1937 (age 87–88)
Education	ArtCenter College of Design
Occupation	automobile designer
Employer	Ford Motor Company
Spouse	Marguerite McCarthy Senter

John J. Telnack (born 1937) is the former global Vice President of Design of the Ford Motor Company from 1980 to 1997. He is best known for his work with cars like the 1979 Ford Mustang (third generation), the 1983 Ford Thunderbird (ninth generation), and the 1986 Ford Taurus.

Early life

John J. Telnack was born on April 1, 1937, in Detroit.^{[ citation needed ]} His father worked as a foreman at the Rouge River Ford Motor Company plant in Dearborn, Michigan. Telnack received a scholarship from Ford and attended the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California. He graduated in 1958. ^{[1] [2]}

Career

The third generation 1979 Ford Mustang Liftback (Les chauds vendredis '14)

Australian XA Falcon designed by Jack Telnack for Ford Australia

83 Ford Thunderbird

After his training at the ArtCenter College of Design, Telnack began working as a designer for Ford in 1958. ^[1] He became the head stylist of the Lincoln-Mercury Division in 1965.^{[ citation needed ]} In 1966, he became the chief designer of Ford's Australian branch, where he led the redesign of the Australian Ford Falcon. ^[3] In 1969, he returned to the United States and worked on the 1972 Ford Mustang fastback. ^[2] He then went on to serve as the vice president of design for Ford in Europe in 1974. ^{[2] [ citation needed ]}

Ford Taurus LX

Ford Probe GT

Ushering a new era of aerodynamic design to America's mainstream marketplace, Telnack and his team of designers were responsible for cars like the 1979 Ford Mustang (third generation), the 1983 Ford Thunderbird (ninth generation), the 1984 Ford Tempo and the 1984 Continental Mark VII were moderate successes that showed Ford's intention to change their traditional design language for a more contemporary, European style.^{[ citation needed ]}

Telnack and his team of designers were also responsible for the 1986 Ford Taurus, which was a car widely acknowledged as the main reason why Ford Motor Company's turnaround strategy was successful during the 1980s. He and his designers were known collectively as "Team Taurus". The Taurus' wind-cheating design language influenced everything from the Ford F-150 to the Lincoln Town Car in the 1990s. The Taurus's sibling, the 1986 Mercury Sable, boasted a wind cheating drag coefficient of 0.29. The Sable's light bar grille continued to be a Mercury design hallmark for the next decade. Telnack also helped shape the 1989 Ford Probe and 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII.^{[ citation needed ]}

In June 1987, following the success of the Taurus, Telnack was elected vice president of Ford. In 1993, he became chief of Ford's seven design studios throughout the world. ^[2]

Toward the end of his career, Telnack worked on the ovoid-themed 1996 third generation Taurus, although this was criticized widely and deemed too radical for the market's tastes.

Telnack also created the "New Edge" style that brought about cars like the 1996 Ford Ka, Ford GT90 concept car and influenced the design of the 1998 Ford Focus.

Telnack retired from his post at the end of 1997, and was replaced by J Mays.

Personal life

Telnack divorced in 1990. He later married Marguerite McCarthy Senter of Los Angeles. ^[2]

References

1. "Jack Telnack". The Columbus Dispatch. 2015-06-06.
2. Adler, Alan L. (1995-09-25). "Ford's Top Designer Knows the Shape of Success". Detroit Free Press . p. 3F. Retrieved 2025-07-22– via Newspapers.com.
3. "John J. Telnack". Automotive Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2016-06-24.