5 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

"Pictured in April 1965 a hard up young songwriter by the name of David Robert Jones (later known as David Bowie) funded his burgeoning music career working on the Mini production line at the Cowley factory near Oxford, though this wasn’t to last as two years after this photo was taken he signed his first record deal and released his debut LP in June 1967. He never forgot his roots though and he often went back to the factory to see his old workmates, sang some of his glam rock hits to them over the Tannoy and signed autographs. By the early 70s his platform boots and glittery capes were a trip hazard around the factory floor and sadly due to health and safety concerns his annual visits were curtailed after an unfortunate incident on the factory’s rolling road! Bowie later sang the song ‘Wild Is The Wind’ about the excess flatulence he witnessed on the shop floor and the songs ‘Under Pressure’ , ‘It Ain’t Easy’ and ‘Breaking Glass’ all about his golden years fitting the windscreens into our beloved little Minis at the Cowley plant, to think that the screens in your early Mini could well have been fitted by Ziggy Stardust himself!"
Sporting Minis - April 1st 2025:-
https://www.facebook...28&locale=en_GB

 

 

[mab01uk]

Even BMW's official MINI website mentions the 'urban myth' about a young David Bowie working for BMC on the early Mini production line....it would be interesting to track down who the the real person in the b&w Motorgraphs photo was, which was originally captioned - "Cowley factory BMC 1959. Adding final trim to the Morris Mini-Minor."

The Designer Mini - David Bowie
"I wanted to make something that could not be distinguished from its surroundings."
David Bowie
https://www.mini.com...avid-bowie.html

"Whether he was Ziggy Stardust, Major Tom, or Aladdin Sane, Bowie was always an enigmatic and vibrant figure. It’s no surprise then that there are multiple urban myths surrounding his life and achievements. One of these stories that you might have heard at a dinner party if you arrived in your MINI is that a young David Bowie actually worked for BMC, the makers of the Mini when the car’s original production began. They might have even said that there is photographic evidence to support such claims. Sadly – or rather fortunately – this is simply a myth, as Bowie would have been about 12 years old during the production of the Mini MK 1, so he most definitely didn’t work on any Mini production lines."

"However, what is undisputed is that in 1999 the musician was asked to design a very special Mini for the brand’s 40th anniversary. Other artists and designers were tasked with the same, such as Paul Smith, Kate Moss, Mark Ward and Natasha Caine. Although those cars have some truly creative and eye-catching designs, it’s probably Bowie’s car that is the most radical in its looks.
Bowie basically created a chrome car, wrapping the Mini Cooper in reflective mirror plating. The only parts of the extraordinary car that remained untouched from the chrome wrapping were the rear lights and the tyres. This was because, at least theoretically, the car had to remain drivable. “I wanted to make something that could not be distinguished from its surroundings,” claimed Bowie when asked about his design. “It’s the Emperor’s new clothes,”  he stated, and it does certainly play with the Mini’s identity, seeing as the small car was well known for having iconic and vibrant colour schemes. But it is also true that with this look the David Bowie Mini stands out more than any other Mini you could probably think of."

 

 

[ADRay]

whoever he is, you gotta respect a man that rocked a hardcore pompadour while working an assembly line.

[stuart bowes]

what is he actually doing in the picture I can't work it out

[Quinlan minor]

what is he actually doing in the picture I can't work it out

Fitting the "chrome" windscreen fillet strip.

[stuart bowes]

ah right , yeah that makes sense now

 

cheers