Lincoln Mark V The Stylists
Redefining Luxury: The Revolutionary Work of Lincoln Stylists
MEET THE LINCOLN STYLISTS
Gale Haldeman Part 1
Gale Haldeman Interview – Part 1 Dated June, 2002
His work on the Mustangs, Lincolns and Marks will forever be remembered. Stylist Gale Haldeman worked with the biggest names at Lincoln including Engel, Najar and Bordinat to produce some of the most spectacular automobile designs in history. This interview is reprinted from the June, 2002 Issue of COLLECTIBLE AUTOMOBILE.
Gale Haldeman Part 2 2
Gale Haldeman Interview – Part 2
His work on the Mustangs, Lincolns and Marks will forever be remembered. Stylist Gale Haldeman worked with the biggest names at Lincoln including Engel, Najar and Bordinat to produce some of the most spectacular automobile designs in history. This interview is reprinted from the August, 2002 Issue of COLLECTIBLE AUTOMOBILE.
Don De La Rossa Interview
Don De La Rossa Interview – Dated April , 2003
Lincoln Stylist Don DeLaRossa was responsible for the stunning redesign of the Continental Mark IV to be dubbed Continental Mark V for introduction in late 1976 for the 1977 model year. It was the most visually pleasing Mark presented to the public and was the most popular with near 80,000 units produced each of the three model years Mark V was in production. The interview below is reprinted from COLLECTIBLE AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE April, 2003 issue. Mr. DeLaRossa died on February 2, 2007 at the age of 84 in Lake San Marcos, California. This is the only known interview that he granted in retirement. Click on the page you would like to read below.
The Visionary Behind the Mark V: Richard “Dick” Nesbitt
Richard “Dick” Nesbitt, the brilliant stylist at Lincoln, crafted the original design presentation for the Continental Mark V in 1973, specifically for Henry Ford II. The stunning sketches he created—clearly inspired by the timeless 1956 Continental Mark II—featured sharp lines and an angular elegance that would eventually define the production model of the Mark V.
As the 1960s faded and insurance costs and emissions regulations rose, performance cars took a back seat. In their place, a new trend emerged: personal-luxury vehicles. From the Chevrolet Monte Carlo to the Ford Elite, Americans embraced style, comfort, and class. Ford, always a step ahead, had already planted the seed with the Thunderbird in 1955, setting the tone for a design-focused era of luxurious personal cars.
Thunderbird's Evolution: From Sports Spirit to Luxury Icon
Ford’s original Thunderbird was never meant to be a sports car—it was a personal vehicle designed with luxury and flair. Unlike the Corvette, it focused on comfort features like power steering, brakes, windows, and a V-8 engine. It performed well, and by 1958, Ford had fully transformed the Thunderbird into a “personal luxury” vehicle.
Drawing from the excitement generated by GM’s Motorama dream cars, Ford introduced the radically redesigned 1958 Thunderbird. It featured four seats, a sleek unit-body design, bucket seats, a sculpted dash, and a floor-length console. The addition of a concealed convertible top only elevated its appeal. Despite the recession of 1958, Thunderbird sales soared, placing Ford ahead of the curve in the booming personal-luxury market. The T-Bird was no longer just a car—it was a statement.
Defining Luxury: The Rise of the Continental Mark Series
By 1968, Ford had introduced the Mark III—a stylish blend of Thunderbird’s two-door structure and an extended chassis. With its commanding hood and luxury appeal, it stood as a rival to Cadillac’s Eldorado, becoming a top-tier personal-luxury symbol in the 1970s.
In 1973, Dick Nesbitt was handpicked by Lincoln-Mercury Advanced Design Studio Director Gayle Halderman to lead a design presentation for the future Mark V. His challenge: craft a bold, aggressive look that would outshine both the Mark IV and the Eldorado. Inspired by everything from the 1929 “Blower Bentley” to the legendary 1956 Mark II, Nesbitt envisioned a performance-forward luxury coupe. One concept even featured a supercharged “LSC” touring edition with Bentley-style mesh grilles.
The final product, the Continental Mark V (1977–1979), was nothing short of iconic—one of the most successful and celebrated luxury coupes in Lincoln’s history.
A Boyhood Obsession Becomes a Dream Career
By Dick Nesbitt
Of all the career paths in the automotive world, few capture the imagination like that of an automotive designer. Like a professional athlete, only a select few ever achieve this dream. My journey into this field began in childhood.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1946, I spent my formative years moving frequently due to my father’s successful career as a sportscaster. By 11, cars consumed my world. I spent hours drawing, collecting car models, hoarding showroom brochures, and dreaming up designs during class. I categorized cars by their windshields, judging how “modern” they looked. Even then, I could draw cars in perspective and sketch from memory.
At 12, I had no clue that designing cars could be a paid profession. My father, a former Chicago Bears football player turned TV sportscaster, wanted me to consider something more “practical.” But automotive design articles in Motor Trend and Car Life kept pointing to one place—Art Center College in Los Angeles.
Art Center had become the pipeline for future car designers, with GM styling icon Harley Earl shaping its curriculum. I made my decision in high school. In 1967, I was accepted. With $250, I bought a red-and-white 1958 Buick wagon and drove Route 66 to LA.
From Student to Ford Designer—A Dream Realized
Arriving in LA during the height of “Flower Power,” I found housing in a converted chauffeur’s quarters and immersed myself in the grueling full-time design program. The talent at Art Center was intimidating, but it also pushed me harder. In 1968, I landed a caretaker role for a Spanish-style mansion near school—rent-free for a year and a half.
By third semester, I applied for and won a Ford-sponsored full-tuition scholarship. It was surreal. Influential designers like Bill Mitchell and Dick Teague regularly visited Art Center to recruit, and in 1970, I graduated with honors.
In 1971, I joined Ford’s Design Center. My first project? Designing a hood ornament for the 1974 Cougar. Drawing inspiration from a vintage Elgin pocket watch my father gave me at 11, I created a jeweled, lens-encased Cougar figure. The design was selected and produced from 1974–1976—becoming a major element in Cougar’s brand repositioning.
Later, I helped shape the Mustang II’s design direction with my “Boss 302” concept, supported by Lee Iacocca himself. My design for the “Carousel”—a car-like van concept—was approved and built into a prototype before the 1973 oil crisis shelved it. That design would later inspire the wildly successful minivan segment.
From childlike sketches to shaping iconic vehicles, my automotive design journey has been a dream come true.