<PAGE>   1
                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.14



Schedule to Exhibit 10.12

         The Registrant entered into Severance Agreements in substantially the
form filed as Exhibit 10.12 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K with
the following named executive officers on September 17, 1996:

Roger L. Burtraw
Joseph J. Gagliardi
Michael L. Polich

         These agreements are substantially identical to the form of Severance
Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.12, with the following exceptions:

         Roger L. Burtraw's Severance Agreement provides for (i) a one-time
severance payment equal to three times the sum of his annual base salary, (ii)
outplacement services for three years following his termination, and (iii)
insurance benefits for Mr. Burtraw and his dependents for three years after his
termination.

 






<PAGE>   2


                             SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

         THIS AGREEMENT, dated September 17, 1996, is made by and between
Harvard Industries, Inc., a Florida corporation (the "Company"), and
_______________________ (the "Executive").

         WHEREAS, the Company considers it essential to the best interests of
its stockholders to foster the continued employment of key management
personnel; and

         WHEREAS, the Board recognizes that, as is the case with many publicly
held corporations, the possibility of a Change in Control exists and that such
possibility, and the uncertainty and questions which it may raise among
management, may result in the departure or distraction of management personnel
to the detriment of the Company and its stockholders; and

         WHEREAS, the Board has determined that appropriate steps should be
taken to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of
members of the Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in the face of potentially disturbing circumstances
arising from the possibility of a Change in Control;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants herein contained, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as
follows:

         1.      Defined Terms.  The definitions of capitalized terms used in
this Agreement are provided in the last Section hereof.

         2.      Term of Agreement.  Subject to the provisions of Section 12.2
hereof, the Term of this Agreement shall commence on the date hereof and shall
continue in effect through September 30, 1998; provided, however, that
commencing on October 1, 1997 and each October 1 thereafter, the Term shall
automatically be extended for one additional year unless, not later than June
30 of the preceding year, the Company or the Executive shall have given notice
not to extend the Term; and further provided, however, that if a Change in
Control shall have occurred during the Term, the Term shall expire no earlier
than twenty-four (24) months beyond the month in which such Change in Control
occurred.

         3.      Company's Covenants Summarized.  In order to induce the
Executive to remain in the employ of the Company and in consideration of the
Executive's covenants set forth in Section 4 hereof, the Company agrees, under
the conditions described herein, to pay the Executive the Severance Payments
and the other payments and benefits described herein.  Except as provided in
Section 9.1 hereof, no Severance Payments shall be payable under this Agreement
unless there shall have been (or, under the terms of the second sentence of
Section 6.1 hereof, there

<PAGE>   3


shall be deemed to have been) a termination of the Executive's employment with
the Company following a Change in Control and during the Term.  This Agreement
shall not be construed as creating an express or implied contract of employment
and, except as otherwise agreed in writing between the Executive and the
Company, the Executive shall not have any right to be retained in the employ of
the Company.

         4.      The Executive's Covenants. The Executive agrees that, subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in the event of a Potential
Change in Control during the Term, the Executive will remain in the employ of
the Company until the earliest of (i) a date which is six (6) months from the
date of such Potential Change of Control, (ii) the date of a Change in Control,
(iii) the date of termination by the Executive of the Executive's employment
for Good Reason or by reason of death, Disability or Retirement, or (iv) the
termination by the Company of the Executive's employment for any reason.

         5.      Compensation Other Than Severance Payments.

                 5.1      Following a Change in Control and during the Term,
during any period that the Executive fails to perform the Executive's full-time
duties with the Company as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental
illness, the Company shall pay the Executive's full salary to the Executive at
the rate in effect at the commencement of any such period, together with all
compensation and benefits payable to the Executive under the terms of any
compensation or benefit plan, program or arrangement maintained by the Company
during such period, until the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Company for Disability.

                 5.2      If the Executive's employment shall be terminated for
any reason following a Change in Control and during the Term, the Company shall
pay the Executive's full salary to the Executive through the Date of
Termination at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination
or, if higher, the rate in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of
an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason, together with all
compensation and benefits payable to the Executive through the Date of
Termination under the terms of the Company's compensation and benefit plans,
programs or arrangements as in effect immediately prior to the Date of
Termination or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect immediately
prior to the first occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good
Reason.

                 5.3      If the Executive's employment shall be terminated for
any reason following a Change in Control and during the Term, the Company shall
pay to the Executive the Executive's normal post-termination compensation and
benefits as such payments become due.  Such post-termination compensation and
benefits shall be determined under, and paid in accordance with, the Company's





                                     -2-

<PAGE>   4


retirement, insurance and other compensation or benefit plans, programs and
arrangements as in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination or, if
more favorable to the Executive, as in effect immediately prior to the
occurrence of the first event or circumstance constituting Good Reason.

         6.      Severance Payments.

                 6.1      Subject to Section 6.2 hereof, if the Executive's
employment is terminated following a Change in Control and during the Term,
other than (A) by the Company for Cause, (B) by reason of death or Disability,
or (C) by the Executive without Good Reason, the Company shall pay the
Executive the amounts, and provide the Executive the benefits, described in
this Section 6.1 ("Severance Payments"), in addition to any payments and
benefits to which the Executive is entitled under Section 5 hereof.  For
purposes of this Agreement, the Executive's employment shall be deemed to have
been terminated following a Change in Control by the Company without Cause or
by the Executive with Good Reason, if (i) the Executive's employment is
terminated by the Company without Cause prior to a Change in Control (whether
or not a Change in Control ever occurs) and such termination was at the request
or direction of a Person who has entered into an agreement with the Company the
consummation of which would constitute a Change in Control, (ii) the Executive
terminates his employment for Good Reason prior to a Change in Control (whether
or not a Change in Control ever occurs) and the circumstance or event which
constitutes Good Reason occurs at the request or direction of such Person, or
(iii) the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or
by the Executive for Good Reason and such termination or the circumstance or
event which constitutes Good Reason is otherwise in connection with or in
anticipation of a Change in Control (whether or not a Change in Control ever
occurs).  For purposes of any determination regarding the applicability of the
immediately preceding sentence, any position taken by the Executive shall be
presumed to be correct unless the Company establishes to the Committee by clear
and convincing evidence that such position is not correct.

                 (A) In lieu of any further salary payments to the Executive
         for periods subsequent to the Date of Termination and in lieu of any
         severance benefit otherwise payable to the Executive, the Company
         shall pay to the Executive a lump sum severance payment, in cash,
         equal to two times the sum of (i) the Executive's base salary as in
         effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination or, if higher, in
         effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of an event or
         circumstance constituting Good Reason, and (ii) the target bonus in
         effect, pursuant to any annual bonus or incentive plan maintained by
         the Company, for the fiscal year during which the Date of Termination 
         occurs or, if higher, for the fiscal year during which first occurs 
          an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason.





                                      -3-
<PAGE>   5


                 (B) For the twenty-four (24) month period immediately
         following the Date of Termination, the Company shall arrange to
         provide the Executive and his dependents life, disability, accident
         and health insurance benefits substantially similar to those provided
         to the Executive and his dependents immediately prior to the Date of
         Termination or, if more favorable to the Executive, those provided to
         the Executive and his dependents immediately prior to the first
         occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason, at no
         greater cost to the Executive than the cost to the Executive
         immediately prior to such date or occurrence; provided, however,
         that, unless the Executive consents to a different method (after
         taking into account the effect of such method on the calculation of
         "parachute payments" pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof) such health
         insurance benefits shall be provided through a third-party insurer. 
         Benefits otherwise receivable by the Executive pursuant to this
         Section 6.1 (B) shall be reduced to the extent benefits of the same
         type are received by or made available to the Executive during the
         twenty-four (24) month period following the Executive's termination of
         employment (and any such benefits received by or made available to the
         Executive shall be reported to the Company by the Executive);
         provided, however, that the Company shall reimburse the Executive for
         the excess, if any, of the cost of such benefits to the Executive over
         such cost immediately prior to the Date of Termination or, if more
         favorable to the Executive, the first occurrence of an event or
         circumstance constituting Good Reason.  If the Severance Payments
         shall be decreased pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof, and the Section
         6.1(B) benefits which remain payable after the application of Section
         6.2 hereof are thereafter reduced pursuant to the immediately
         preceding sentence, the Company shall, no later than five (5) business
         days following such reduction, pay to the Executive the least of (a)
         the amount of the decrease made in the Severance Payments pursuant to
         Section 6.2 hereof, (b) the amount of the subsequent reduction in
         these Section 6.1(B) benefits, or (c) the maximum amount which can be
         paid to the Executive without being, or causing any other payment to
         be, nondeductible by reason of section 280G of the Code.

                 (C) Notwithstanding any provision of any annual or long-term
         incentive plan to the contrary, the Company shall pay to the Executive
         a lump sum amount, in cash, equal to the sum of (i) any unpaid
         incentive compensation which has been allocated or awarded to the
         Executive for a completed fiscal year or other measuring period
         preceding the Date of Termination under any such plan and which, as of
         the Date of Termination, is contingent only upon the continued
         employment of the Executive to a subsequent date, and (ii) a pro rata
         portion to the Date of Termination of the aggregate value of all
         contingent incentive compensation awards to the Executive for all then
         uncompleted periods under any such plan, calculated as to each such
         award by multiplying the award that the Executive would





                                      -4-
<PAGE>   6


         have earned on the last day of the performance award period, assuming
         the achievement, at the target level, of the individual and corporate
         performance goals established with respect to such award, by the
         fraction obtained by dividing the number of full months and any
         fractional portion of a month during such performance award period
         through the Date of Termination by the total number of months
         contained in such performance award period.

                 (D) In addition to the retirement benefits to which the
         Executive is entitled under each Pension Plan or any successor
         plan thereto, the Company shall pay the Executive a lump sum amount,
         in cash, equal to the excess of (i) the actuarial equivalent of the
         aggregate retirement pension (taking into account any early retirement
         subsidies associated therewith and determined as a straight life
         annuity commencing at the date (but in no event earlier than the
         second anniversary of the Date of Termination) as of which the
         actuarial equivalent of such annuity is greatest) which the Executive
         would have accrued under the terms of all Pension Plans (without
         regard to any amendment to any Pension Plan made subsequent to a
         Change in Control and on or prior to the Date of Termination, which
         amendment adversely affects in any manner the computation of
         retirement benefits thereunder), determined as if the Executive were
         fully vested thereunder and had accumulated (after the Date of
         Termination) twenty-four (24) additional months of service credit
         thereunder and had been credited under each Pension Plan during such
         period with compensation equal to the Executive's compensation (as
         defined in such Pension Plan) during the twelve (19) months
         immediately preceding Date of Termination or, if higher, during the 
         twelve months immediately prior to the first occurrence of an event or
         circumstance constituting Good Reason, over (ii) the actuarial
         equivalent of the aggregate retirement pension (taking into account
         any early retirement subsidies associated therewith and determined as
         a straight life annuity commencing at the date (but in no event
         earlier than the Date of Termination) as of which the actuarial
         equivalent of such annuity is greatest) which the Executive had
         accrued pursuant to the provisions of the Pension Plans as of the Date
         of Termination.  For purposes of this Section 6.1(D), "actuarial
         equivalent" shall be determined using the same assumptions utilized
         under the Harvard Retirement Plan immediately prior to the Date of
         Termination or, if more favorable to the Executive, immediately prior
         to the first occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good
         Reason.

                 (E) The Company shall provide the Executive with outplacement
         services suitable to the Executive's position for a period of
         two years or, if earlier, until the first acceptance by the Executive
         of an offer of employment; provided, however, that the Executive may
         elect to receive a lump sum cash payment, payable no later than the
         fifth day following the





                                      -5-
<PAGE>   7


         Date of Termination, in an amount equal to the value of one year of 
         such services.

         6.2 (A) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, in the
event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by the Executive
in connection with a Change in Control or the termination of the Executive's
employment (whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan,
arrangement or agreement with the Company, any Person whose actions result in a
Change in Control or any Person affiliated with the Company or such Person)
(all such payments and benefits, including the Severance Payments, being
hereinafter called "Total Payments") would not be deductible (in whole or
part), by the Company, an affiliate or Person making such payment or providing
such benefit as a result of section 280G of the Code, then, to the extent
necessary to make such portion of the Total Payments deductible (and after
taking into account any reduction in the Total Payments provided by reason of
section 280G of the Code in such other plan, arrangement or agreement), the
cash Severance Payments shall first be reduced (if necessary, to zero), and all
other Severance Payments shall thereafter be reduced (if necessary, to zero);
provided, however, that the Executive may elect to have the noncash Severance
Payments reduced (or eliminated) prior to any reduction of the cash Severance
Payments.

         (B) For purposes of this limitation, (i) no portion of the Total
Payments the receipt or enjoyment of which the Executive shall have waived at
such time and in such manner as not to constitute a "payment" within the
meaning of section 280G(b) of the Code shall be taken into account, (ii) no
portion of the Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the opinion
of tax counsel ("Tax Counsel") reasonably acceptable to the Executive and
selected by the accounting firm which was, immediately prior to the Change in
Control, the Company's independent auditor (the "Auditor"), does not constitute
a "parachute payment" within the meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of the Code,
including by reason of section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code, (iii) the Severance
Payments shall be reduced only to the extent necessary so that the Total
Payments (other than those referred to in clauses (i) or (ii)) in their
entirety constitute reasonable compensation for services actually rendered
within the meaning of section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code or are otherwise not
subject to disallowance as deductions by reason of section 280G of the Code, in
the opinion of Tax Counsel, and (iv) the value of any noncash benefit or any
deferred payment or benefit included in the Total Payments shall be determined
by the Auditor in accordance with the principles of sections 280G(d)(3) and (4)
of the Code.

         (C) If it is established pursuant to a final determination of a court
or an Internal Revenue Service proceeding that, notwithstanding the good faith
of the Executive and the Company in applying the terms of this Section 6.2, the
Total Payments paid to or for the Executive's benefit are in an amount that
would result





                                      -6-
<PAGE>   8


in any portion of such Total Payments being subject to the Excise Tax, then, if
such repayment would result in (i) no portion of the remaining Total Payments
being subject to the Excise Tax and (ii) a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the
Executive's taxable income and wages for purposes of federal state and local
income and employment taxes, the Executive shall have an obligation to pay the
Company upon demand an amount equal to the sum of (i) the excess of the Total
Payments paid to or for the Executive's benefit over the Total Payments that
could have been paid to or for the Executive's benefit without any portion of
such Total Payments being subject to the Excise Tax; and (ii) interest on the
amount set forth in clause (i) of this sentence at the rate provided in section
1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code from the date of the Executive's receipt of such
excess until the date of such payment.

         6.3 The payments provided in subsections (A), (C) and (D) of Section
6.1 hereof shall be made not larer than the fifth day following the Date of
Termination; provided, however, that if the amounts of such payments, and the
limitation on such payments set forth in Section 6.2 hereof, cannot be finally
determined on or before such day, the Company shall pay to the Executive on
such day an estimate, as determined in good faith by the Company of the minimum
amount of such payments to which the Executive is clearly entitled and shall
pay the remainder of such payments (together with interest on the unpaid
remainder (or on all such payments to the extent the Company fails to make such
payments when due) at 120% of the rate provided in section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the
Code) as soon as the amount thereof can be determined but in no event later
than the thirtieth (30th) day after the Date of Termination.  In the event that
the amount of the estimated payments exceeds the amount subsequently determined
to have been due, such excess shall constitute a loan by the Company to the
Executive, payable on the fifth (5th) business day after demand by the Company
(together with interest at 120% of the rate provided in section 1274(b)(2)(B)
of the Code).  At the time that payments are made under this Agreement, the
Company shall provide the Executive with a written statement setting forth the
manner in which such payments were calculated and the basis for such
calculations including, without limitation, any opinions or other advice the
Company has received from Tax Counsel, the Auditor or other advisors or
consultants (and any such opinions or advice which ar in writing shall be
attached to the statement).

         6.4     The Company also shall pay to the Executive all legal fees and
expenses incurred by the Executive in disputing in good faith any issue
hereunder relating to the termination of the Executive's employment, in seeking
in good faith to obtain or enforce any benefit or right provided by this
Agreement or in connection with any tax audit or proceeding to the extent
attributable to the application of section 4999 of the Code to any payment or
benefit provided hereunder.  Such payments shall be made within five (5)
business days after





                                      -7-
<PAGE>   9


delivery of the Executive's written requests for payment accompanied with such
evidence of fees and expenses incurred as the Company reasonably may require.

         7.      Termination Procedures and Compensation During Dispute.

         7.1     Notice of Termination.  After a Change in Control and during
the Term, any purported termination of the Executive's employment (other than
by reason of death) shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination from
one party hereto to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 10
hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a
notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this
Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated. Further, a Notice of Termination
for Cause is required to include a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the
affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters (3/4) of the entire membership
of the Board at a meeting of the Board which was called and held for the
purpose of considering such termination (after reasonable notice to the
Executive and an opportunity for the Executive, together with the Executive's
counsel, to be heard before the Board) finding that, in the good faith opinion
of the Board, the Executive was guilty of conduct set forth in clause (i) or
(ii) of the definition of Cause herein, and specifying the particulars thereof
in detail.

         7.2     Date of Termination.  "Date of Termination with respect to any
purported termination of the Executive's employment after a Change in Control
and during the Term, shall mean (i) if the Executive's employment is terminated
for Disability, thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination is given (provided
that the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of the
Executive's duties during such thirty (30) day period), and (ii) if the
Executive's employment is terminated for any other reason, the date specified
in the Notice of Termination (which, in the case of a termination by the
Company, shall not be less than thirty (3O) days (except in the case of a
termination for Cause) and, in the case of a termination by the Executive,
shall not be less than fifteen (15) days nor more than sixty (60) day,
respectively, from the date such Notice of Termination is given).

         7.3     Dispute Concerning Termination.  If within fifteen (15) days
after any Notice of Termination is given, or, if later, prior to the Date of
Termination (as determined without regard to this Section 7.3), the party
receiving such Notice of Termination notifies the other party that a dispute
exists concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be extended
until the earlier of (i) the date on which the Term ends or (ii) the date on
which the dispute is finally resolved, either by mutual written agreement of
the parties or by a final judgment, order or decree of an arbitrator or a court
of competent jurisdiction (which is not





                                      -8-
<PAGE>   10


appealable or with respect to which the time for appeal therefrom has expired
and no appeal has been perfected); provided, however, chat the Date of
Termination shall be extended by a notice of dispute given by the Executive
only if such notice is given in good faith and the Executive pursues the
resolution of such dispute with reasonable diligence.

         7.4     Compensation During Dispute.  If a purported termination
occurs following a Change in Control and during the Term and the Date of
Termination is extended in accordance with Section 7.3 hereof, the Company
shall continue to pay the Executive the full compensation in effect when the
notice giving rise to the dispute was given (including, but not limited to,
salary) and continue the Executive as a participant in all compensation,
benefit and insurance plans in which the Executive was participating when the
notice giving rise to the dispute was given, until the Date of Termination, as
determined in accordance with Section 7.3 hereof.  Amounts paid under this
Section 7.4 are in addition to all other amounts due under this Agreement
(other than those due under Section 5.2 hereof) and shall not be offset against
or reduce any other amounts due under this Agreement.

         8.      No Mitigation.  The Company agrees that, if the Executive's
employment with the Company terminates during the Term, the Executive is not
required to seek other employment or to attempt in any way to reduce any
amounts payable to the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section 6 hereof or
Section 7.4 hereof. Further, the amount of any payment or benefit provided for
in this Agreement (other than Section 6.1(B) hereof) shall not be reduced by
any compensation earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another
employer, by retirement benefits, by offset against any amount claimed to be
owed by the Executive to the Company, or otherwise.

         9.      Successors; Binding Agreement.

         9.1     In addition to any obligations imposed by law upon any
successor to the Company, the Company will require any successor (whether
direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of 'he business and/or assets of the Company to expressly
assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same
extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession
had taken place. Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption and agreement
prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this
Agreement and shall entitle the.Executive to compensation from the Company in
the same amount and on the same terms as the Executive would be entitled to
hereunder if the Executive were to terminate the Executive's employment for
Good Reason after a Change in Control, except that, for purposes of
implementing the foregoing, the date on which any such succession becomes
effective shall be deemed the Date of Termination.





                                      -9-
<PAGE>   11


         9.2     This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the Executive's personal or legal representatives, executors,
administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the
Executive shall die while any amount would still be payable to the Executive
hereunder (other than amounts which, by their terms, terminate upon the death
of the Executive) if the Executive had continued to live, all such amounts,
unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement to the executors, personal representatives or administrators of
the Executive's estate.

         10.     Notices.  For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all
other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United
States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed,
if to the Executive, to the address inserted below the Executive's signature on
the final page hereof and, if to the Company, to the address set forth below,
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall
be effective only upon actual receipt:

                 To the Company:

                 Harvard Industries, Inc.
                 2502 North Rocky Point Drive, Suite 960
                 Tampa, Florida 33607
                 Attention: General Counsel

         11.     Miscellaneous. No provision of this Agreement may be modified,
waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to
in writing and signed by the Executive and such officer as may be specifically
designated by the Board.  No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any
breach by the other party hereto of, or of any lack of compliance with, any
condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party
shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at
the same or at any prior or subsequent time. This Agreement supersedes any
other agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied,
with respect to the subject matter hereof which have been made by either party;
provided, however, that this Agreement shall supersede any agreement setting
forth the terms and conditions of the Executive's employment with the company
only in the event that the Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated on or following a Change in Control by the Company other than for
Cause or by the Executive other than for Good Reason. The validity,
interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be
governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.  All references to sections of
the Exchange Act or the Code shall be deemed also to refer to any successor
provisions to such sections. Any payments provided for





                                    -10-
<PAGE>   12


hereunder shall be paid net of any applicable withholding required under
federal, state or local law and any additional withholding to which the
Executive has agreed.  The obligations of the Company and the Executive under
this Agreement which by their nature may require either partial or total
performance after the expiration of the Term (including, without limitation,
those under sections 6 and 7 hereof) shall survive such expiration.

         12.     Validity; Pooling.  12.1  Validity.  The invalidity or
unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which
shall remain in full force and effect.

         12.1    Pooling. In the event that the Company is party to a
transaction which is otherwise intended to qualify for "pooling of interests"
accounting treatment then (A) this Agreement shall, to the extent practicable,
be interpreted so as to permit such accounting treatment, and (B) to the extent
that the application of clause (A) of this Section 12.2 does not preserve the
availability of such accounting treatment, then, to the extent that any
provision of the Agreement disqualifies the transaction as a "pooling"
transaction (including, if applicable, the entire Agreement), such provision
shall be null and void as of the date hereof. All determinations under this
Section 12.2 shall be made by the accounting firm whose opinion with respect to
"pooling of interests" is required as a condition to the consummation of such
transaction.

         13.     Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, each of which hall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.

         14.     Settlement of Disputes; Arbitration.  14.1   All claims by the
Executive for benefits under this Agreement shall be directed to and determined
by the Committee and shall be in writing. Any denial by the Committee of a
claim for benefits under this Agreement shall be delivered to the Executive in
writing and shall set forth the specific reasons for the denial and the
specific provisions of this Agreement relied upon. The Committee shall afford a
reasonable opportunity to the Executive for a review of the decision denying a
claim and shall further allow the Executive to appeal to the Committee a
decision of the Committee within sixty (60) days after notification by the
Committee that the Executive's claim has been denied.

         14.2    Any further dispute or controversy arising under or in
connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in
Tampa, Florida, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration
Association then in effect; provided, however, that the evidentiary standards
set forth in this Agreement shall apply. Judgment may be entered on the
arbitrators award in any court having jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any
provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the





                                    -11-
<PAGE>   13


Executive shall be entitled to seek specific performance of the Executive's
right to be paid until the Date of Termination during the pendency of any
dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement.

         15.     Definitions.  For purposes of this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

         (A) "Affiliate" shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2
promulgated under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.

         (B) "Auditor" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.2 hereof.

         (C) "Base Amount" shall have the meaning set forth in section
280G(b)(3) of the Code.

         (D) "Beneficial Owner" shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act.

         (E) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

         (F) "Cause" for termination by the Company of the Executive's
employment shall mean (i) the willful and continued failure by the Executive to
substantially  perform the Executive's duties with the Company (other than any
such failure resulting from the Executives incapacity due to physical or mental
illness or any such actual or anticipated failure after the issuance of a
Notice of Termination for Good Reason by the Executive pursuant to Section 7.1
hereof) after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the
Executive by the Board, which demand specifically identifies the manner in
which the Board believes that the Executive has not substantially performed the
Executive's curies, or (ii) the willful engaging by the Executive in conduct
which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company or its
subsidiaries, monetarily or otherwise. For purposes of clauses (i) and (ii) of
this definition (x) no act, or failure to act, on the Executives part shall be
deemed "willful" unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive not in
good faith and without reasonable belief that the Executive's act, or failure
to act, was in the best interest of the Company and (y) in the event of a
dispute concerning the application of this provision, no claim by the Company
that Cause exists shall be given effect unless the Company establishes to the
Committee by clear and convincing evidence that Cause exists.

         (G) A "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if the
event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs shall have occurred:

               (I) any Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or
         indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the
         securities





                                    -12-
<PAGE>   14


         beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly
         from the Company or its affiliates) representing 25% or more of the
         combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities,
         excluding any Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner in connection
         with a transaction described in clause (i) of paragraph (III) below;
         or

                 (II) the following individuals cease for any reason to
         constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving:
         individuals who, on the date hereof, constitute the Board and any new
         director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is
         in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including
         but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of
         directors of the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board
         or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was approved
         or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors
         then still in office who either were directors on the date hereof or
         whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously
         so approved or recommended; or

                 (III) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the
         Company or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company with any
         other corporation, other than (i) a merger or consolidation which
         would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding
         immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to
         represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into
         voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof), in
         combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary
         holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or
         any subsidiary of the Company, at least 60\ of the combined voting
         power of the securities of the Company or such surviving entity or any
         parent thereof outstanding immediately after such merger or
         consolidation, or (ii) a merger or consolidation effected to implement
         a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no
         Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of
         securities of the company (not including in the securities
         Beneficially Owned by such Person any securities acquired directly
         from the Company or its Affiliates other than in connection with the
         acquisition by the Company or its Affiliates of a business)
         representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's
         then outstanding securities; or

                 (IV) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of
         complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or there is
         consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of
         all or substantially all of the Company's assets, other than a sale or
         disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the
         Company's assets to an entity, at least 75% of the combine voting
         power of the voting securities of which are owned by





                                      -13-
<PAGE>   15


         stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as
         their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a "Change in Control shall not be deemed to have
occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of
integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the
common stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or series of
transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in
an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Company
immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

         (H) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended 
from time to time.

         (I) "Committee" shall mean (i) the individuals (not fewer than three
in number) who, on the date six months before a Change in Control, constitute
the Compensation Committee f the Board, plus (ii) in the event that fewer than
three individuals are available from the group specified in clause (i) above
for any reason, such individuals as may be appointed by the individual or
individuals so available (including for this purpose any individual or
individual previously so appointed under this clause (ii)); provided, however,
that the maximum number of individuals constituting the Committee shall not
exceed five.

         (J) "Company" shall mean Harvard Industries, Inc. and, except in
determining under Section 15(E) , hereof whether or not any Change in Control
of the Company has occurred, shall include any successor to its business and/or
assets which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law,
or otherwise.

         (K) "Date of Termination" shall have the meaning set forth in section
7.2 hereof.

         (L) "Disability" shall be deemed the reason for the termination by the
Company of the Executive's employment, if, as a result of the Executive's
incapacity due to physical or mental illness, the Executive shall have been
absent from the full-time performance of the Executive's duties with the
Company for a period of six (6) consecutive months, the Company shall have
given the Executive a Notice of Termination for Disability, and, within thirty
(30) days after such Notice of Termination is given, the Executive shall not
have returned to the full-time performance of the Executive's duties.

         (M) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended from time to time.





                                      -14-
<PAGE>   16


         (N) "Executive" shall mean the individual named in the first paragraph
of this Agreement.

         (O) "Good Reason" for termination by the Executive of the Executive's
employment shall mean the occurrence (without the Executive's express written
consent) after any Change in Control, or prior to a Change in Control under the
circumstances described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of the second sentence of
Section 6.3 hereof (treating all references in paragraphs (I) through (VII)
below to a "Change in Control" as references to a "Potential Change in
Control"), of any one of the following acts by the Company, or failures by the
Company to act, unless, in the case of any act or failure to act described in
paragraph (I), (V), (VI) or (VII) below, such act or failure to act is
corrected prior to the Date of Termination specified in the Notice of
Termination given in respect thereof:

                 (I)  the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent
         with the Executives status as a senior executive officer of the
         Company or a substantial adverse alteration in the nature or status of
         the Executive's responsibilities from those in effect immediately
         prior to the Change in Control;

                 (II)  a reduction by the Company in the Executive's annual base
         salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be increased
         from time to time except for across-the-board salary reductions
         similarly affecting all senior executives of the Company and all
         senior executives of any Person in control of the Company;

                 (III) the relocation of the Executive's principal place of
         employment to a location more than 35 miles from the Executive its
         principal place of employment immediately prior to the Change in
         Control or the Company's requiring the Executive to be based anywhere
         other than such principal place of employment (or permitted relocation
         thereof) except for required travel on the Company's business to an
         extent substantially consistent with the Executive's present business
         travel obligations;

                 (IV) the failure by the Company to pay to the Executive any
         portion of the Executive current compensation except pursuant to an
         across-the-board compensation deferral similarly affecting all senior
         executives of the Company and all senior executives of any Person in
         control of the Company, or to pay to the Executive any portion of an
         installment of deferred compensation under any deferred compensation
         program of the Company, within seven (7) days of the date such
         compensation is due;

                 (V) the failure by the Company to continue in effect any
         compensation plan in which the Executive participates immediately
         prior to the Change in





                                      -15-
<PAGE>   17


         Control which is material to the Executive's total compensation,
         including but not limited to the Harvard Management Incentive Plan and
         the Harvard 1994 Stock Option Plan or any substitute plans adopted
         prior to the Change in Control, unless an equitable arrangement
         (embodied in an ongoing substitute or alternative plan) has been made
         with respect to such plan, or the failure by the Company to continue
         the Executive's participation therein (or in such substitute or
         alternative plan) on a basis not materially less favorable, both in
         terms of the amount or timing of payment of benefits provided and the
         level of the Executive's participation relative to other participants,
         as existed immediately prior to the Change in Control;

                 (VI) the failure by the Company to continue to provide the
         Executive with benefits substantially similar to those enjoyed by the
         Executive under any of the Company's pension, savings, life insurance,
         medical, health and accident, or disability plans in which the
         Executive was participating immediately prior to the Change in Control
         (except for across-the-board changes similarly affecting all senior
         executives of the Company and all senior executives of any Person in
         control of the Company), the taking of any other action by the Company
         which would directly or indirectly materially reduce any of such
         benefits or deprive the Executive of any material fringe benefit
         enjoyed by the Executive at the time of the Change in Control, or the
         failure by the Company to provide the Executive with the number of
         paid vacation days to which the Executive is entitled on the basis of
         years of service with the Company in accordance with the Company's
         normal vacation policy in effect at the time of the Change in Control;
         or

                 (VII) any purported termination of the Executive's employment
         which is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying
         the requirements of Section 7.1 hereof; for purposes of this
         Agreement, no such purported termination shall be effective.

         The Executive's right to terminate the Executives employment for Good
Reason shall not be affected by the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness. The Executive's continued employment shall not constitute
consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any act or failure to act
constituting Good Reason hereunder.

         For purposes of any determination regarding the existence of Good
Reason, any claim by the Executive that Good Reason exists shall be presumed to
be correct unless the Company establishes to the Committee by clear and
convincing evidence that Good Reason does not exist.

         (P) "Notice of Termination" shall have the meaning set forth in 
Section 7.1 hereof.





                                      -16-
<PAGE>   18


         (Q) "Pension Plan" shall mean any tax-qualified, supplemental or
excess benefit pension plan maintained by the Company and any other plan or
agreement entered into between the Executive and the Company which is designed
to provide the Executive with supplemental retirement benefits.

         (R) "Person" shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the
Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14 (d) thereof, except
that such term shall not include (i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
(ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit
plan of the company or any of its Affiliates, (iii) an underwriter temporarily
holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a
corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company
in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the
Company.

         (S) "Potential Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if
the event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs shall have occurred:

                 (I) the Company enters into an agreement, the consummation of
         which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control:

                 (II) the Company or any Person publicly announces an intention
         to take or to consider taking actions which, if consummated, would
         constitute a Change in Control;

                 (III) any Person becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or
         indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 15% or more of
         either the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company or
         the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities
         (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any
         securities acquired directly from the Company or its affiliates); or

                 (IV) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for
         purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control has occurred

         (T) "Retirement" shall be deemed the reason for the termination by the
Executive of the Executives employment if such employment is terminated in
accordance with the Company's retirement policy, including early retirement,
generally applicable to its salaried employees.

         (U) "Severance Payments" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.1 hereof.

         (V) "Tax Counsel" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.2
hereof.





                                      -17-
<PAGE>   19


         (W) "Term" shall mean the period of time described in Section 2 hereof
(including any extension, continuation or termination described therein).

         (X) "Total Payments" shall mean those payments so described in 
Section 6.2 hereof.


                                 HARVARD INDUSTRIES, INC.
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                 By:                                     
                                    -------------------------------------
                                         Name:                           
                                              ---------------------------
                                         Title:                          
                                               --------------------------
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                                                         
                                 ----------------------------------------
                                 Executive
                                 
                                 Address:
                                                                         
                                 ----------------------------------------
                                                                         
                                 ----------------------------------------
                                                                         
                                 ----------------------------------------
                                 (Please print carefully)
                                          



                                      -18-