Issigonis was to use Moultons suspension ideas on all his future cars, with Moulton working in a consultancy capacity to BMC. Sir Alec Issigonis | Autopedia | Fandom . Maybe it takes that sort of single-mindedness, bordering on obsession, to create something different, get it into production in spite of obstacles and naysayers, and make it a success. Was it to be water or air cooled? In the face of all this mayhem, Mrs. Issigonis decided to migrate with Alex to Britain, a land neither knew. Encouraged by the success of the Morris Minor, Issigonis continued his design work at Morris (including work on a replacement for the Minor with a transverse 4 cylinderengine with an endon gearbox) until the merger with the Austin in 1952 to form BMC. He lived and worked in England " A camel is a horse designed by a committee " " Pure Math is the enemy of every truly creative man" Sir Alec's grandfather Demosthenes was sort of a mechanical genius having . Alec Issigonis - Wikipdia, a enciclopdia livre However, at the end of 1956, following fuel rationing brought about by the Suez Crisis, Issigonis was ordered by Lord to bring the smaller car, XC/9003, to production as quickly as possible. Noch ein Mini! Issigonis first concepts were rear wheel drive, with a conventional drive train, fully independent suspension set on a long wheelbase with short overhangs and very rudimentary styling. Having failed his mathematics exams three times, subsequently declaring it 'the most uncreative subject you can study',[3] Issigonis decided to enter the University of London External Programme to complete his university education. Issigonis did observe and try to improve on what he saw, but always challenged himself to be original and better. Sir Alec Issigonis started his career at Humber, known for their Humber Snipe and Humber Hawk models, even Queen Elizabeth II owned a Humber. Alec Issigonis, technical director of the British Motor Corporation and Charles Griffin, chief engineer, answer questions from our technical editor. Sir Alec Issigonis, in full Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, (born Nov. 18, 1906, Smyrna [now zmir], Tur.died Oct. 2, 1988, Birmingham, Eng. In 1952, the year BMC was formed, he moved to Alvis where he designed an advanced saloon, and experimented with interconnected independent suspension systems. Remembering Designer of the Mini Cooper, Alec Issigonis American Brands: AMC, Jeep and All Others, Tractors, Lawn Mowers, Off-Road Equipment, Biography: Sir Alec Issigonis The Designer of Britains Favourite Cars, Britains Favourite Car Designer, I have labelled it the Most Significant Car of the 1940s, Vintage R&T Technical Analysis: AMCs New Pacer As Short As A Pinto; As Wide As A Chevelle, Vintage Car Life Comparison: 1961 VW Bus, Corvair Greenbrier, and Ford Econoline Wherein A 40 HP VW Bus Ties An 80 HP Greenbrier In The 1/4 Mile, Cohort Pic(k) of the Day: NSU Ro80 Just Your Typical Bay Area Car Show, The CC Graveyard: Part Three An Exotic Foreigner Hiding In The Bushes, Wordless Outtake: Ford, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot, Renault, MAN The Subcontractors Sixsome, BOAL: 1982 Honda GL500 Silverwing Chapter 5, The Baby Wing. Alec Issigonis. It really showed up typical RWD cars of the time as being great space-wasters. [13], He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1967. Alec's mother, Hulda Prokopp, could trace her origins back to Wrttemberg (now part of Germany). Issigonis, The Mini Mastermind - On This Day Alec Issigonis Quotes - BrainyQuote Enter the length or pattern for better results. Please check back soon for updates. He designed the Mini, launched by the British Motor Corporation in 1959, and voted the second most influential car of the 20th century in 1999. [7] This ground-breaking design, with its front wheel drive, transverse engine, sump gearbox, 10-inch wheels, and phenomenal space efficiency, was still being manufactured in 2000 and has been the inspiration for almost all small front-wheel drive cars produced since the early 1960s. In 1928 his first job was in the design office of Gillett, an engineering firm in London. Joseph Lowrey, [], The Mini hit its big landmark in 1969, a seismic year in the history of BMC>Rover. Hulda Issigonis then returned to Malta, leaving sixteen year old Alec alone in London, returning only after Constantine had died. His father Constantine Issigonis was a successful shipbuilding engineer, whose own father was from Paros. The typical American indifference to regular maintenance did not play well with this setup. He was known for being a Entrepreneur. Sir Alec Issigonis, in full Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, (born Nov. 18, 1906, Smyrna [now zmir], Tur.died Oct. 2, 1988, Birmingham, Eng. Chinese Zodiac: Alec Issigonis was born in the Year of the Rabbit. Issigonis studied engineering at Battersea Polytechnic in London. Issigonis was knighted in 1968, 1955 Morris Minor: Britains Favorite Car Bar None, And Rightly So, Austin Seven (Mini): The Future Started Here. Alec Issigonis: straight from a family thrilled by technology. Rover used the freewheel extensively, on cars and Land Rovers, into the 1960s. What a great. Great article there should be a movie about Issigonis! Our tool for managing your permission to our use of cookies is temporarily offline. Issigonis Prototype 1970 Mini 9X - atwellwilson.org.uk Addresses | OxfordBiomedica Sir Alecs design which we built won the design centre award. [12], In 1964 Issigonis was appointed a Royal Designer for Industry (RDI). Lord was looking for modernity, but he was also looking for commonality of engines, good quality design and cars good enough to be amongst the best in their class and internationally competitive. It was more like a Lancia or a rear drive Citroen than a Rover or a Sunbeam-Talbot. *27/02/01 The new Mini which will go on sale in the UK summer 2001, was , being unveiled for the first time. I have liked them ever since. His father, a successful and wealthy shipbuilding engineer, was of Greek origin but held a British passport. Issgonis preferred to work by sketching his ideas onto Arclight pads, each numbered in sequence and retained, and then having Daniels, looking after chassis elements, or another close confidant John Sheppard, looking after the body shell itself, work to turn these in physical reality. I caught up to my mate and I said thats a really cool car, what is it? Thats my BrothersMini Cooper. Sir Alec Constantine Issigonis: The Greek Designer Of The Famous Mini [11], Issigonis was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1964 Birthday Honours. Probably the closest British comparison is the Jaguar Mk 1 which came out in 1955 and was produced at a rate of around 10-15,000 for thirteen years. Once more details are available, we will update this section. He didnt say by 1974 in regard to VW and Renault. Whos the richest Entrepreneur in the world. The XC (experimental car) code names assigned for the new cars were XC/9001 - for a large comfortable car, XC/9002 - for a medium-sized family car, and XC/9003 . They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. He left Morris in 1952 for Alvis just as BMC was created from Austin and Morris (as well as Riley, Wolseley and MG).. Sir Alec was a combination of everything that was right AND wrong about the British car industry in his day. A British citizen born in Turkey in 1906, Issigonis did not see an automobile until he was 12 years old. In 1922 the family left Turkey for England, as all British people were banished from the country. Sounds like his stubbornness had a lot in common with Henry Ford and his reluctance to move on from the Model T. Imagine trying to take him seriously when he declared an uncomfortable driver is an alert driver. He remained on the BL books as a consultant until 1988, shortly before his death. Young Alec grew up in a very affluent environment, with influences from Germany and Greece (he grew up speaking German and Greek), rather than Turkey and Britain. Issigonis showed little interest in things mechanical until he was well into his teens, not riding in a car until he was 14 years old, and was seemingly more interested in art, under the strong influence of his mother. The Mini was launched in 1959, and became instantly popular. As a young man, Constantine was sent to England to study, and he later married Hulda Prokopp, the daughter of a wealthy German brewer in Smyrna. Another Mini! By the mid 1970s, Issigonis was beginning suffer from Menieres disease, and the consequent loss of full control of his balance let him to retreat from prominence. George Harriman, Leonard Lord and Alec Issogonis. Constantine studied in England. One thing that I learnt the hard way well not the hard way, the easy way when youre designing a new car for production, never, never copy the opposition, declared Issigonis, when asked to summarise his approach to car design. From 1925-1928 he studied engineering at Battersea Polytechnic in London. Alec Issigonis Popularity Most Popular Born in 1906 First Name Alec #31 #1 Entrepreneur Born in Turkey #2 Alec Issigonis Is A Member Of Born In 1906 Entrepreneurs First Name Alec Scorpios His family had to flee Smyrne to es- cape the genocide of 1922 by the Turks. Starting around 1930, he raced a supercharged "Ulster" Austin Seven, later fitting it with a front axle of his own design, leading to employment at Austin. In conjunction with Issigonis work, Lord contracted Pininfarina to lead the styling of BMCs new cars, starting with the conventionally engineered Austin A40 Farina in 1958. Iconic. Beyond the Maxi, launched on 1969, Issigonis had left little visible influence on the new cars coming from British Leyland, and indeed, the company made definite moves that would have been unthinkable to him, such as the bold, deliberately contemporary styling of the Austin-Morris 18-22 (Princess range) or the Allegro, or the conservative engineering of the Morris Marina. His little cars were a success despite him. The XC (experimental car) code names assigned for the new cars were XC/9001, for a large comfortable car, XC/9002, for a medium-sized family car, and XC/9003, for a small town car. A GLIMPSE INTO THE LIFE OF THE MINI FOUNDER. In March 1957 Lord asked (more likely told, as Lord did not do asking) Issigonis to come up with something to compete with them. Cooper took the prototype out for a spin and realised this fuel-saving people's car cornered like no other. This led to a job at Austin, but in 1936, he moved to Morris at Cowley, where he worked on the Morris 10. Issigonis had the dream of becoming an automobile engineer at an early age. Alec Issigonis Net Worth 2023: Wiki Bio, Married, Dating, Family Most events he entered were sprints and hillclimbs, but he also competed in some circuit races. The cars quickly found their way to the scrapheap since the cost of repairing the automatic transmission typically was more than the car was worth. All Rights Reserved. When he officially retired from BLMC in November 1971, Issigonis was retained by BLMC on an exclusive consultancy agreement, signed off by and reporting to the Chairman, Donald Stokes. Its practicality and affordability made it immediately popular; by the time of Issigonis death more than five million had been sold. Therefore, when Alec's father, Constantine Issigonis, was born in Smyrna in 1872, he was also a British national. Alec Issigonis - Trivia, Family, Bio | Famous Birthdays The irony being, of all the cars built in the world that follow his layout, none carry an Austin or Morris badge. Alec Issigonis (Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis) was born in Smyrna in the Ottoman Empire (now Izmir, Turkey). Im sure the Renault 4, 5, 6, and 16 had longitudinal engines. His name? It is really amazing, when you think of it, that some 60 years later his basic vision rolls off of assembly lines all over the world. The Landcrab and Maxi were so butt ugly that no self respecting petrolhead would be seen it one. British car designer best remembered for his work on the development of the iconic Mini. https://www.mini.com/ The gearbox in sump was a dead end in terms of automotive design. But accounts do suggest it done in a pretty crass way. Therefore some functionality is missing. Excellent article. The Mini, and the other Issigonis BMC front wheel drive cars, benefited from Issigonis continuing collaboration with Alex Moulton and his suspension system developments. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Alec Issigonis was born on the 18th of November, 1906. That Alvis is one of those missed opportunities that ultimately doomed the company. At this time, he was working for Maurice Olley. Contact - Oxbotica The Morris Minor was an immediate success, selling over 11 million units, and was the first characterization of Issigoniss philosophy of maximizing interior space while shrinking all other components. Due to time pressures, the interconnected suspension system that Issigonis had planned for the car was replaced by an equally novel, but cruder, rubber cone system designed by Alex Moulton. I have labelled it the Most Significant Car of the 1940s; it is probably the most recognised British car, apart from the Mini, and the most fondly remembered car by many British families and motorists. By October 1957, Issigonis had shown Lord a working prototype and the decision had been made to manufacture the car, using the existing BMC A series engine. Like many famous people and celebrities, Alec Issigonis kept his personal life private. (The Maxi, by comparison, was a bland lump.). He would attend the usual motor shows, but often would refuse to look in detail at the competition, so he did not become confused. Constantine married a German lady whose name was Hulda Prokopp and in 1906 they had a baby who they named Alexander Arnold Issigonis, or Alec to his family. In 1942, the first scale model was produced and the following year work began on a hand-formed steel prototype. The original plan called for a large family car by 1960, to be followed by a smaller car and then a city car. [8], With the creation of British Leyland in 1969, new chairman Lord Stokes quickly sidelined Issigonis and made him into what was termed "Special Developments Director", replacing him with Harry Webster as the new Technical Director (Small/Medium cars). Having been a passenger in an early Austin Landcrab on several occasions I can confirm they are amazingly spacious inside, front and rear. meantime, John preferred his psychedelic Rolls .. Roger, hats off for this excellent treatment of an engineering legend. File nella categoria "Alec Issigonis" Questa categoria contiene 5 file, indicati di seguito, su un totale di 5. ), British automobile designer who created the best-selling, economical Mini and the perennially popular Morris Minor. To get to this point wasnt easy. Another Mini!). Born in Smyrna, Ottoman Empire (now zmir, Turkey) on November 18, 1906, Issigonis immigrated to England with his family in 1922 and later studied engineering at . His father, a successful and wealthy shipbuilding engineer, was of Greek origin but held a British passport. Issigonis usually won, even when entered in the 1100cc class if there was no 750cc category. The suspension was trailing arms at the front, attached to a steel cross-member, and a swing axle rear, all with rubber springs made of catapult elastic. Alec Issigonis Related Authors Vivienne Westwood Quotes Virgil Abloh Quotes Coco Chanel Quotes Carroll Shelby Quotes Yes, it ran like hell when operable as the owner treated it like an Army Jeep. Despite its stated mission being to provide basic transport, this level of driving enjoyment, and capability, was like a non stop Christmas present. Address 8050 Alec Issigonis Way, Oxford Business Park North, Oxford, OX4 2HW. If you see something that doesnt look right, contact us. He managed to obtain his Diploma, but was not admitted to advanced studies. [], By Clifford Webb British Leyland are selling the Mini at a loss despite the latest price increase and the fact that after 14 years it is still their top export [], Lord Stokes writes to Sir Alec Issigonis on this day. Issigonis was born on 18 November 1906 in the Ottoman port city of Smyrna, the only child of Constantine Issigonis and Hulda Prokopp. At the end of the Greek-Turkish war in 1922, British subjects in Smyrna were evacuated by the Royal Navy, ahead of the Turkish re-possession of the area from Greece, with manyinitially travelling to Malta. - Wikipedia Updates? Alexander Issigonis was born into the Greek community of Smyrna (now Izmir) in Ottoman Turkey. He did not want more conventional answers, without at least exploring some technical advances. In August 1959 the car was launched as the Morris Mini Minor and the Austin Seven, which soon became known as the Austin Mini. Shortly after in 1962, when gender roles were thought to be defined, one woman chose a life of speed. BLMC says, Archive : Lord Stokes writes to Alec Issigonis, Archive : How Harry Webster is going to shape your car, Archive : The Thoughts of Chairman Stokes, Archive : Issigonis The Giant Who Thought Small, Archive : Creative role for Issigonis in BMC board switch, Archive : Mr Issigonis looks to the future, Archive : Interview Motor meets Alec Issigonis, The cars : Alfa Romeo Alfasud development story, Opinion : Celebrating 40 years of the Austin Maestro, Essay : Austin Maestro styling the real killer, Concepts and prototypes : LM10 and LM11 facelifts, Archive : Coventry Council Debates Rover Crisis, News : PSA confirms continued van production in Luton. The Lightweight Special - TNF's Archive - The Autosport Forums Issigonis was born in Smyrna in 1906. The childhood . Kereta ini menjadi kereta popular di Britain dan banyak negara di dunia, di samping berjaya menjuarai Rali Monte Carlo sebanyak 3 kali. Unfortunately I didnt turn out quite as brilliant, but I like to think I missed out some of the stubbornness/arrogance as well. Upon meeting Alec, she is shy and ashamed . By placing an A series four cylinder engine transversely with the gearbox underneath in the sump and sharing the oil, and moving the wheels to the corners, he saved so much space that it was possible to accommodate a four seat car within a length of 10 feet. The closure of the Suez canal created . In 1961, with the Mini gaining popularity, Issigonis was promoted to Technical Director of BMC. The Mini was designed by. It was a very ambitious intention, which Alvis were not capable of delivering on without importing a lot of engineering talent. Just re-watched the documentary about Issigonis, which has a great deal on the lightweight special It was 1999 channel 4 a full evenings programmes devoted to the 40th anniversary of the Mini. By the mid 1950s, as Europe got back on its feet after the war, there had been many attempts to define the modern car, but none was proving to be dominantly successful. He also has one of the finest technical brains in the country and he is [], THE GUARDIAN IAN BREACH interviews LORD STOKES Safety: British or American standards? People of this zodiac sign like truth, being right, longtime friends, teasing, and dislike dishonesty, revealing secrets, passive people. But, as ever, events intervened in this case the Suez Crisis of 1956, complete with petrol rationing. Alec Issigonis - Etsy Check out our alec issigonis selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. I had a book about Issigonis, but its lost. Issigonis' first cousin once removed was Bernd Pischetsreider, responsible . The AROnline development story tells the tale of how this small car changed the way we looked at economy cars almost overnight. August 26, 2019. By October 1959, the Mini was on sale and when the press first got their hands on BMCs new car, they were not shy to praise it; the Minis unique personality, exceptional space efficiency, lively performance and tenacious front-wheel-drive handling meant that it was a sure fire hit with the critics. His mother was from Bavaria. in there was a 1 hr "The Mini Man " -Sir Alec Issigonis 1906 - 1988 by great friend and car fanatic Peter Ustinov. Alec completed his education at an English boarding school, and in 1925, took a two month tour, by car, of Europe with his mother before returning to take a place at Battersea Polytechnic in south London, to study mechanical engineering. My doodles and sketches are not the work of an academic engineer. Alec Issigonis was born in 1900s. Alec Issigonis | Bartleby Family Life His father died in 1922, at which point he and his mother moved to the U.K.. Associated With He and Frank Stephenson are both famous car designers. Production only finished after BMW had bailed out of Rover in 2000. Alec Issigonis - Etsy After these cars, and the formation of British Leyland in 1968, Issigonis was sidelined by a new influx of engineers led by Triumphs Harry Webster. This car was remarkably light, weighing 587lb, of which the engine contributed 252lb. A very enjoyable read on a man whose name I knew in conjunction with so many brilliant designs, but who I previously knew little about. Noch ein Mini (A Mini! The 1100 benefited from someone elses external design. . Towards the end of WW2, he began work on the Mosquito project, which ended up being launched in 1948 as the Morris Minor. For his accomplishments, Queen Elizabeth knighted Issigonis in 1969. The loss of British sovereignty led not only to a political defeat but also to an oil crisis. JUMP TO: Alec Issigoniss biography, facts, family, personal life, zodiac, videos and related celebs. There was no radio fitted as he thought it would distract the driver. Joseph Lowrey, MOTOR: As soon [], Mr Alec Issigoniss New B.M.C. Alec Issigonis - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia Given his disrupted education, unusual background and the tough economic times that were the late 1920s, finding a job was not easy, but in 1928, and by now a British citizen in his own right, Issigonis took his first job in the motor industry, for Edward Gillett in London, through a networking contact he had made at Battersea. Biography: Sir ALEC issigonis - The designer of Britain's favourite cars, Britain's favourite car designer . I dont have any great memories of the Mini to share, though you saw them everywhere. Alec Issigonis, technical director of the British Motor Corporation and Charles Griffin, chief engineer, answer questions from our technical editor. This was the man who persisted in pursuing a gearless car using only a torque converter, who rubbished CAD in favour of slide rules, who did most of his designs in rough and passed them to his acolytes to make real. Styled by Pininfarina, it was launched as the Morris 1100 in 1962, and a year later as the Austin 1100, and the clean, classical lines of the car served BMC well. Here in Australia they didnt seem particularly small, but they were certainly a lot more roomy than the competition. I saw one, in 79 or 80, sold here as the MG Sports Sedan. Did they aim to build in greater volume, to compete with emerging brands such as Jaguar, or did they retreat further upmarket or even entirely into other activities? Shunning all offers of silver service with the management. Stokes was heard on his appointment to say: "We'll sharp sort this bloke Issigonis out!". His love/hate relationship with the companys products stayed with []. It has since proved to be the template for the small car for nearly 60 years it has still not been bettered and was followed as early as 1963 by the Autobianchi Primula, which had the first end on gearbox on its transverse engine, by the 1965 Peugeot 204 with a configuration closer to the ADO16 but larger, and 1967 by the Simca 1100, the first to combine an end on gearbox and a hatchback. This isnt 1942. Youre right about maintenance. The first car to repeat the concept of the Mini was the ADO16, which is often considered to be Issigoniss finest hour. But his true interest was in the 9X and its power unit, and getting a version of it accepted by BL. All Rights Reserved. Alec Issigonis - Career - LiquiSearch 41 Copy quote. His paternal grandfather, Demosthenis, had migrated to Smyrna from the Greek island of Paros in the 1830s and Constantine was a successful and wealthy shipbuilding engineer. [], The Mini is 63 years old this week. In October, 1957, just eight months after first putting pen to paper, the first prototypes were on the road. The last sighting was of a 71 America, in 81, and looking very well cared for. Alec Issigonis The public don't know what they want; it's my job to tell them. The change was not handled well though, with credible accounts of a literally tearful Issigonis wandering around Longbridge trying to find a new office after returning from abroad to find Webster occupying his office. During the war, Morris Motors undertook military work, notably the development of the Morris lightweight reconnaissance vehicle for the War Department. Bookmark this page and come back often for updates. [10], There is a road named "Alec Issigonis Way" in the Oxford Business Park on the former site of the Morris Motors factory in Cowley, Oxfordshire. We will continue to update information on Alec Issigoniss parents. Zodiac Sign: Alec Issigonis was a Scorpio. A family that . Issigonis was giving punters what they needed, rather than what they wanted. Austin Maxi: Big On The Inside But Not On The Outside, What a great write up Roger. He title at Alvis was Engineer in charge of passenger car design. Building 9400 Oxford Business Park North Alec Issigonis Way Oxford OX4 2HN I fist saw a Mini on my way to middle school in 1965. This generation experienced much of their youth during the Great Depression and rapid technological innovation such as the radio and the telephone. This was to be an advanced saloon with all aluminium V-8 engine, and the original plan was for Alvis to produce 5,000 cars a year, or ten times Alviss current production rate, to compete with Riley (not then a badge engineered BMC product), Rover, Sunbeam-Talbot and Jaguar. Sir Alec Issigonis ( 1906-1988 ) was an exceptional car designer who is best known for his development of the Mini.He was born in Smyrna ( Izmir ) in Turkey, the son of British-Greek parents. Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis (Greek: , )CBE FRS RDI (18 November 1906 2 October 1988) was a British-Greek automotive designer. If (and I have no evidence and make no suggestions) a young Issigonis had been outed in, say, the early 1950s, his career progression would likely have been ended even, without any prosecution. Richard Bremneris well-known for being a highly-respected motoring scribe, but in his formative years, he worked in the employ of Austin-Rover. The 1100 and later 1300 outsold the Mini by a considerable margin and remained Britains best-selling car right through the 1960s. Engine access on the Mini was very awkward, and this was only improved on the ADO16 because Jack Daniels was able to keep Issigonis away from the detail work, which was largely done at Cowley in Oxford rather than Longbridge.
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