Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Oxford Office. Issigonis would later state that pure mathematics (is) the enemy of every truly creative man. He began his engineering career at Morris Motors Ltd. in 1936 as a steering and suspension engineer. But back in the day, young UK petrolheads had the time of our lives with Minis, modified in countless ways, rocketing around on twisty English roads, and in weekend motorsports. He was reluctant to consider features such as large boots or hatchbacks, or engine access, as important. Zodiac Sign: Alec Issigonis was a Scorpio. It really showed up typical RWD cars of the time as being great space-wasters. Friendly was ideal for owner-buyers, a large part of the British car buying public, but never appealed to thrusting young execs and salesmen, which is why BLMC was so desperate for the Marina to crack the fleet market. Issigonis' creation was remarkable, but it really only became a Mini when he got a little help from his friend, motorsport pioneer John Cooper. Issigonis was giving punters what they needed, rather than what they wanted. 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. Chrysler also took a licence to manufacture the device, which was an integral part of their pioneering overdrive in 1934. Great write about a very clever guy, but he was wrong an uncomfortable driver is an irritable driver who fatigues rather more quickly, The Landcrab while being comfortable to ride in as a passenger is not so nice to drive nor are the smaller cars from BMC, there are many surviving ADO16s here and NZ is still the Morris Minor capital of the world they will never become rare here and for that matter neither will real Minis but 1800s and Maxis are quite thin on the ground already yet were popular new they werent very durable though, and the last Princess Ive seen is a rusty example outside the British car museum at Te Awanga, Personally having driven all his ideas the Morris Minor was his best one that saw production, I got my first car licence in a Morry Thou. Sir Alec Issigonis. Iconic. Sir Alec Constantine Issigonis, born in Smyrna, Ottoman Empire on November 18, 1906, is famous for designing the beloved Mini Cooper motor car. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Manual transmissions seemed to hold up ok,lasting at least as long as the engine. If it was front engined, was it to be rear wheel or front wheel drive? Im sure this was never part of Issigoniss plan, as he was anti-style, but only the 1100 benefited from external help. ), British automobile designer who created the best-selling, economical Mini and the perennially popular Morris Minor. A truly fascinating man he was. In March 1957 Lord asked (more likely told, as Lord did not do asking) Issigonis to come up with something to compete with them. Ford clinging to the T too long was the same sort of corporate inertia that had VW clinging to the Bug too long. 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. 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. Updates? 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. Lord Alfred Robens , Chairman of the National Coal Board, wearing cap and gown as he is installed as the new Chancellor of the University of . Issigonis 'response was dry and forceful:'I'm an engineer. It had one option an AM radio, hung below the dash. 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. Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis CBE FRS RDI (18 November 1906 - 2 October 1988) was a Greek automotive designer. The AROnline development story tells the tale of how this small car changed the way we looked at economy cars almost overnight. Alec Issigonis was a Scorpio and was born in the G.I. Corrections? Great summary of a giant of industrial design. The problem was that I would never have initially chosen to drive one. Alec Issigonis was born on the 18th of November, 1906. The Royal Navy Marines evacuated British Subjects, including the Issigonis family, from Smyrna before Turkey attacked. At the end of 1955, Issigonis was recruited back into BMC - this time into the Austin plant at Longbridge - by its chairman Sir Leonard Lord, to design a new model family of three cars. But the story begins even further back, with a man named Demosthenis, Alec's grandfather, who emigrated from Greece to Asia-Minor in the 1830s and worked for the Smyrna-Aydn Railway. The Renault 14 was transversely engined, from 1976. His love/hate relationship with the companys products stayed with []. Alecs education details are not available at this time. Youre right about maintenance. In 1956, the focus was shifted towards a new economy car and from here, the Mini was born in 1959. Another Mini!). is military terminology referring to "Government Issue" or "General Issue". When Alvis cancelled the project, Issigonis was invited by BMC Chairman Sir Leonard Lord to return to BMC at Longbridge, as Chief Body and Chassis engineer, and reporting to BMC Technical Director Sydney Smith. [], 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. Alec Issigonis Related Authors Vivienne Westwood Quotes Virgil Abloh Quotes Coco Chanel Quotes Carroll Shelby Quotes 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. In 1936, he moved to Morris Motors Limited at Cowley working on an independent front suspension system for the Morris 10. The concept of the transverse engine and gearbox combined with FWD, which had previously been used only with two-cylinder two-stroke engines by DKW (since the 1920s), Lloyd and Saab, was adapted by Issigonis for the four cylinder A-block engine for the Mini. His father died in 1922, at which point he and his mother moved to the U.K.. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. There were, as CC has seen, many and varied reasons for the failure of the Landcrab and Maxi: the control (or rather the lack of it) exercised by Lord and Harriman over Issigonis; the inherited components; and marketing and production issues. The Minor was, of course, a huge success, for Nuffield and for Issigonis. Alviss options for body shell production were being reduced, at the same as the estimated costs of the body manufacture doubled. When is Alec Issigoniss birthday? 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? 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. Austin Healey Sprites , 3000s Austin Americas, MG Midget, MGAs MGBs Mg 1100s I had many of each model. I witnessed blowing head gaskets, torn manifold studs and much more and found out that taking the engine out first was the quickest access for any of these repairs! It was also a specialist low volume producer of expensive, exclusive sports saloons cars not now associated with Issigonis and was at the same crossroads that so many smaller, upscale producers had been. Innovative. He was involved in engine design as well, requesting unsuccessfully that BL build 4 and 6 cylinder engines for Mini variants. In August 1971, Issigonis drove the 2 millionth ADO16 off the line, as the same time as a Mini Clubman, which was the 5 millionth front wheel drive BMC car, came off the line in the next building. One tidbit I recall: when the Morris Minor design was almost finished the book showed the designer holding a brass model of the car it was decided to add a few inches of width at the centerline. XC/9001 became ADO17 and was launched, also with the Hydrolastic suspension system, as the Austin 1800 in October 1964.The same principle was carried over for his next production car the Austin Maxi, However, by then he had become more aware of the cost considerations of vehicle manufacture and in service warranty costs which were crippling BMC. To clarify, the Renault 4, 5 (first generation, Le Car), 6 and 16 all had longitudinally mounted engines. Issigonis became a fellow of the Royal Society in 1967 and was knighted in 1969. Brilliant cars! The Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum is now home to the Issigonis Prototype 1970 Mini 9X 'Gearless', donated to the Museum by the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon, Warwickshire. Sir Alec Issigonis was one of the automotive industry's great independent thinkers. Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, CBE, FRS (18 November 1906-2 October 1988) was a Greek-British designer of cars, now remembered chiefly for the groundbreaking and influential development of the Mini, launched by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) in 1959. *27/02/01 The new Mini which will go on sale in the UK summer 2001, was , being unveiled for the first time. Fascinating piece and what a character! From then onwards, any car in the small or medium market without a transverse engine was considered unusual, and conservative. His stubbornness, I would say, had more in common with Ford starting production of the T, when everyone was telling him to make expensive cars because they were more profitable. Issigonis's mother, Hulda Prokopp, was descended from a Bavarian brewing family who had settled in Smyrna, and established a brewery. Morriss chief engineer, A V (Vic) Oak, recognised that Issigoniss greatest asset was his imagination but also noted that it needed to be guided firmly but carefully to bring out the best of it. 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. He was popular for being a Entrepreneur. I wonder if he was to blame for the Mini never having a hatchback, or a more softly suspended version? He was retired from British Leyland in 1971, memorably being given a Meccano kit for his leaving present. During the war, Morris Motors undertook military work, notably the development of the Morris lightweight reconnaissance vehicle for the War Department. IAN NICHOLLS recalls the day the two millionth rolled off the production line [], A team of the worlds leading motoring writers, along with voters on the internet, have short-listed the legendary Mini for the ultimate motoring accolade the international Car of the [], THE GUARDIAN Lord Stokes writes about the late Sir Alec Issigonis: Alec Issigonis was a very charming and persuasive person, and a brilliant innovative engineer with a considerable capacity for [], Rover Group consultant Sir Alec Issigonis writes to chairman Graham Day. In many ways, this car was a clear, but simpler, derivative of the work Issigonis had been doing at Alvis, and Issigonis recruited some former colleagues from Alvis to BMC to develop V6 and V4 engines for the projected BMC cars, possibly using the aborted work at Alvis as a basis. Perhaps it was a trait that ran in the family. Well, he went down in history as the father of the Mini and was even raised to nobility for his services. The challenge of designing the Mini was engineering a car that would seat four passengers and their luggage in a package not to exceed ten feet in length. Issigonis was a good packaging designer. Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, CBE, FRS, RDI (18 November 1906 - 2 October 1988) was a Greek-British designer of cars, now remembered chiefly for the groundbreaking and influential . MINI, official partner of Team GB and ParalympicsGB, has unveiled its new London 2012 special, Keith Adams Well, Christmas and Boxing Day are out of the way and the, The replacement for the Austin-Healey 3000 never took off, thanks in part to a poor, British Motor Holdings the joining of BMC and Jaguar, The cars : Mini (ADO15) development story Part One, Concepts and prototypes : BMC 9X (1968-87), Blog : Why the Italians beat us to a supermini by a decade, History : The Road to Perdition Part One, Interview : Alec Issigonis on the BMC 1100, Archive : Mini Shortlisted For Car Of The Century, Archive : Mini still sold at a loss. Designer Alec Issigonis was born in the southern Anatolian city of Smyrna in 1906. And a rally demon was born. Essay on The Pure Voice in Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles. Please check back soon for updates. His father, however, did not survive the crossing. In 1942, Morris gave Issigonis overall responsibility for an all-new model; the Morris Minor. The Mini was launched in 1959, and became instantly popular. The [], CARS AND DRIVERS by GEOFFREY CHARLES Whatever the outcome of the BMH-Leyland merger in model rationalization, intensified marketing or expansion-and any joint project will not appear for at least 3 [], MOTOR WHY IS THE ADO16? [], The Mini is 63 years old this week. Issigonis studied engineering at Battersea Polytechnic in London. To achieve this feat, Issigonis utilized a front wheel drive layout with a transverse-mounted engine, the first modern application of this concept. People over the road from us had a Wolseley Six (top of the range Landcrab) when we were kids. It was at Alvis that Issigonis first worked with another of the influential characters of his career. Despite its stated mission being to provide basic transport, this level of driving enjoyment, and capability, was like a non stop Christmas present. He was able to share his engineering and automotive interests, through frequent tours of Longbridge in the 1960s, with a first cousin once removed on his mothers side of his family, who later completed a mechanical engineering degree and followed a career in the motor industry. Issigoniss first project was to design an independent suspension for Rootes highest volume car, the Hillman Minx. Been a fan of Alec Issigonis since I was 8 years old. Look what happened to Alan Turing. Sticks in my mind I read a road test that put engine speed at 60 around 4,000rpm. Contents Early life and education Career Legacy Honours Some of his cars I have liked them ever since. The first application of Sir Alec Issigonis' engineering breakthrough - All Photos by Randy Stern, except otherwise noted Remember Sir Alec Issigonis? Comprehensive article. Issigonis had the dream of becoming an automobile engineer at an early age. If only it had had more power and better gearing. His father, a successful and wealthy shipbuilding engineer, was of Greek origin but held a British passport. His retirement gift from the company was the largest available Meccano set, complete with a steam engine. Issigonis was dismissive of market research, The public dont know what they want; its my job to tell them and even mathematics, derided as the enemy of every truly creative man. Thank you very much for a wonderful biography. O interesse pelo automvel veio aos 12 anos, quando ele viu um pela primeira vez. 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. Bookmark this page and come back often for updates. Alec Issigonis is part of G.I. Issigonis never had any input into MG sports cars or the large, rear drive saloons BMC were still building the late 1960s, and the Austin 3 Litre, based on Issigoniss Austin 1800 was driven by George Harriman. The mini leaked like a sieve because of the way hed designed the sills and had to be redesigned. At some point in the mid-60s they ran an After the New Wears Off feature by an MG 1100 owner in Los Angeles. Generation also known as The Greatest Generation. But beneath this surface, he was a sensitive and more vulnerable person, and was almost certainly (and inexcusably) the subject of some intolerance and prejudice from the UK born staff. Heynes later became Technical Director at Jaguar and was a personal friend of Issigonis for many years. Alec Issigonis Way Oxford Business Park Oxford OX4 2HN United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0) 1865 783 000 Oxford Biomedica Solutions 1 Patriots Park Bedford MA 01730 United States Telephone: +1 781 428 4536 Email :solutions.partnering@oxb.com Oxford Biomedica (Ireland) Ltd Office 502 Balheary Demense Balheary Road Swords Co. Dublin Ireland The typical American indifference to regular maintenance did not play well with this setup. An amazing man, and someone who would probably never rise to prominence in todays auto industry. German Engineer Who Designed And Built The First Practical Automobile (Crossword ClueThe crossword clue German engineer who designed and built the first practical automobile.
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