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John Clinard has had the good fortune of pursuing his lifelong love of cars as a career. Now in his 50th year with Ford Motor Company as a consultant on enthusiast cars and events, he is immersed in the collector car world on a daily basis. Beginning in 1972, his career has provided responsibility in projects including the DeTomaso Pantera, the AC Mk IV Cobra, the Mustang SVO, Ford’s return to Formula One racing in the 1980s, the 2005-2006 Ford GT, and the current Ford GT among others. Beginning in 1988, John has organized Ford’s annual participation in the Monterey Rolex Reunion and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance where he is a Senior Judge, now in his 27th year. His recognition in the hobby includes honorary membership in the Road Racing Drivers Club, lifetime achievement awards from Motor Press Guild and Packards International, the Lee Iacocca Award, and the Lorin Tryon Award from Pebble Beach.
Photograph courtesy Jan Wagner, AutoMatters & More
SHOW SPONSORS
Covercraft • American Collectors Insurance • Autogeek • Linkage Magazine • Techforce Foundation • RPM Foundation • Pebble Beach Concours • BumBee Seat
INSPIRATION
Carroll Shelby made a deep impression on John early in his life when John got to meet him, when John was a young man. Everyone was important according to Carroll Shelby.
CHALLENGE
Always plan ahead, you can’t start planning too soon for any event. PPPP Prior Preparation
SPECIAL VEHICLES
1965 Austin Healy Sprite, John’s first car that he bought it new
BOOK RECOMMENDATION
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance: Celebrating 70 Years of Automotive Excellence by David Lillywhite*
WORDS OF INSPIRATION
Go the extra mile and be helpful.
SHARE THE INSPIRATION
If you enjoyed this show, please go to Apple Podcast and leave me a five-star review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out and help others to be inspired by Cars Yeah. * indicates a past Cars Yeah guest.
Very awesome interview John enjoyed it. 50 years WoW!
Without a nanosecond of hesitation, I believe John is the corporeal embodiment of “Go the extra mile and be helpful” because he simply could not be any other way. Throughout the auto testing segment of my career John made many impossible requests possible, and my subsequent photos and articles reflected that support. He helped me be a better photojournalist. Later, as I wandered back into racing, he made it possible to bring a high performance Mustang to the Bonneville Salt Flats so that I could put elected officials from county to Congress in the drivers seat to allow them their own speed experience and understand why it is essential to restore the place to safe racing conditions for amateur American motorsports. What is important to understand is the authenticity and integrity he exudes. One is so pleased to know the man. Few in public relations ink a vita as fab as Clinard. FoMoCo is damn lucky to have him….and think about this: he has worked at Ford longer than Henry Ford did….