Issigonis (standing) with the special at Shelsey Walsh hillclimb. Birth Name: Alec Issigonis Occupation: Entrepreneur Place Of Birth: Turkey Date Of Birth: November 18, 1906 Date Of Death: October 2, 1988 Cause Of Death: N/A Ethnicity: Unknown Nationality: Greek Alec Issigonis was born on the 18th of November, 1906. In 1956, the focus was shifted towards a new economy car and from here, the Mini was born in 1959. 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 Mini caused a sensation with its design and rather small size in the late 1950s thanks to its inventor, the Englishman Alec Issigonis. Chrysler also took a licence to manufacture the device, which was an integral part of their pioneering overdrive in 1934. That is how many of us know about these cars or about many 1960s British cars, in general. Not sure how true it is, but I read somewhere that he even designed the ashtrays for the Minor. He worked on various projects for Morris through the war and towards its end started work on an advanced post war car codenamed Mosquito that became the Morris Minor, which was produced from 1948 until 1971. https://www.mini.com/ Alec Issigonis was born on the 18th of November, 1906. [9] He was cremated at the Lodge Hill Cemetery in nearby Selly Oak. Issigonis designed a unitary construction saloon and the V8 engine, and utilised Moultons latest interconnected rubber suspension. 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. It was designed to follow on from the Mini and 1100 as the next generation . The 1100 and later 1300 outsold the Mini by a considerable margin and remained Britains best-selling car right through the 1960s. 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. 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. [11], Issigonis was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1964 Birthday Honours. German Engineer Who Designed And Built The First Practical Automobile (Crossword ClueThe crossword clue German engineer who designed and built the first practical automobile. 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. Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Death and commemorations 4 Some of his cars Issigonis had also been involved in the larger Oxford, Isis and Wolseley ranges. He didnt say by 1974 in regard to VW and Renault. as an American familiar only with U.S. cars. He also worked with Alvis Cars, one of the more obscure carmakers. He was a race car driver during the 30's and 40's. In a front-wheel-drive car, with more understeer and/or a bit more resistance at the wheel, this effect might be enhanced ? It was, though, used on the postwar MG Y Type saloons. 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? Great article there should be a movie about Issigonis! Issigonis (just in view at the far right) was not involved in the engineering of this car, but was able to start a long term friendship with Battista and Sergio Pininfarina,seenstanding next the car with Leonard Lord and George Harriman. Ultimately, Alvis had to cancel the project, after the first prototype had been built but before the company had committed to the expenditure of production tooling. This car was remarkably light, weighing 587lb, of which the engine contributed 252lb. 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. His grandfather Demosthenis Issigonis . I got to drive his Red mini when I went for fish and chips on a Friday. There was a good reason for BMC selecting him for this task, for Issigonis was born in Izmir. Great summary of a giant of industrial design. 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. It is arguably doubtful that Lord, knowing Issigonis better, would have seen him as the ideal candidate for the overall technical leadership of BMC. [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. After studying engineering, he joined Morris Motors in 1936 as a suspension designer. Learn how your comment data is processed. Morris Minor 1000s , Dropheads, Travelers , Panel Van, and Pick up trucks. Constantine was very proud of his British citizenship and Alec grew up in a traditional British type of household. Alec Issigonis (Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis) was born in Smyrna in the Ottoman Empire (now Izmir, Turkey). 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. 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. 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. His name? Alec Issigonis. Meanwhile, back at the office, Issigonis had devised an independent coil spring system for the first unitary construction Morris, the 1938 Ten, but which did not go into production as Morris, conservative as ever, chose a more conventional and cheaper beam axle solution. It confronted the conservative image of BMC head on, even if the rest of BMC range didnt. From then onwards, any car in the small or medium market without a transverse engine was considered unusual, and conservative. Yes, it ran like hell when operable as the owner treated it like an Army Jeep. 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. Striving to ensure that as much space as possible was allocated to the passengers, Issigonis used Moultons compact rubber suspension and had Dunlop build 10 inch wheels and tyres just for the Mini purely for reasons of space efficiency. . Alexander Issigonis was born into the Greek community of Smyrna (now Izmir) in Ottoman Turkey. And a rally demon was born. In March 1957 Lord asked (more likely told, as Lord did not do asking) Issigonis to come up with something to compete with them. Manual transmissions seemed to hold up ok,lasting at least as long as the engine. (I can remember seeing Austin Americas just a few years old being offered up for $50.) [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. His grandfather Demosthenis Issigonis . A family that . The MG 1100 Sport Sedan a perfect choice when a two-seater MG is too small. Issigonis continued to work as Engineering Director at the Austin-Morris Division of BMC, and as Technical Director of BMC in 1965. He attended Londons Battersea Polytechnic before entering the University of London External Programme. 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. I hope he knew that he changed the Automobile World for the better. Issigonis usually won, even when entered in the 1100cc class if there was no 750cc category. The first front wheel drive car from BL after Issigoniss retirement was the Austin Allegro, still with the gearbox in the sump and without the obvious hatchback. Another thing Sir Alec did not think was important perhaps? It was apparent to Morriss senior managers that Issigonis was cut from a different cloth compared to his contemporaries. Generation also known as The Greatest Generation. But it was an exciting period, and youve captured his personality and lasting impact well. Thanks for a wonderfully researched article! Another Mini! Alec Issigonis: straight from a family thrilled by technology. His father, a successful and wealthy shipbuilding engineer, was of Greek origin but held a British passport. If only it had had more power and better gearing. ), British automobile designer who created the best-selling, economical Mini and the perennially popular Morris Minor. Tragically, Constantine Issigonis contracted a serious illness, and died in Malta in June 1923. He attended London's Battersea Polytechnic before entering the University of London External Programme. The war prevented this design from going into production but it was later used on the MG Y-type. The Mini, and the other Issigonis BMC front wheel drive cars, benefited from Issigonis continuing collaboration with Alex Moulton and his suspension system developments. 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. Austin 1800 (ADO18 Landcrab): Best In Class Or Just Plain Ugly? Aos 16 mudou-se para Inglaterra onde iria cursar engenharia. John Sheppard spent 20 years working with [], Richard Aucock 40 years ago this month, Sir Alec Issigonis, creator of Britains best-selling motoring icons, retired The creator of the original Mini, the Morris Minor, the Austin Maxi and [], Motor magazine, August 1962 WHY IS THE ADO16? Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis (Greek: , )CBE FRS RDI (18 November 1906 2 October 1988) was a British-Greek automotive designer. with 8 letters was last seen on the March 01, 2023.We found 20 possible solutions for this clue. He excelled in mechanical drawing, but failed his mathematics exams three times. . So Sir Alec Issigonis had an impact on my life. Most events entered were sprints, but he also raced at circuits. By 1945, a full scale static prototype close to the familiar production form was completed. Sir Alec Issigonis, in full Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, (born Nov. 18, 1906, Smyrna [now zmir], Tur.died Oct. 2, 1988, Birmingham, Eng. As British subjects - his father having naturalised whilst studying engineering in London in 1897 - Issigonis and his parents were evacuated to Malta by the Royal Navy in September 1922 ahead of the Great Fire of Smyrna and the Turkish capture of Smyrna at the end of the Greco-Turkish War. The relationship got to the point where Issigonis had the ideas, did the sketches and Daniels did the formal drawings. 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. 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. Cooper took the prototype out for a spin and realised this fuel-saving people's car cornered like no other. Issigonis did observe and try to improve on what he saw, but always challenged himself to be original and better. Below are all possible answers to this clue ordered by its rank. Prior to his death, Alec and his mother travelled overland to London. Excellent article. It didnt just raise the bar it kicked it into next week ! This car was remarkably light, weighing less than 600lb. Im sure this was never part of Issigoniss plan, as he was anti-style, but only the 1100 benefited from external help. His motor industry career at Humber, and during his time there, he competed in motor racing notably designing his own lightweight version of a supercharged Ulster Austin Seven with his own front axle. 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. He managed to obtain his Diploma, but was not admitted to advanced studies. Decades later, despite enormous further developments, the vehicle has lost none of its initial charm. If it was front engined, was it to be rear wheel or front wheel drive? 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. 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. Austin Healey Sprites , 3000s Austin Americas, MG Midget, MGAs MGBs Mg 1100s I had many of each model. I remember the Austin America when new, not an impressive car to me in any way . At Alvis, Issigoniss main task was to lead the development of a more affordable, higher volume luxury car. He would attend the usual motor shows, but often would refuse to look in detail at the competition, so he did not become confused. The loss of British sovereignty led not only to a political defeat but also to an oil crisis. 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. Alec Issigonis was already known for his popular and respected Morris Minor. This prototype was never manufactured because its cost was beyond Alvis's resources. This post and its visuals and videos explains this pivotal vector of the international industry with such clarity and depth. 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. Happy birthday to the Mini! Whos the richest Entrepreneur in the world. [], BMC changed the world with the launch of the Mini in 1959. During 1956 Issigonis concentrated on the larger two cars, producing several prototypes for testing. In 1961, a shipload of Minis suffered mild water damage on their journey to the east coast of US. BL were in thrall of the myth theyd created, but the buying public had much more sense. 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. Alec Issigonis was a Scorpio and was born in the G.I. Alec Issigoniss mothers name is unknown at this time and his fathers name is under review. The all-new Mini will be revealed today, on what would have been Mini creator Sir Alec Issigonis's 107th birthday. Shortly after in 1962, when gender roles were thought to be defined, one woman chose a life of speed. Designer Alec Issigonis was born in the southern Anatolian city of Smyrna in 1906. Issigonis and his team produced a revolutionary car that featured a small exterior with a spacious passenger compartment and outstanding handling characteristics. This prototype never saw the light of day mores the pity. For his accomplishments, Queen Elizabeth knighted Issigonis in 1969. Thank you very much for a wonderful biography. The last sighting was of a 71 America, in 81, and looking very well cared for. Zodiac Sign: Alec Issigonis was a Scorpio. Issigonis' first cousin once removed was Bernd Pischetsreider, responsible . An amazing man, and someone who would probably never rise to prominence in todays auto industry. I think you can see a narrower car in one of the pre-production photos, above. 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. 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. THE CREATOR OF AN ICONIC CAR: ALEC ISSIGONIS. So in here in the U.S. the ADO16 went down in obscurity, while its far less sophisticated but more reliable competition built by the Axis powers took over the small car market. The mini leaked like a sieve because of the way hed designed the sills and had to be redesigned. My doodles and sketches are not the work of an academic engineer. . 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. A deeply flawed genius at best. But at the age of 50, he began designing one of the most iconic vehicles ever produced: the classic Mini. 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. Issigonis had a reputation, deserved by all accounts, for arrogance and irascibility, an inability to suffer fools at all, and restricted his contact to as a small as a group as he could. This was partly because of the cost but also because in 1953 Ford bought Briggs UK operations and 1954 BMC bought Fisher & Ludlow. I fist saw a Mini on my way to middle school in 1965. The Crossword Solver finds answers to classic crosswords and cryptic crossword puzzles. Issigonis was born in Smyrna in 1906. Our tool for managing your permission to our use of cookies is temporarily offline. 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. By the time the chassis had been completed, Issigonis had somehow got hold of an Austin supplied works specification supercharged side-valve engine as well. And the result was the creation of more than just an economical car. That's exactly what he did. We will continue to update information on Alec Issigoniss parents. I wonder if he was to blame for the Mini never having a hatchback, or a more softly suspended version? Alec Issigonis: The Man Who Made the Mini, Sir Alec Issigonis, 81; Designer of Minicar And Morris Minor. Matchbox featured an MG 1100 in its 1-75 line-up for many years. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The childhood . [], 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. Alec Issigonis It is much easier to drive without having an accident. As a matter of interest, go to this site: and click on the Letter From Dr. Alex Moulton link. As a person whos worked as a CAD drafter for 24 years, I wonder what his objection to CAD was. [citation needed], Issigonis was nicknamed "the Greek god" by his contemporaries. In the face of all this mayhem, Mrs. Issigonis decided to migrate with Alex to Britain, a land neither knew. Was it to be water or air cooled? Humber was the upscale brand of the Rootes Group, but also the name of the main car building company in the Group. Required fields are marked *. 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 had no input to the Marina (other than it using substantial elements from the Morris Minor of course) or the Allegro, as BMC had passed a thin very development programme to Leyland in 1968, largely due to financial pressures. 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. For Alec Issigonis it was THE chance to prove himself. Upon meeting Alec, she is shy and ashamed . [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. Alec Issigonis (Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis) was born in Smyrna in the Ottoman Empire (now Izmir, Turkey). Dr.Ing. Issigonis also devised a compact suspension system made of rubber cones instead of springs to keep the wheel wells from intruding into the passenger compartment. JUMP TO: Alec Issigoniss biography, facts, family, personal life, zodiac, videos and related celebs. I saw one, in 79 or 80, sold here as the MG Sports Sedan. : Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis , CBE, FRS, RDI 19061118-1988102 . Issigonis actually sketched the Minis original design with a pencil on a tablecloth. 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. The Axis Powers? In 1922 the family left Turkey for England, as all British people were banished from the country. Durante o curso ele foi reprovado trs vezes em matemtica. 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. Diz lenda que ele considerava a rigidez . 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! Sir Alec Issigonis was one of the automotive industrys great independent thinkers. 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. 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. Towards the end of WW2, he began work on the Mosquito project, which ended up being launched in 1948 as the Morris Minor. The first car I could identify was apparently a Mini and my mother still tells the story of an early trip to England where I wouldnt be quiet Ein Mini! Its entirely believable that Issigonis would have been prosecuted if hed had gay sex. 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. He would instead research work on his Mini replacement the 9X with its compact transverse engine. 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. Alec Issigonis Related Authors Vivienne Westwood Quotes Virgil Abloh Quotes Coco Chanel Quotes Carroll Shelby Quotes In later years, the car would become known simply as the Mini. Day terminated the consultancy agreement, without any more consultation. But accounts do suggest it done in a pretty crass way. His little cars were a success despite him. 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. 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. Nice to see that blue Morris Oxford just the same as our first car that I remember. Alec Issigonis is a famous Entrepreneur. 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. Harris Mann, having a clean sheet, not giving the Allegro or Princess a hatch in the mid 70s is another matter. [4] But, as ever, events intervened in this case the Suez Crisis of 1956, complete with petrol rationing. 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. Joseph Lowrey, MOTOR: As soon [], Mr Alec Issigoniss New B.M.C. Copyright 2011 - 2023 Curbside Classics. He showed that cars could be practical and pleasant to ride in and drive, and that size was not everything; he defined the template for the small petrol engined car for 50 years, maybe longer, and showed how modest cars could become wish list items, attracting customer such as Enzo Ferrari. 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 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.
Washington State Phase 4,
Corriente Cattle Birth Weight,
Articles A