Rod Mansfield

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

Contents

Early life

He belonged to the 750 Motor Club.

A 1987 Ford RS 500 in August 2010 1987 Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth Group A - Allan Moffat Bathurst (5061454124).jpg
A 1987 Ford RS 500 in August 2010

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.

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References

Business positions
Preceded by
Managing Director of Lotus Cars
August 1995 - February 1996
Succeeded by