Tom Karen OBE, whose designs included the Raleigh Chopper and the Bond Bug which later formed the base of Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder in Star Wars: A New Hope, died aged 96 on New Year’s Eve surrounded by his family.
For years, Mr Karen’s role in designing the Raleigh Chopper bike – manufactured in Nottingham – sparked controversy.
It was originally said that Raleigh’s design director Alan Oakley had been on a fact-finding trip to the USA and was solely responsible, but Mr Karen said the firm later credited his contribution in helping create the children’s classic.
His 1968 sketches of the bike – which sold 1.5 million units – have been stored in the archive of the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Mr Karen, who was appointed OBE in 2019, was the managing director of Letchworth’s Ogle Design from 1962 until 1999.
For years, Mr Karen’s role in designing the Raleigh Chopper bike – manufactured in Nottingham – sparked controversy.
It was originally said that Raleigh’s design director Alan Oakley had been on a fact-finding trip to the USA and was solely responsible, but Mr Karen said the firm later credited his contribution in helping create the children’s classic.
His 1968 sketches of the bike – which sold 1.5 million units – have been stored in the archive of the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Mr Karen, who was appointed OBE in 2019, was the managing director of Letchworth’s Ogle Design from 1962 until 1999.
During this time, he helped design the Reliant Scimitar car, the Reliant Bond Bug – a two-seater, three-wheeled sports car that was launched at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire in 1970 – and Leyland lorry cabs.
The Bond Bug’s unusual chassis formed the base of Luke Skywalker’s landspeeder in Star Wars, while Ogle Design’s association with Leyland resulted in Mr Karen designing one of the Popemobiles after the lorry firm was commissioned to manufacture them.
Ogle director Philip Martin said the firm was “deeply saddened” to learn of Mr Karen’s death.
“He was an exceptionally talented designer and a very special man,” he said.
Team Jedi News send our condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.
Images: –
Bond Bug: Getty Images
Landspeeder: https://tomkarendesigner.co.uk
