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 Issigonis: an insight into the great man, from an interview originally published in Autocar magazine to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the launch of the Mini. is military terminology referring to "Government Issue" or "General Issue". 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. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. A flawed genius, yes, and BMCs failure to manage him is clear. Red: Yeah, its mine. The 1100 benefited from someone elses external design. It was as modern and progressive in 1948 as the ADO16 Morris 1100 was in 1962, and let down only by the relatively weak and old side valve engine. 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. All Rights Reserved. : Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis , CBE, FRS, RDI 19061118-1988102 . 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. 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. Alec Issigonis was a Scorpio and was born in the G.I. 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. Back the early 2,000 B.C. In the face of all this mayhem, Mrs. Issigonis decided to migrate with Alex to Britain, a land neither knew. My appreciation of Issigonis designs really came when Auntie Merle traded her Austin A30 (horrible car) for a Morris 1100. Getting a guy like Issigonis to design a V8 saloon and just chucking it in the bin. 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. Alec is also well known as, British car designer best remembered for his work on the development of the iconic Mini. 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. Alec Issigoniss birth sign is Scorpio and he had a ruling planet of Pluto. Whos the richest Entrepreneur in the world. George Harriman, Leonard Lord and Alec Issogonis. . Corrections? It was created in response to a crisis and was a genius piece of packaging which will forever be Sir Alec Issigonis legacy to the automotive world. 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. 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. Issigonis never married; most accounts suggest that he was probably gay but he was obviously unable to express himself without huge risk to his professional status and even the risk of prosecution. Issigonis had some success at club racing level and in 1935 travelled with his lifelong friend George Dowson to the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring. His family had to flee Smyrne to es- cape the genocide of 1922 by the Turks. 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. The problem was that I would never have initially chosen to drive one. Subsequently my main triumph of design is a carbon block conveyor that fit into an oddly shaped spot while using less pieces of steel than its predecessor. THE CREATOR OF AN ICONIC CAR: ALEC ISSIGONIS. He became the engineering director of the British Motor Corporation in 1964, and was . Not sure how true it is, but I read somewhere that he even designed the ashtrays for the Minor. (I can remember seeing Austin Americas just a few years old being offered up for $50.) But at the age of 50, he began designing one of the most iconic vehicles ever produced: the classic Mini. To clarify, the Renault 4, 5 (first generation, Le Car), 6 and 16 all had longitudinally mounted engines. In 1936, he moved to Morris Motors Limited at Cowley working on an independent front suspension system for the Morris 10. Issigonis had the dream of becoming an automobile engineer at an early age. Absolutely brilliant article about an engineering genius. 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. In 1961, with the Mini gaining popularity, Issigonis was promoted to Technical Director of BMC. Constantine was very proud of his British citizenship and Alec grew up in a traditional British type of household. He continued to be responsible for his original XC projects. William Morris (Lord Nuffield) didnt like it, naming it the poached egg and expressed no appreciation of it to Issigonis, until 1951 when 100,000 cars had been built. I appreciate the research the depth and the smooth writing style to present it all in a gripping way. [citation needed], Issigonis was nicknamed "the Greek god" by his contemporaries. Bernd Peter Pischetsrieder. Therefore, when Alec's father, Constantine Issigonis, was born in Smyrna in 1872, he was also a British national. 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. Issigonis also insisted that no less than 80% of the cars volume be dedicated to passengers and luggage. The boxy, inexpensive, fuel-efficient Mini used a transverse engine to power its front wheelsa radical design at the timeand thus could comfortably seat four passengers despite being only 10 feet (3 m) long. Joseph Lowrey, [], The Mini hit its big landmark in 1969, a seismic year in the history of BMC>Rover. Thanks for the great article. 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. They kept it several years until they decided they needed their 1st air-conditioned car a 66 LeMans. He was flattered to be copied, though. As you know I was away when the little ceremony took place to mark your retirement and I have, of [], Sir Alec Issigonis, designer of the Mini, among other cars, is to remain design consultant with British Leyland after he goes into semi-retirement at the end of the month. This post and its visuals and videos explains this pivotal vector of the international industry with such clarity and depth. It was one of the first days of the new school year early September and I was walking up the sidewalk and turning the corner to head for the campus. The 1100 and later 1300 outsold the Mini by a considerable margin and remained Britains best-selling car right through the 1960s. His fingerprints are all over other cars, too, the Austin 1800 Land Crab and the Austin Maxi for example, but not always as successfully, as we shall see. File nella categoria "Alec Issigonis" Questa categoria contiene 5 file, indicati di seguito, su un totale di 5. [citation needed] Issigonis often commented to friends and colleagues that the Austin 1800 (ADO17) was the design he was most proud of, even though it never was as commercially successful as his three preceding designs. It did not have everything Issigonis wanted, as he originally planned this car to have a V4 engine rather than the BMC A series. 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. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The Renault 14 was transversely engined, from 1976. I remember seeing early Civics with trunks and the early VW Dasher had a trunk, in spite of its fastback bodywork. Issigonis's mother, Hulda Prokopp, was descended from a Bavarian brewing family who had settled in Smyrna, and established a brewery. If it was front engined, was it to be rear wheel or front wheel drive? in there was a 1 hr "The Mini Man " -Sir Alec Issigonis 1906 - 1988 by great friend and car fanatic Peter Ustinov. . If you see something that doesnt look right, contact us. 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. Great article there should be a movie about Issigonis! Enter your username or email to reset your password. Who are the richest people in the world? On a cheerier note, Id love to see that Alvin on the flesh. No wonder Issigonis felt flattered I feel very, very proud that so many people have copied me.. As a Morris Minor owner I appreciated it . Iconic. The son of a Greek merchant, Issigonis immigrated to London in 1922 during the war between Greece and Turkey. I had a book about Issigonis, but its lost. Issigonis designed a unitary construction saloon and the V8 engine, and utilised Moultons latest interconnected rubber suspension. Harris Mann, having a clean sheet, not giving the Allegro or Princess a hatch in the mid 70s is another matter. Was it to be water or air cooled? Alec Issigonis. https://www.mini.com/ 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. German Engineer Who Designed And Built The First Practical Automobile (Crossword ClueThe crossword clue German engineer who designed and built the first practical automobile. He still worked to his consultancy agreement but did so almost exclusively from home, briefing and debriefing nominated BL engineers each morning. He often had to be discreetly talked through financial documents when he was in the board meetings. Later, he was working on an independent suspension for the larger Humber Hawk, with another rising star in the industry, Bill Heynes. Alec Issigonis Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Relationships, Married, Dating, Family, Wiki Biography . Alec Issigonis was a Greek-British automobile engineer and designer, best known for designing the Mini, a compact car that became a cultural icon in Britain and other countries. Here in Australia they didnt seem particularly small, but they were certainly a lot more roomy than the competition. [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. 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. . When I was in grade school in the mid-70s, the next door neighbor of my best friend had 6 Minis. 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. Daniels (right) and Sheppard (left), no doubt, had to smooth a few ruffled feathers on the way. 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 . (The Maxi, by comparison, was a bland lump.). [5]:277. I have heard some slander about his idea of putting the gearbox in the engine sump, but otherwise, he changed transportation for the masses on a scale not seen since Henry Ford. The ease of driving it, attributable to Issigoniss careful and thoughtful suspension and steering design, as well as the comparatively low weight of the car, were factors in that as well as the comfort and space it provided. In March 1957 Lord asked (more likely told, as Lord did not do asking) Issigonis to come up with something to compete with them. Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, CBE, FRS terkenal kerana menjadi pencipta kereta Mini yang menjadi ikon tahun 1960-an. They represent many years of design study in attempts to produce the best value for money in the field of small car design. Oxbotica Toronto Office. I saw that same car several times, so, at least in nice weather, it apparently was a daily driver. If so, that would seem vindictive on Days part. Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis (Greek: , )CBE FRS RDI (18 November 1906 2 October 1988) was a British-Greek automotive designer. View 6 Images. The original Minor design was so narrow they had to chop it lengthways and widen it. Despite its stated mission being to provide basic transport, this level of driving enjoyment, and capability, was like a non stop Christmas present. [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. Prior to his death, Alec and his mother travelled overland to London. Tragically, Constantine Issigonis contracted a serious illness, and died in Malta in June 1923. 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 . This car was remarkably light, weighing less than 600lb. BMCs Great Leap Forward was a bold move, unfortunately marred by the inability to check Issigonis tendencies that often put the buyer last instead of first. Even as Britain entered the 1960s, product planning remained something of an alien concept to its native carmakers, the majority of whom viewed such matters as being the sort of recondite nonsense invented in the United States, and best left there. Thanks for a wonderfully researched article! XC/9002 became ADO16 and was launched as the Morris 1100 with the Hydrolastic interconnected suspension system in August 1962. Your article sure did him justice; thank you, Roger. I do not know how many I have owned Morrises, Austins and MGs. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 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. I was amazed at the amount of space in that car you could even hide things in the cubbyhole under the rear seat. Daniels effectively resumed his position as Issigoniss right hand man for the next ten years or more, guiding the interpretation of Issigoniss requests to the workshops, draughtsmen, production engineers and accountants. 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. Enter a Crossword Clue Sort by Length Rover used the freewheel extensively, on cars and Land Rovers, into the 1960s. Another Mini! August 26, 2019. On his side, Issigonis built a large model railway in the double garage that ran out through the walls and around the garden. Unique. Once more details are available, we will update this section. Issigonis was born in Smyrna in 1906. Alexandros Arnold Constantine Issigonis, more commonly known as Alec Issigionis, was born in Smyrna, Asia Minor, on November 18, 1906. His father Constantine Issigonis was a successful shipbuilding engineer, whose own father was from Paros. On the surface it didnt appear very desirable to Me, or to prospective new-car buyers. But accounts do suggest it done in a pretty crass way. He was retired from British Leyland in 1971, memorably being given a Meccano kit for his leaving present. Alec Issigonis: straight from a family thrilled by technology. A British citizen born in Turkey in 1906, Issigonis did not see an automobile until he was 12 years old. Issigonis with XC/9001, the car that became the Landcrab. Issigoniss legacy is undoubtedly best seen through his cars, from the Minor to the Maxi, which challenged conventions through engineering ingenuity. Noch ein Mini! Humber were more interested in the sales engineer than his product, and Issigonis moved to Humber in 1933. [4] the outer planets, Uranus and Neptune were not yet discovered, since the telescope had not yet been invented. I think you can see a narrower car in one of the pre-production photos, above. I wanted to know the genesis. 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. Again,Issigonis was able to get close to some of the most impressive cars of the era, and take ideas and influences home. Hulda Issigonis then returned to Malta, leaving sixteen year old Alec alone in London, returning only after Constantine had died. Day terminated the consultancy agreement, without any more consultation. The car, as developed in a prototype form, showed potential as well as technical ambition the cars unitary construction made it relatively light and strong, it offered 6 seats, had a rear mounted transaxle, including the clutch, inboard rear brakes, long wheelbase configuration so typical of Issigonis and a modern, sophisticated 3.5 litre V8 engine. Found an ad for the US market 1100. His name will always be associated with the Morris Minor and the Mini, but he was a complex man with a complex background, family, story and career. For Alec Issigonis it was THE chance to prove himself. He was knighted in 1969 and was honored by the city of Oxford with a street named after him, Alec Issigonis Way. That Alvis is one of those missed opportunities that ultimately doomed the company. Alec Issigonis nasceu na Turquia Filho de um grego naturalizado britnico casado com uma turca. The childhood . Issigonis returned to BMC to design a range of family vehicles. And I myself have engineered a few things with the help of Jack Daniels . 8050 Alec Issigonis Way, Oxford Business Park North, Oxford, United Kingdom, OX4 2HW. BMC and Issigonis were awarded the Dewar Trophy by the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) for the innovative design and production of the Mini. Professor Alex Moulton. It was, though, used on the postwar MG Y Type saloons. 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 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. 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. This prototype never saw the light of day mores the pity. That is how many of us know about these cars or about many 1960s British cars, in general. People born under this sign are seen as warm-hearted and easygoing. By early 1957, prototypes were running, and by mid-1957 the project was given an official drawing office project number (ADO15) so that the thousands of drawings required for production could be produced. To get to this point wasnt easy. His father, a successful and wealthy shipbuilding engineer, was of Greek origin but held a British passport. 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. He also worked with Alvis Cars, one of the more obscure carmakers. At some point in the mid-60s they ran an After the New Wears Off feature by an MG 1100 owner in Los Angeles. [4] His maternal ancestors originated in the Kingdom of Wrttemberg. Nearly $1900 was pretty stiff pricing for a car that size in the mid 60s, $150 more than a Bug. On 15 October 2006 a rally was held at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon, England, to celebrate the centenary of Issigonis's birth. I was mesmerized and I saw my schoolmate being dropped off by his older brother who was on his way to high school. Issigonis 'response was dry and forceful:'I'm an engineer. 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. [], In Part One of this fascinating series, which originally appeared in Vehicle Engineer,AROnline Contributor IanElliott applies his insider knowledge to spelling out the exact sequence of mergers that led to [], Photography: Martin Bell One of the design team who worked on the original Mini has revealed how the revolutionary small car came about. Plenty of space and comfort in the back, as I recall, but my fathers Rover P6 was much more stylish. Another thing Sir Alec did not think was important perhaps? BL were in thrall of the myth theyd created, but the buying public had much more sense. Although primarily a station car, my parents also took it on a vacation through New England. 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. Alec Issigonis was born in 1900s. An advanced 4-speed fully automatic transmission was offered in these that lived in the sump and shared the engine oil, just like the manual gearbox. Alvis had a strong military business building armoured cars and personnel carriers, and this part of the business is still going strong as part of BAE Systems.
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