Thanks for the kind words, JRM3150. As you say, the accepted story about Newberg "swinging in one morning" and ordering massive and costly changes has always seemed to me to be too neat and tidy. Big companies do not operate like that. I've yet to uncover the first telling of the Newberg/Cole story, who wrote it and what was the original source. I suspect it has arisen from those who were in the styling studios and were, on a specific day, told that changes would be made. From that perspective it certainly would have appeared to be an abrupt change to the styling staff. But at the top of the organisation it would have been discussed over a period of time, and that's the bit I'm still trying to pin down. Simply: when was the decision made, how long had discussion been going on, who made made the decison, who supported it and was overhearing Ed Cole really a convenient co-incidence? I do not think we will ever know. As for Exner losing his touch? I'm not so sure. I think with the S cars he had pushed out too far on a design theme that became cartoon like and then, realising what had happened, he had to back track. Hence the conservative and pleasing shape of the 1963 Valiant. However, rightly or wrongly, it was too late for him to survive the corporate politics and the need to hold someone accountable. His later work, including a car he designed in 1965 for Dow Chemicals and the 1966 Duesenberg (pictured here) have crisp and straight lines. He also designed speed boats.