Ford's Running Pony and the Tri-bar

... the story of Phil Clark...

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http://www.nzmustang.com/History/Philclark.htm

http://www.ponysite.de/phil_clark.htm

http://www.ponysite.de/phclark_stampede.htm

 
Imagine, if you would, growing up and having your father pass away while you were not yet five years old.

Imagine growing up an a struggle to make ends meet.

Imagine growing up and finding out your father was one of the early designers of the Mustang.

Imagine going through your late fathers thigns and finding orginal sketches of the Mustang Tri-Bar logo, and early designs of the Mustang I, along with letters backing up this informaiton.

Imagine finding out your father was let go from Ford because he did not call insick for three days. He couldn't, he was in a coma. With no family around to help, they were back in the US while he worked in England on assignment.

This is the world of Holly Clark. Her father was Phil Clark, a designer that worked for Ford Motor Company. His work is known to nearly everyone on the planet. It is on our Mach 1's, it was on the very first Mustang. The tri-bar logo is instantly recognized by those who don't know cars. It is revered by those who do. Phils work included the first Mustang I prototype designs as well as T-Bord logos, european Fords, and various GM work when he was with their employ. His work has been documented on the German Mustang website, as well as the New Zealand website.
I had the pleasure of meeting Holly and her family this past week and seeing firsthand the work her father left behind. It is amazing beyond words, and takes you back to a time when chalk, pen and watercolor were the tools of the trade. A time before the computer ruled the design world. She is as interesting to speak to as you can imagine. Her energy is seemingly endless. She puts on a show that sends its proceeds to a Kidney Foundation, to help fight the disease that took her father from her, and us, much too soon. Telling her story has not been easy. The MCA has ruled it would not consider allowing her father to be on the ballot for induction consideration to its Hall of Fame, her attempts to write a book chronicaling his work and life have found no publisher. It took over two years for Mustang Monthy to publish the short article that she submitted. She is not in this to make a buck, she is doing this to honor a man to whom we all know, only...we didn't know him. And yes, there is more...much more, to the story...