Rod Mansfield

John Roderick Mansfield (born 29 May 1934)[1] is a British engineer and business executive, influencing British motorsport, and ultimately many British boy racers.

Early life

He belonged to the 750 Motor Club.

Career

Ford

He created the Special Vehicle Engineering (SVE) department at the Dunton Technical Centre in Essex in 1980,[2] and ran it until 1990. It produced the more-powerful roadworthy versions of the Ford Sierra.[3]

Dieter Hahne took over the department in January 1991; he had been manager of the Medium Cars programme for Ford.[4]

Lotus

He became Managing Director of Lotus Cars on 14 August 1995, when Lotus was owned by Bugatti, who had bought the company from General Motors in 1993.[5] He left Lotus in February 1996.[6] Group Lotus employed around 900 people at its Norfolk factory.

Personal life

He lives in Little Burstead in Essex. He married Valerie Jones in 1958 in Surrey.

References
  1. Companies House
  2. Ford of Europe
  3. Independent October 1995
  4. Cambridge Weekly News Thursday 24 January 1991, page 25
  5. Independent October 1995
  6. Autonews 1996
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