A select group of 170 members from the Mustang Owners Club of Southeastern Michigan (MOCSEM) were invited by Gale Haldeman to view his private Ford Memorabilia collection this past weekend in Tipp City, Ohio.  For those who are not familiar with Gale Halderman, he produced the sketch that would become the prototype for the 1965 Ford Mustang.  Halderman not only contributed to the design, he took the dream from a clay model to a full scale car.

In the early 1960s Halderman along with Colin Neale and Alex Tremulis were assigned to work on an electric car proposal. Lee Iacocca and Hal Sperlich happened to venture through one day and saw the clay models remarking, “You know these have flair and a lot of excitement”. Iacocca and Sperlich reopened the design process which had been discontinued, leading to the Mustang design program.

Gale Halderman signing autographs with Mike Rey President of MOCSEM.

Mike Rey, the current President of the MOCSEM, met Halderman at the Mustang Memories in Dearborn Michigan. Over time they bonded and became friends. Halderman even attended a general club meeting earlier this year. An honor for the club to have such a historic person in attendance.  Halderman thus extended an invitation to Mike Rey and the club members to come and visit the Halderman Barn.

Your author was extended an invitation by Rey to come and be part of this rare opportunity to gaze upon Halderman’s prized collection. The collection is comprised of Haldeman’s sketch drawings, Ford memorabilia, Halderman’s personal collection of automobiles, and a rare camera collection.

John Clor of Ford Racing was also on hand along with Vice President of the club Ken Janus, to aide in the day’s events. Starting off with a welcoming introduction from Clor, the group was then allowed to view the awe-inspiring collection. Halderman and his family also treated the group to lunch. Halderman took time to chat and visit with many of the guests also signing autographs for each of the 170 in attendance.

The tour ended with a visit to D&D Classic Restoration. We’d like to extend a very big thank you to MOCSEM and Gale Halderman for inviting us along on this unique and special day.