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Roger, are you saying that Graham Day ended the consultancy and goodwill payments because he was offended by Issigoniss letter? Family Life His father died in 1922, at which point he and his mother moved to the U.K.. Associated With He and Frank Stephenson are both famous car designers. 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. Issigonis and his team produced a revolutionary car that featured a small exterior with a spacious passenger compartment and outstanding handling characteristics. The Mini was launched in 1959, and became instantly popular. Joseph Lowrey, MOTOR: As soon [], Mr Alec Issigoniss New B.M.C. 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. Therefore some functionality is missing. Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis was born into the Greek city of Smyrna (now zmir) in the Ottoman Empire. 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. It was still in production when BMW, led by Bernd Pischetsreider, bought Rover in 1994. The lower picture is is an early (1958) Issigonis drawing of his vision for the Mini. Unless it was at some very small, unique company; something like TVR comes to mind. 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. Sir Alec Constantine Issigonis: The Greek Designer Of The Famous Mini The Minor, Mini, ADO16 and Landcrab all had character, and were all friendly cars. Alec Issigonis, the man who dreamed of the Mini - Archyde 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. As a Morris Minor owner I appreciated it . He was knighted in 1969 and was honored by the city of Oxford with a street named after him, Alec Issigonis Way. 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. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Look what happened to Alan Turing. That's exactly what he did. 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 BMC made cuts of 6,000 in the labour force almost overnight and without consultation, whilst Lord noted the sales of the imported European bubble cars. He [], DAILY EXPRESS By David Benson Harry Webster is a quiet, unassuming, generous man of 54. Our tool for managing your permission to our use of cookies is temporarily offline. 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. His father Constantine Issigonis was a successful shipbuilding engineer, whose own father was from Paros. Well, he went down in history as the father of the Mini and was even raised to nobility for his services. 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. It certainly appeared by the Maxi development era that Issigonis wanted to "do his own thing" as cost cutting and development costs spiraled. He was knighted in 1969 and was honored by the city of Oxford with a street named after him, Alec Issigonis Way. 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. It was at Alvis that Issigonis first worked with another of the influential characters of his career. 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. But this also reflects Issigoniss personal characteristics he was a strong minded, stubborn and arrogant man who did did not always have a lot of respect for others opinions and suggestions. Issigonis returned to BMC to design a range of family vehicles. 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. As his father studied in London, being an engineer, the family were British subjects and were thus evacuated to Malta by the Royal Navy in September 1922, ahead of the Great Fire of Smyrna at the end of the . His retirement gift from the company was the largest available Meccano set, complete with a steam engine. More importantly, the end of the agreement also marked the end of goodwill payments from the Company that covered his nursing care, and he was forced to move from his home to a smaller flat. 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. They represent many years of design study in attempts to produce the best value for money in the field of small car design. The change was not handled well though, with credible accounts of a literally tearful Issigonis wandering around Longbridge trying to find a new office after returning from abroad to find Webster occupying his office. 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. By October 1957, Issigonis had shown Lord a working prototype and the decision had been made to manufacture the car, using the existing BMC A series engine. 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. On a cheerier note, Id love to see that Alvin on the flesh. 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 . JUMP TO: Alec Issigoniss biography, facts, family, personal life, zodiac, videos and related celebs. Issigonis grandfather, Demosthenis Issigonis, had emigrated from Paros in Greece to Smyrna (as Izmir was then known) in the mid 19th century where his engineering company helped the British built the Smyrna-Aydn Railway, and through this acquired British citizenship. Alec Issigonis | Automotive Hall of Fame Cooper took the prototype out for a spin and realised this fuel-saving people's car cornered like no other. Your email address will not be published. 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 Thank you very much for a wonderful biography. The Mini quickly became cult and had enthusiastic fans worldwide. Biography: Sir Alec Issigonis - The Designer of Britain's Favourite Post FROM OUR MIDLAND CORRESPONDENT BIRMINGHAM, Nov. 13 The name of the man who will head the British Motor Corporations new amalgamated design unit when []. Moultons hydrolastic suspension as installed on the BMC ADO16 by Issigonis. 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. In October, 1957, just eight months after first putting pen to paper, the first prototypes were on the road. Issigonis designed a unitary construction saloon and the V8 engine, and utilised Moultons latest interconnected rubber suspension. He was flattered to be copied, though. Contact - Oxbotica Much ADO About Project 15: A History of the Classic Mini Biography: Sir ALEC issigonis - The designer of Britain's favourite cars, Britain's favourite car designer . His last Morris projects were the 1953 Morris Oxford and Isis saloons, launched after the BMC merger, and which used the BMC B series engine. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. I was eight when my dad bought one of those brand new cars at a reduced price from the NYC dealer $850 for an Austin 850 ($6,800 in 2016 money) Noch ein Mini! By October 1959, the Mini was on sale and when the press first got their hands on BMCs new car, they were not shy to praise it; the Minis unique personality, exceptional space efficiency, lively performance and tenacious front-wheel-drive handling meant that it was a sure fire hit with the critics. 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 Mini is 63 years old this week. 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. Born Alexandros Arnoldos Konstantinos Issigonis on the 18th of November, 1906, Alexander Issigonis' family were part of the Greek community in the port city of Smrna. Alec's mother, Hulda Prokopp, could trace her origins back to Wrttemberg (now part of Germany). The first application of Sir Alec Issigonis' engineering breakthrough - All Photos by Randy Stern, except otherwise noted Remember Sir Alec Issigonis? He designed the Mini, launched by the British Motor Corporation in 1959, and voted the second most influential car of the 20th century in 1999. Yes, it ran like hell when operable as the owner treated it like an Army Jeep. The Austin/Morris Mini was 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. 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. He was also responsible for the development of the Mini Moke, initially intended for military use, though it subsequently became another popular icon of British automotive engineering that, like the Mini, attained cult status. It was more like a Lancia or a rear drive Citroen than a Rover or a Sunbeam-Talbot. 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. Not sure how true it is, but I read somewhere that he even designed the ashtrays for the Minor. an alec issigonis family car launched in 1969 (6,4) Crossword Clue He was popular for being a Entrepreneur. My sister had an MG 1100 which blew me away in 1970. Even more significantly, it effectively defined the configuration of the small and medium car for the next 50 years. In 1928 his first job was in the design office of Gillett, an engineering firm in London. And I myself have engineered a few things with the help of Jack Daniels . It is arguably doubtful that Lord, knowing Issigonis better, would have seen him as the ideal candidate for the overall technical leadership of BMC. Alec Issigonis Facts for Kids - Kiddle document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This car basically took the Mini concept and enlarged it by 20%, adding some experience, and ambition, at the same time. 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. 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. [12], In 1964 Issigonis was appointed a Royal Designer for Industry (RDI). His father, however, did not survive the crossing. Alec Issigonis - Trivia, Family, Bio | Famous Birthdays German Engineer Who Designed And Built The First Practical Automobile Hulda Issigonis then returned to Malta, leaving sixteen year old Alec alone in London, returning only after Constantine had died. 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. 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. In March 1957 Lord asked (more likely told, as Lord did not do asking) Issigonis to come up with something to compete with them. On the surface it didnt appear very desirable to Me, or to prospective new-car buyers. The Mini caused a sensation with its design and rather small size in the late 1950s thanks to its inventor, the Englishman Alec Issigonis. 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. Issigonis quickly arranged for Jack Daniels to move up from Cowley to Longbridge to rebuild their close rapport. [], 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. The greatest overall compatibility with Scorpio is Taurus and Cancer. Was it to be front or rear engined? PDF SIR ALEC ISSIGONIS was an automobile engineer whose name will always be Looking at the Minor or the Mini, I can believe that. 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. This page is updated often with fresh details about Alec Issigonis. Alec Issigonis - Etsy Check out our alec issigonis selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. His efforts were concentrated on two things continuing to promote the 1968 9X concept to BLMC, and working on the concept of a gearless version of the Mini, using a torque converter, that was not a technical success. 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. Generation also known as The Greatest Generation. His mother was from Bavaria. 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. People : Sir Alec Issigonis - AROnline Sir Alec Issigonis was one of the automotive industry's great independent thinkers. Who are the richest people in the world? If only it had had more power and better gearing. Unfinished Sympathy - Driven To Write Lords instruction was the one Issigonis had been waiting for, and he quickly developed the first Mini prototype. It was a very ambitious intention, which Alvis were not capable of delivering on without importing a lot of engineering talent. By 1941, Issigonis had started work on an advanced post war car, then codenamed Mosquito, which became the Morris Minor. Enter the length or pattern for better results. Alec Issigonis was a Scorpio and was born in the G.I. This undated sketch by Issigonis shows some of this. 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. I wonder if he was to blame for the Mini never having a hatchback, or a more softly suspended version? Having been a passenger in an early Austin Landcrab on several occasions I can confirm they are amazingly spacious inside, front and rear. When is Alec Issigoniss birthday? . By 1938, Issigonis was lead engineer for steering and suspension for all the Morris car range. The initials "G.I." I tell you the last time I was that close to a Japanese machine, it was shooting at me.. . - Wikipedia . Sort By: Better Essays. Been a fan of Alec Issigonis since I was 8 years old. 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. Despite its stated mission being to provide basic transport, this level of driving enjoyment, and capability, was like a non stop Christmas present. All Rights Reserved. The war prevented this design from going into production but it was later used on the MG Y-type. Young Alec grew up in a very affluent environment, with influences from Germany and Greece (he grew up speaking German and Greek), rather than Turkey and Britain. Issigonis with XC/9001, the car that became the Landcrab. Absolutely brilliant article about an engineering genius. 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. [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. 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. Oxford Office. Probably 30 of these made over the past dozen years, not quite Mini production numbers.. Another excellent piece Roger, and thank you for bringing it to us. In later years, the car would become known simply as the Mini. [citation needed], Issigonis was nicknamed "the Greek god" by his contemporaries. He didnt say by 1974 in regard to VW and Renault. It was, though, used on the postwar MG Y Type saloons. 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. He said the engine was turning 4500 rpm at 68 mph and commented, This seems fast enough for an obsolete three-bearing long-stroke engine., Digging up the articles is left as an exercise for the student. It was apparent to Morriss senior managers that Issigonis was cut from a different cloth compared to his contemporaries. Professor Alex Moulton. Oxford Study Courses Alexandros Arnold Constantine Issigonis, more commonly known as Alec Issigionis, was born in Smyrna, Asia Minor, on November 18, 1906. Astrologers and astronomers could only work with planets visible to the eye. The Axis Powers? 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. Again,Issigonis was able to get close to some of the most impressive cars of the era, and take ideas and influences home. 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. By 1969 Fiat had also followed with the 128, and by 1974 Peugeot, VW and Renault had transverse engine hatchbacks as well. By the time the chassis had been completed (hard labourit was all done by hand, no power tools), Issigonis had moved to Morris Motors Limited, but Austin supplied a "works" specification supercharged side-valve engine. Alec Issigonis was born on the 18th of November, 1906. In a front-wheel-drive car, with more understeer and/or a bit more resistance at the wheel, this effect might be enhanced ? Issigonis who designed the Mini auto Crossword Clue The Crossword Solver found 30 answers to "Issigonis who designed the Mini auto", 4 letters crossword clue. 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. 1988: The Passing of an Automotive Legend - Transportation History 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. To achieve this feat, Issigonis utilized a front wheel drive layout with a transverse-mounted engine, the first modern application of this concept. I do not know how many I have owned Morrises, Austins and MGs. 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. A colleague of his had a VW Polo then and kept shaking his head: Well, yes, if there were no other compact cars in the world , Mr. Roger Carr, Thank you. Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis was born into the Greek community of Smyrnain Ottoman Turkey. Sir Alec Issigonis. Alecs father, Constantine Issigonis, who was born in Smyrna in 1872, studied in England, and subsequently returned to Smyrna, keeping the engineering business going through the First World War and maintaining his British citizenship. He was appointed to this post by Lords successor, Sir George Harriman, who was even more in awe of him than Lord was, but also was even more unable to control and guide Issigonis. I saw this tiny car among the Buicks Oldsmobiles Mercurys and Chevrolet Impalas that were the usual fare. This car was remarkably light, weighing less than 600lb. Therefore, when Alec's father, Constantine Issigonis, was born in Smyrna in 1872, he was also a British national. On October 2, 1988, he passed . Matchbox featured an MG 1100 in its 1-75 line-up for many years. 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. He was a race car driver during the 30s and 40s. He continued to be responsible for his original XC projects. Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis (Greek: , )CBE FRS RDI (18 November 1906 2 October 1988) was a British-Greek automotive designer. Durante o curso ele foi reprovado trs vezes em matemtica. Many did not even make it through the warranty period without the transmission self-destructing. At this time, he was working for Maurice Olley. Bookmark this page and come back often for updates.
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