Original (one-of-a-kind) concept illustration by Ford Industrial Designer Albert McNea. This is a wonderful example of American"Land Yacht" design at its peak in the mid 1970's (round head lights were required in the USA until 1975). Syd Mead's influence is clearly evident in this illustration. Professional staff designers, such as McNea, created hundreds of "Marker" ideation sketches. Never intended for public scrutiny, the companies, for whom the designers worked,guarded the vast majority of these artworks, and most of the work was destroyed.
The large size of this illustration (Mixed Media "Marker" on 100% cotton semi-transparent marker paper, measuring 33" inches in length and 12" inches in height), makes it a stunning statement piece for any room. This example is signed, - often concept drawings were not. Signed work may indicate upper levels of management reviewed the concept.
The present owner was a friend of Mr. McNea, was also an Industrial Designer and worked with McNea. This piece was acquired from Mr. McNea's wife after his death.
BIO:
After studying at Kent State University and the Cleveland Institute of Art in the early to mid 1960s, McNea was hired as a designer by Ford where he worked on many projects, including the 1969 Mustang, the Mach II Mustang, the 1970 Mercury Cougar XR7, Mercury Montego, and the Continental Mk IV. This concept drawing is from his mid-late70's work, as a designer in Ford's Lincoln Mercury division. After leaving Ford(1978 or '79), he moved to the Seattle area with his wife Judy and worked at Teague design studios in Renton, Washington, where he worked on Boeing aircraft interior architecture. At the end of his career, Mr. McNea taught in the Industrial Design department at the Art Institute of Seattle. He died in January 2005 at the age of 64.
Albert T. McNea shown in photo (lower left) while working at Ford in the early 1970s.