[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Having just read Paul's article on this I see Frank Stephenson is now off to Alfa. He's going to have one heck of a CV

He may have his work cut out here though, Alfa are one of the very few car companies producing stunning designs already and are probably the one car company least in need of his talents. How the heck is he going to improve on what they are already doing?! Perhaps he's just going there for a well earned rest

Tigger.

[OttoMannS]

I am sure than when "The Gert" leaves MINI design, BMW will try to lure back Frank Stephenson to Munich with an offer he will not be able to resist

Here, in the meantime, congratulations to Frank in yet another professional achievement. You are sorely admired and missed here in MINI world

Hoping for the day you comeback and bring back MINI to its rightful place in cutting edge automotive design.

[Paul]

I can see what you mean about Alfa, but lets face it, Maserati and Ferrari didn't have a bad reputation before he went their either.

[minicabrio]

He must be on damage limitation

First of all penning the 1st Gen MINI which is a huge success.... moves to Ferrari where you can't really get it wrong.... then to Alfa who has already a fantastic design team...

Much safer bets than trying to re-style a car built in Oxford

[Paul]

He also did the Ford Escort Cosworth and the X5. Bit different.

[OttoMannS]

I had no idea he had also worked on the Ford Escort Cosworth. Brilliant man and I am especially taken by his humble demeanor on interviews.

Also the new Fiat 500 is another of his masterworks.

Paul, do you think you can setup a chat event with Frank? That would be simply awesome!

[Paul]

As we're a MINI site I doubt we could do anything really official, as he's not a MINI person any more (so to speak). I'm not sure how happy either MINI or his Alfa bosses would be.

And if we didn't do it as a MINI interview, well, it wouldn't really work on MINI2.

[minisoopercooper]

it could if you brought the chat room back

[lespurgeon]

Hope he crosses the current Spider with MINI DNA - I love that car, but it has just gotten too big. The late '60s model was the perfect proportion.

[DeadCanDanceR]

I'm really glad for Frank!

Paul, if you ever get in touch with him, please give him my regards! He might still remember me. We went to school together (Art Center College in California) back in the 80s, and then we both worked for Ford (in Cologne) at roughly the same time (1986-87). He was working at the Escort studio while I was working at the Advanced Concepts studio (working on the first ideas for the first generation of Mondeo).

I left Ford and returned to Mexico. He stayed, and now he has what was one of my dream jobs at that moment: working for Alfa Romeo!

[OttoMannS]

Hola deadcandancer... Can you tell us more about Frank and his work? How about his personality? Any anecdotes?

[DeadCanDanceR]

Quote: Originally Posted by OttoMannS (original)

Hola deadcandancer... Can you tell us more about Frank and his work? How about his personality? Any anecdotes?

Well, we were never extremely close, I was too shy and he was a bit reserved. But he was always very friendly.

He graduated from school one or two terms after I did, so I started working at Ford a couple of months before he got there. I'm sure that he was quite talented, although I really don't remember his designs, maybe because he was working at a production studio.

I remember that he spoke perfect Spanish (with a strong Spanish accent), but I don't remember if he was born in Spain or if any of his parents (probably his mother, judging by his name) were.

I scanned a couple of photos for this thread:


The design team at Ford in 1986. Frank is third from left. I'm in the middle of the photo, wearing a short sleeve shirt with stripes and huge eyeglasses! Standing next to me (to my left) is Scott Strong. He would later be in charge of the Ford Ka project.



Some of the members of the studio at a Mexican restaurant in Cologne. Frank is third from right. I'm second from left, next to our boss's secretary, Christina. She's next to me in the other photo too!

[minigolf]

I personally don't rate the Alfas. They are so overrated on their exterior design it is almost criminal I reckon. Sure their cars may not be in the SsangYong Stavic class, but they're not as "pretty" as everyone seems to make out.

I can see plenty of room for improvement for Mr Stephenson at Alfa.

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by DeadCanDanceR (original)

Well, we were never extremely close, I was too shy and he was a bit reserved. But he was always very friendly.

He graduated from school one or two terms after I did, so I started working at Ford a couple of months before he got there. I'm sure that he was quite talented, although I really don't remember his designs, maybe because he was working at a production studio.

I remember that he spoke perfect Spanish (with a strong Spanish accent), but I don't remember if he was born in Spain or if any of his parents (probably his mother, judging by his name) were.

I scanned a couple of photos for this thread:


The design team at Ford in 1986. Frank is third from left. I'm in the middle of the photo, wearing a short sleeve shirt with stripes and huge eyeglasses! Standing next to me (to my left) is Scott Strong. He would later be in charge of the Ford Ka project.



Some of the members of the studio at a Mexican restaurant in Cologne. Frank is third from right. I'm second from left, next to our boss's secretary, Christina. She's next to me in the other photo too!

Can't see your photos?

[DeadCanDanceR]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett (original)

Can't see your photos?

Ooops, sorry! I made a mistake. Hopefully you'll be able to see them now!

After I posted them earlier today, I went back to the Photobucket site and I moved them to a different folder. I forgot that they were linked to this post!

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Thanks for that DeadCanDanceR Fascinating photos!

Tigger.

[OttoMannS]

So Frank has designed masterpieces. What has Gert done? Anyone?

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Ermmmm... Err....

[OttoMannS]

C'mmon chaps you can certainly think a little harder than that.

So I hear Gert used to work for Trabant in East Germany? There is a "Soviet"feel to the R56 interior...can't quite describe it....

[Paul]

Gert Hildebrand

"Gert Volker Hildebrand, 52, the Chief Designer of Mini, has had a prolific and influential career in automotive design. After completing University studies in engineering and design in Karlsruhe, Braunschweig and the RCA London, Hildebrand joined Opel where he was part of the Kadett E design-team and the Opel JUNIOR show-car team 1983.
photo of Gert Hildebrand

Next, the Lörrach, Germany born designer moved to the Volkswagen Design Center where he performed on the Golf III, and IV, in addition to the Sharan Face-lift and the Bora. In 1995 Hildebrand was appointed Chief Designer of the Volkswagen owned Seat Automotive Co. in Matorel, Spain. At Seat, besides designing the 1998 Toledo and Leon models, he also created the new face and the future designdirection for Seat.

After a successful career at the Volkswagen Group, he ventured to the Mitsubishi European Design Center where he was Chief Designer. Hildebrand also has experience in the automotive supply industry, working in the European subsidiaries of 3M and JCI. Since the beginning of 2001 Hildebrand leads the Mini Design"

There you go.