A MINI fit for a Beatle

Oct 14 2008 Steve Hughes

MINI is going back to the future as it approaches its 50th anniversary with a psychedelic colour job that harks back to the days of the Beatles and the swinging sixties.

The car is the creation of designer Alan Aldridge who was responsible for some of the most memorable album covers and lyric books of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elton John and The Who.

Now on show at the Design Museum in London, it is part of a retrospective display of his work, entitled The Man with Kaleidoscope Eyes.

Dubbed the Graphic Entertainer, Aldridge was also art director for Penguin Books and illustrated much-loved children's books such as The Butterfly Ball.

Now working in Los Angeles, he was keen to mark the opening of his exhibition by recreating the original 1965 colourful car.

Adorned with an array of images, shapes and patterns, each reflecting either a male or female theme, the design is split between each side of the car, with the driver side being largely set on a blue background and masculine in appearance, with the passenger side backed on pink.

The exhibition runs until January and the car will be displayed at next year's global MINI event which will be staged from May 22-24 at a British race circuit that is yet to be announced.