There is a direct connection between the 1956 Ford MK2 Consul/Zephyr/Zodiac and the VH Valiant. The styling of both was heavily influenced by Colin Neale. Back in the early 1950s Neale was a designer at Ford UK and was the chief designer of the MK2 cars. He also shaped the 1959 Anglia and 1961 Classic/Capri. In 1956 he was appointed the boss of Ford UK styling, at age 27. He’s pictured at the Mk2 approval meeting. He was great mates with US Ford designer Elwood Engel, and moved to Ford USA in late 1958 and worked with Engel on the 1961 Lincoln Continental. When Engel moved to Chrysler in 1961 as its global design boss, Neale followed him. In the mid-sixties he was in charge of the international design studios (which meant he was responsible for all of Chrysler’s styling outside of the USA) and made many of the design decisions that resulted in VE and VH Valiants. Indeed, there is suggestion that the VH Valiant shape was originally intended for the 1970 Plymouth Valiant/Dodge Dart duo, but it was cancelled because Chrysler believed it would make more money in the USA selling a slightly redesigned version of the existing Plymouth/Dodge, as a cheap as chips car. And that they did until 1975. The rejected design theme was then handed to Chrysler Australia’s top executives as “their” new Valiant. Neale was also pivotal in supporting the Charger, providing a number of his staff, including Bob Hubbach, to help move the idea from design to driveway. Colin’s brother was Eric Neale, also a car designer, mainly for Jensen.