Which designer created the original Mini?

The original Mini was created by designer Alec Issigonis.

Sir Alec Issigonis designed the Mini for the British Motor Corporation during the fuel shortages that followed the 1956 Suez Crisis. BMC chairman Leonard Lord wanted a small but proper car to challenge the bubble cars becoming popular in Britain, and Issigonis made that brief a priority.

The result used a transverse engine mounted at the front, front-wheel drive and a compact two-box body. This packaging left about 80 percent of the floor area available for passengers and luggage, helping the tiny car accommodate four people surprisingly well. The Mini’s rubber-cone suspension and wheels pushed toward the corners also contributed to its distinctive handling.

The first cars appeared in 1959 as the Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor, rather than initially carrying only the name “Mini.” John Sheppard and other engineers helped develop the production car, so Issigonis was the chief designer rather than its sole contributor. The Mini later inspired performance versions such as the Mini Cooper, but Cooper’s name refers to John Cooper’s tuning partnership, not the car’s original designer.