The task: a car with lots of space inside with minimum dimensions outside, seats for four passengers, impeccable driving characteristics, superior fuel economy, and a very affordable price. [3] 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. Issigonis's own automotive career as a designer and engineer in England first took shape during the early 1930s when he began working for the vehicle manufacturer . 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. . Its practicality and affordability made it immediately popular; by the time of Issigonis death more than five million had been sold. 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. The rest is racing . The cars design with its front wheel drive and independent suspension provided good road handling, but Issigonis had scant regard for passenger comfort. I had a book about Issigonis, but its lost. [1][2], Issigonis was born on 18 November 1906 in the Ottoman port city of Smyrna, the only child of Constantine Issigonis and Hulda Prokopp. In 1942, Morris gave Issigonis overall responsibility for an all-new model; the Morris Minor. I saw one, in 79 or 80, sold here as the MG Sports Sedan. SOL 258H is the oldest surviving gearless car and was the preferred transport of Sir Alex Issigonis. Thanks for this terrific bio on one of the all-time greats in the field. Joseph Lowrey, [], The Mini hit its big landmark in 1969, a seismic year in the history of BMC>Rover. His inability to accept guidance (stubbornness may be a better term) also led to some misjudged products the Maxi comes to mind but perhaps the purity of hispredominantly engineering solution with poor execution in the areas Issigonis didnt or wouldnt appreciate (looks, practicality, ergonomics, product revisions, marketing) was also overlooked by too many within BMC. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Alec is . Alec is also well known as, British car designer best remembered for his work on the development of the iconic Mini. Issigonis legacy. Demosthenis acquired British nationality through the work he did for the British-built Smyrna-Aydin Railway. Hulda Issigonis then returned to Malta, leaving sixteen year old Alec alone in London, returning only after Constantine had died. Issigoniss first project was to design an independent suspension for Rootes highest volume car, the Hillman Minx. Building 9400 Oxford Business Park North Alec Issigonis Way Oxford OX4 2HN Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis was born in the Turkish town of Smyrna, today's Izmir, as the son of a Briton of Greek origin and a mother from Bavaria, on 18 November 1906. Im sure the Renault 4, 5, 6, and 16 had longitudinal engines. Absolutely brilliant article about an engineering genius. Alec Issigonis, the man who dreamed of the Mini - Archyde 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. What a great. ), British automobile designer who created the best-selling, economical Mini and the perennially popular Morris Minor. 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. Dr.Ing. as an American familiar only with U.S. cars. Cooper took the prototype out for a spin and realised this fuel-saving people's car cornered like no other. Ive never been inside a Landcrab or a Maxi, but I understand that while they are very spacious, the ergonomics are pretty poor. It didnt just raise the bar it kicked it into next week ! Issigonis was giving punters what they needed, rather than what they wanted. [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). We now call them Real Minis, to distinguish them from the post 2001 imitations. Moulton also designed folding, rubber suspended small-wheeled bicycles. In November 1971, Issigonis officially retired from BLMC, with a major ceremony at Longbridge, for which BL marshalled an example of every car for which he had led the design, of which only the Minor was no longer in production. He was a race car driver during the 30's and 40's. Much ADO About Project 15: A History of the Classic Mini 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. Generation. While much derided for its lack of style, I do love the huge smile he put on the front of the original 1800 Landcrab. They kept it several years until they decided they needed their 1st air-conditioned car a 66 LeMans. The original plan called for a large family car by 1960, to be followed by a smaller car and then a city car. Production only finished after BMW had bailed out of Rover in 2000. Discover what happened on this day. The closure of the Suez canal created . Designer Alec Issigonis was born in the southern Anatolian city of Smyrna in 1906. This strong streak of fierce independence and lack of compromise hid his lateral approach to the design and engineering of cars. . BL were in thrall of the myth theyd created, but the buying public had much more sense. Issigonis was excused service in the armed forces and remained at Cowley working on military vehicles of various types, including a very basic compact load carrier often described as a motorised wheelbarrow intended for use in jungle conditions together with an amphibious version designed for use by the Royal Navy. MG 1100/1300 Register - NAMGBR On the surface it didnt appear very desirable to Me, or to prospective new-car buyers. 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. You could, however, discern Issigoniss influence on some of BMCs light commercials, especially the underfloor engined JU and walk through EA vans of the late 1960s. Here in Australia they didnt seem particularly small, but they were certainly a lot more roomy than the competition. Alec Issigonis - Etsy Check out our alec issigonis selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Noch ein Mini! Issigonis planned two versions, known as the TA/350 with a 3.5 litre V8 and TA/175 with a 1750cc, V4 engine. After returning to England in 1922, he enrolled in engineering school, failing mathematics at every turn. Im sure this was never part of Issigoniss plan, as he was anti-style, but only the 1100 benefited from external help. Alec Issigonis was born on the 18th of November, 1906. The gearbox in sump was a dead end in terms of automotive design. 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. Morris Minor 1000s , Dropheads, Travelers , Panel Van, and Pick up trucks. Contact - Oxbotica Alec Issigonis - the genius behind the Mini and the Morris Minor - AROnline A more powerful engine, bigger brakes and a few tuning tweaks later, the Classic Mini Cooper 997 was introduced. Giving the Mini, ADO16 and ADO17 were all designed well before hatchbacks were popular, the beancounters no doubt would be up in arms at the thought of spending more money on tooling for an already old design. PDF SIR ALEC ISSIGONIS was an automobile engineer whose name will always be Chinese Zodiac: Alec Issigonis was born in the Year of the Rabbit. Alec Issigonis - Wikipdia, a enciclopdia livre He did not want more conventional answers, without at least exploring some technical advances. He was reluctant to consider features such as large boots or hatchbacks, or engine access, as important. As such he was of the generation who experienced the privations of two apocalyptic world wars. He then moved on to Alvis, where he worked on the development of a luxury saloon, but the project had to be discontinued for cost reasons. Issigonis's mother, Hulda Prokopp, was descended from a Bavarian brewing family who had settled in Smyrna, and established a brewery. The Minor, Mini, ADO16 and Landcrab all had character, and were all friendly cars. Ive often wondered how its 35 horses managed the Berkshires . Issigonis continued to work as Engineering Director at the Austin-Morris Division of BMC, and as Technical Director of BMC in 1965. The Mini was designed by. Kereta ini menjadi kereta popular di Britain dan banyak negara di dunia, di samping berjaya menjuarai Rali Monte Carlo sebanyak 3 kali. 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. I have liked them ever since. 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 It amounted to no more than surface rust on the chassis. Back the early 2,000 B.C. 1959: The Mini Was Born. | MINI.com Therefore, when Alec's father, Constantine Issigonis, was born in Smyrna in 1872, he was also a British national. The Mini went on to become the best selling British car in history with a production run of 5.3million cars. In October, 1957, just eight months after first putting pen to paper, the first prototypes were on the road. [11], Issigonis was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1964 Birthday Honours. FamousBirthdays.com - use subject to the practices disclosed in our privacy policy. Copyright 2011 - 2023 Curbside Classics. The typical American indifference to regular maintenance did not play well with this setup. Alec Issigonis | Classic Cars Wiki | Fandom Another Mini!). Thanks for a wonderfully researched article! Everyman Classics: Mid-Century Visionary 1 : Alec Issigonis [17], Learn how and when to remove this template message, 1938 Issigonis Lightweight Special at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2009, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, "The creator of an iconic car: Alec Issigonis", "The Genuine MOKE | Steer clear of imitations | Story", "Pre de l'Austin "Mini" Alec Issigonis est mort", "Review of 'The Thames and Hudson Dictionary of Design Since 1900 (2nd edition)', "Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis. The relationship got to the point where Issigonis had the ideas, did the sketches and Daniels did the formal drawings. Humber were more interested in the sales engineer than his product, and Issigonis moved to Humber in 1933. Issigonis designed the most enduring small cars of the twentieth century, the Morris Minor (1948) and the Mini (1959) - a testament to his insistence that 'styled' cars dated quickly. By 1964, BMC had built over one million front wheel drive vehicles, including over 800,000 Minis and over 200,000 ADO16s, and over a third were exported. The image his cars achieved for BMC was arguably a factor in the survival of the company in the market place, and BMC used his personality extensively in advertising whichyou can imagine Issigonis publicly hating but privately loving. John Daly, Your email address will not be published. Great Designer :: ALEC ISSIGONIS - WordPress.com an alec issigonis family car launched in 1969 (6,4) Crossword Clue The Crossword Solver found 30 answers to "an alec issigonis family car launched in 1969 (6,4)", 10 letters crossword clue. His iconoclasm ensured that, despite the constraints of working in an industry where the size and complexity of the process meant that even the most forceful of designers was only one member of a large team, Issigonis cars bore his own stamp from the 1948 Morris Minor to the 1969 Maxi. He also took his lunch with the workers in the local pub and travelled to this in our Bedford crew bus with wooden bench seats. 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. 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. [], The Mini is 63 years old this week. I tell you the last time I was that close to a Japanese machine, it was shooting at me.. 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 . ALEC ISSIGONIS Automotive Designer (1906-1988) One of the most original car designers of the modern era, ALEC ISSIGONIS (1906-1988) is best known as the creator of the Mini, but also designed two more of the five best-selling cars in British motoring history - the Morris Minor and the Austin 1100. . 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. Chrysler also took a licence to manufacture the device, which was an integral part of their pioneering overdrive in 1934. the outer planets, Uranus and Neptune were not yet discovered, since the telescope had not yet been invented. A reliable car with excellent steering and cornering qualities, it was the first all-British car to pass the one million mark in sales; surviving models are still cherished by owners and collectors. Tragically, Constantine Issigonis contracted a serious illness, and died in Malta in June 1923. He convinced Issigonis to ready the Mini for the Rallye Monte Carlo. Intriguingly, it seems that the car was possibly designed to be suitable for a front wheel drive layout, with a flat floor and compact Moulton rubber cone suspension, leaving a large and spacious engine bay. 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. Unfortunately I didnt turn out quite as brilliant, but I like to think I missed out some of the stubbornness/arrogance as well. 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. The Lightweight Special - TNF's Archive - The Autosport Forums People : Sir Alec Issigonis - AROnline I thought I knew everything about Issigonis already, but there were some fascinating insights here. The third front wheel drive car from BMC was the 1964 ADO17 Austin 1800 (or Landcrab), a car which Issigonis has been quoted as identifying as the design he was most proud of, and then the Austin Maxi in 1969 with less successful results. Issigonis - Hero or Villain? | ViaRETRO Corrections? However, his story proves: never give up your dreams even if life puts obstacles in your way. Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, CBE, FRS (November 18, 1906-October 2, 1988) was a Greek-British designer of cars, now remembered chiefly for the development of the Mini, launched by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) in 1959.. Alec Issigonis . His father Constantine Issigonis was a successful shipbuilding engineer, whose own father was from Paros. In a front-wheel-drive car, with more understeer and/or a bit more resistance at the wheel, this effect might be enhanced ? 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. In 1957, Issigonis received the project that would make him famous. Issigonis usually won, even when entered in the 1100cc class if there was no 750cc category. Prior to his death, Alec and his mother travelled overland to London. In 1961, he became Technical and oversaw the launch of the 1100, 1800 and Maxi all hugely advanced machines, with front-wheel drive, in-sump gearboxes, and interconnected suspension. The Boudjah - Smyrna born Alec Issigonis was an engineering genius and even after his death there is a fan base for his cars. I am well acquainted with the brilliant/stubborn/arrogant type of engineer, I have occasionally served as a Daniels, and my own brilliant/stubborn/arrogant Grandfather could have probably used one too. The family is almost penniless. The innovation he created by switching the orientation of the engine, changing the traditional transmission to a transaxle and sending power to the front wheels was a magnificent idea! While the intention was for the space efficient FWD cars to replace much of the existing overlapping BMC range (that all should have been hatchbacks in retrospect), it would have been interesting to see a rear-wheel drive Cortina rival with fully-independent suspension derived from Issigoniss work at Alvis to slot between the 1100/1300 and 1800/2200. Issigonis was an engineer, first and foremost, but I have used the terms design/designer in this piece, in the way that was contemporaneous to Issigonis and as he would have understood it, although we would now use use engineering. Humber was the upscale brand of the Rootes Group, but also the name of the main car building company in the Group. Issigonis was a remarkable engineer and obviously made his mark. Biography: Sir ALEC issigonis - The designer of Britain's favourite cars, Britain's favourite car designer . Alec Issigonis Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, CBE, FRS, RDI (Alec Issigonis) was born on 18 November 1906 in Smyrna in Greece (now Izmir, Turkey) and would become world-renowned for designing the Mini and Morris Minor for BMC. Issigonis did observe and try to improve on what he saw, but always challenged himself to be original and better. All I know is, which car I would rather be in driving if there was any tricky situation [], DAILY MIRROR By Richard Sear No man looks less designed to start off the cult of the miniature. *27/02/01 The new Mini which will go on sale in the UK summer 2001, was , being unveiled for the first time. Happy birthday to the Mini! BMC and Issigonis were awarded the Dewar Trophy by the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) for the innovative design and production of the Mini. Generation also known as The Greatest Generation. A truly fascinating man he was. However, as we all know, it was no profit-maker for BMC and, during its hyper-successful first decade on the market, its maker cruelly and criminally failed to develop the concept into something that the customers truly wanted a hatchback. Enter your username or email to reset your password. Heynes later became Technical Director at Jaguar and was a personal friend of Issigonis for many years. 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? Daniels (right) and Sheppard (left), no doubt, had to smooth a few ruffled feathers on the way. 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! Issigoniss mother, Hulda Prokopp, was descended from a Bavarian brewing family who had settled in Smyrna, and established a brewery. By 1938, Issigonis was lead engineer for steering and suspension for all the Morris car range. I saw this tiny car among the Buicks Oldsmobiles Mercurys and Chevrolet Impalas that were the usual fare. Issigonis was probably privately satisfied with that arrangement, as it took him away from the daily grind of corporate management and designing production ready cars and back into the more conceptual field where he had the opportunity to use his innovative skills the kind of role Leonard Lord had originally given him twelve years earlier and which led to the Mini and the ADO16. Addresses | OxfordBiomedica It was more like a Lancia or a rear drive Citroen than a Rover or a Sunbeam-Talbot. 1925 . Sir Alec Issigonis. Road & Tracks test of the Austin America included the line, Superb four-speed fully automatic transmission makes more difference than youd believe possible. But they also noted that with just a few thousand miles on their test car, there was some issue (I forget what) with the trunk lock, and the outside of the engine was covered with oily black grime. 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. JUMP TO: Alec Issigoniss biography, facts, family, personal life, zodiac, videos and related celebs. Issigonis went into the motor industry as an engineer and designer working for Humber and competed successfully in motor racing during the 1930s and 1940s. During the Second World War, Britain was in control of the Suez Canal, which served as an important source of oil, but this changed during the so called Suez crisis in 1956. The Minor was, of course, a huge success, for Nuffield and for Issigonis. Moulton was a scion of the family behind the Avon tyres company and a respected suspension system engineer in his own right who had worked extensively on the concept of rubber as a suspension medium, before working on the hydrolastic and later still the hydragas systems. Alec Issigonis - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia And the result was the creation of more than just an economical car. Rover used the freewheel extensively, on cars and Land Rovers, into the 1960s. 18 November 1906 2 October 1988", Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, " Alec Issigonis | Automotive Hall of Fame", Alec Issigonis Automotive Designer (19061988), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alec_Issigonis&oldid=1135124708, This page was last edited on 22 January 2023, at 19:54. Suffice to say it was an ambitious project for a family of compact cars - the smaller of the pair shorter overall than . Sir Alec Issigonis is best remembered for the Austin Mini - a car that revolutionised the small car package and probably saved the British Motor Corporation at the same time. I dont have any great memories of the Mini to share, though you saw them everywhere. 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 . 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. Yes, it ran like hell when operable as the owner treated it like an Army Jeep. After briefly working elsewhere in the early 1950s, Issigonis returned to what had become the British Motor Corp., where in 1959, in response to the Suez energy crisis (1956) and the popularity of Germanys Volkswagen Beetle, he introduced the Mini. [4] 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. During 1967, Sir Alec Issigonis approached his BMH* superiors, asking to be temporarily relieved of day to day duties so that he could devote himself to a new vehicle project, one intended to directly replace the Mini. He managed to obtain his Diploma, but was not admitted to advanced studies. Noch ein Mini (A Mini! Decades later, despite enormous further developments, the vehicle has lost none of its initial charm. An engineering genius and godfather of of the Mini. 8050 Alec Issigonis Way, Oxford Business Park North, Oxford, United Kingdom, OX4 2HW. 104 Alec Issigonis Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images He was born on November 18, 1906 and his birthplace is Turkey. Alec Issigonis was born in Smyrna (now Izmir) in Turkey on 18 November 1906 to a British-naturalized father of Greek origin and a Bavarian-born mother. 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. He excelled in mechanical drawing, but failed his mathematics exams three times. Austin 1800 (ADO18 Landcrab): Best In Class Or Just Plain Ugly? 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. George Harriman, Leonard Lord and Alec Issogonis. . In 1936, he moved to Morris Motors Limited at Cowley working on an independent front suspension system for the Morris 10. 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. Towards the end of WW2, he began work on the Mosquito project, which ended up being launched in 1948 as the Morris Minor. Issigonis was to use Moultons suspension ideas on all his future cars, with Moulton working in a consultancy capacity to BMC. Historiography: The Misapplication of Issigonis' Engineering Breakthrough 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.
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