The man who drew the Mini

摘要

John Sheppard is approaching 90 years of age, but his memory is as sharp as that of a 19 year old. He is the only surviving member of the original BMC AD015 design team, and one of the nicest people you could hope to meet. I feel honoured to have been invited into his home to 'talk Minis'. There were four main BMC employees in the team responsible for the design of the Mini. All Mini fans know that Alec Issigonis was the man in charge of the project. Jack Daniels was Alec's right-hand man: 'the perspiration behind the inspiration'. Chris Kingham was the engine man. But it was the baby of the team, John Sheppard, who toiled over his drawing board with his pencil, giving the Mini its shape and the curves that we all love so much. In John's own words, "For every curve I used an awful lot of rubber."