Royston Charles Lunn was born in Richmond, London back in 1925. He was educated in England received degrees in mechanical and aeronautical engineering. He joined the Royal Air Force serving two years as a pilot. After his discharge he entered the automotive industry in 1946 working for AC Cars who hired him as a designer.
In 1953, he joined Ford Motor Company in England assigned to starting a Research Center in Birmingham. In `958, he emigrated to the United States still working for Ford he participated in the development of Ford’s first front-wheel drive vehicle. He died in 2017, he was 92.
What you may not know about Royston is several things, so let’s get to it. His team developed the two-seat Ford Mustang I in just 100 days. In 1963, he developed the Ford GT40. In 1969, he helped to develop the Boss 429. He worked for American Motors starting in 1971. His notable accomplishments include the AMC Eagle, the compact Jeep Cherokee (XJ) and the AMC Straight-4 engine. He also developed American’s first four-wheel drive car. Royston design of the Cherokee “became the template for the modern SUV and continues to be copied by virtually all major global automakers”.
NW Arkansas, come for a visit, stay for a lifetime
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