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 . A truly great man and an honour for me. Click the answer to find similar crossword clues . 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. Independence is one of their greatest strengths, but sometimes they're overly frank with others. Harris Mann, having a clean sheet, not giving the Allegro or Princess a hatch in the mid 70s is another matter. He was a race car driver during the 30's and 40's. Sticks in my mind I read a road test that put engine speed at 60 around 4,000rpm. 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. A deeply flawed genius at best. 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. It was 1961 when the humble little people-mover fell into the hands of British racing legend John Cooper. Red: Yeah, its mine. 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! 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. He was known for being a Entrepreneur. Issigonis showed little interest in things mechanical until he was well into his teens, not riding in a car until he was 14 years old, and was seemingly more interested in art, under the strong influence of his mother. A British citizen born in Turkey in 1906, Issigonis did not see an automobile until he was 12 years old. Rover used the freewheel extensively, on cars and Land Rovers, into the 1960s. But, as ever, events intervened in this case the Suez Crisis of 1956, complete with petrol rationing. 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. His father, however, did not survive the crossing. 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. The Mini was launched in 1959, and became instantly popular. The family had an engineering business making marine engines and pumps, and it was from observing his father at work that he determined to become an engineer. Proslavil se zejmna nvrhem vozu Mini, kter uvedla na trh British Motor Corporation v . Brilliant cars! In 1957, Issigonis received the project that would make him famous. At the opening of the factory BMC was represented by Sir Alec Issigonis. Issigonis' first cousin once removed was Bernd Pischetsreider, responsible . Then of course there was severe corrosion in the face of road salt. All Rights Reserved. Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis was born into the Greek city of Smyrna (now zmir) in the Ottoman Empire. Like many famous people and celebrities, Alec Issigonis kept his personal life private. Chrysler also took a licence to manufacture the device, which was an integral part of their pioneering overdrive in 1934. Issigonis returned to BMC to design a range of family vehicles. 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. When we stopped sending children up chimneys we reemployed them to work or minis. Sir Alec Issigonis was one of the automotive industrys great independent thinkers. You probably know the part about Alec Issigonis being born in the Greek city of Smyrna in 1906, being evacuated to Malta in 1922 following the Turkish invasion, and how he moved to London in 1923 to study engineering. Address 8050 Alec Issigonis Way, Oxford Business Park North, Oxford, OX4 2HW. The Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum is now home to the Issigonis Prototype 1970 Mini 9X 'Gearless', donated to the Museum by the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon, Warwickshire. I love the comment made by Red Foreman on That 70s Show when asked about the Toyota Corolla he had recently purchased due to the gas crisis: Bob: Red, a Toyota? Are you sure Renault had transverse-engine hatchbacks by 1974? I hope he knew that he changed the Automobile World for the better. Alec Issigonis It is much easier to drive without having an accident. The Mini quickly became cult and had enthusiastic fans worldwide. 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. He was popular for being a Entrepreneur. Dr.Ing. The end of the agreement came in 1986, when Issigonis wrote directly to Graham Day, BLs then new Chairman. Issigonis was born in Smyrna in 1906. During 1956 Issigonis concentrated on the larger two cars, producing several prototypes for testing. I saw that same car several times, so, at least in nice weather, it apparently was a daily driver. 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. IAN NICHOLLS recalls the day the two millionth rolled off the production line [], A team of the worlds leading motoring writers, along with voters on the internet, have short-listed the legendary Mini for the ultimate motoring accolade the international Car of the [], THE GUARDIAN Lord Stokes writes about the late Sir Alec Issigonis: Alec Issigonis was a very charming and persuasive person, and a brilliant innovative engineer with a considerable capacity for [], Rover Group consultant Sir Alec Issigonis writes to chairman Graham Day. It confronted the conservative image of BMC head on, even if the rest of BMC range didnt. The irony being, of all the cars built in the world that follow his layout, none carry an Austin or Morris badge. Im sure this was never part of Issigoniss plan, as he was anti-style, but only the 1100 benefited from external help. The gearbox in sump was a dead end in terms of automotive design. Ive often wondered how its 35 horses managed the Berkshires . His retirement gift from the company was the largest available Meccano set, complete with a steam engine. Found an ad for the US market 1100. Fascinating piece and what a character! The suspension was also of advanced design, with trailing arm front suspension attached to a steel cross-member, and swing axle rear, all with rubber springs made of catapult elastic. meantime, John preferred his psychedelic Rolls .. Roger, hats off for this excellent treatment of an engineering legend. 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. 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 the length or pattern for better results. If it was front engined, was it to be rear wheel or front wheel drive? Upon meeting Alec, she is shy and ashamed . Issigonis was dismissive of market research, The public dont know what they want; its my job to tell them and even mathematics, derided as the enemy of every truly creative man. 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. 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. It was, though, used on the postwar MG Y Type saloons. The last sighting was of a 71 America, in 81, and looking very well cared for. He became the engineering director of the British Motor Corporation in 1964, and was . A series engine, with gearbox beneath and side mounted radiator. . At the age of 30 he worked for the Morris Engineering Department and celebrated his first success with the construction of the Morris Minor. At the end of 1955, Issigonis moved to BMC to head up the development of the corporations new family of cars. The Mini, and the other Issigonis BMC front wheel drive cars, benefited from Issigonis continuing collaboration with Alex Moulton and his suspension system developments. Sketch by the late Sir Alec Issigonis, of the original Morris Minor, circa 1946. Chinese Zodiac: Alec Issigonis was born in the Year of the Rabbit. . Alec Issigonis was a hugely . [], 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. For Alec Issigonis it was THE chance to prove himself. Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis CBE FRS RDI (18 November 1906 - 2 October 1988) was a Greek automotive designer. He was born on November 18, 1906 and his birthplace is Turkey. It was at Alvis that Issigonis first worked with another of the influential characters of his career. Happy birthday to the Mini! 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. 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? 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. After returning to England in 1922, he enrolled in engineering school, failing mathematics at every turn. 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 . 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. Whos the richest Entrepreneur in the world? By 1939, Issigonis had replaced his modified Austin Seven with a more radical car of his own design, constructed of plywood laminated in aluminium sheeting, in what we would now call a composite construction. They paid him to design a tractor safety cab after their own designers had 3 attempts and we built 3 failures. . Austin Maxi: Big On The Inside But Not On The Outside, What a great write up Roger. Copyright 2011 - 2023 Curbside Classics. He still worked to his consultancy agreement but did so almost exclusively from home, briefing and debriefing nominated BL engineers each morning. Maybe because theyd lost the Issigonis chassis manners? Alexandros Arnold Constantine Issigonis, more commonly known as Alec Issigionis, was born in Smyrna, Asia Minor, on November 18, 1906. Great summary of a giant of industrial design. This is the main reason Lord re-hired Issigonis. 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. As a matter of interest, go to this site: and click on the Letter From Dr. Alex Moulton link. [citation needed] He considered it to be a vehicle that combined many of the luxuries and conveniences of a good motor car with a price suitable for the working classes in contrast to the Mini which was a spartan mode of conveyance with everything cut to the bone.