DETROIT — Larry Erickson, 51, the chief designer of the 2005 Ford Mustang who got to know the personalities of Detroit's muscle cars by prowling around his dad's used-car lot in Northern California, has made the shift to academia. Erickson will lead Detroit's College for Creative Studies transportation design department, it was announced on Monday.

Most recently, Erickson was chief designer in Ford's Strategic Design Group, working on advanced vehicle development. He also is known in the industry for his collaboration with the late Boyd Coddington . Erickson designed Billy Gibbons' Cadzzilla, Hogzzillas and Aluma Coupe.

But Erickson may be best known for his work on the redesigned Mustang.

"My... // Edmunds.com/Inside Line