alec issigonis family

Sir Alec Issigonis started his career at Humber, known for their Humber Snipe and Humber Hawk models, even Queen Elizabeth II owned a Humber. The mini leaked like a sieve because of the way hed designed the sills and had to be redesigned. Issigonis was born in Smyrna in 1906. If you see something that doesnt look right, contact us. The XC (experimental car) code names assigned for the new cars were XC/9001, for a large comfortable car, XC/9002, for a medium-sized family car, and XC/9003, for a small town car. 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. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). . Sticks in my mind I read a road test that put engine speed at 60 around 4,000rpm. In 1928 his first job was in the design office of Gillett, an engineering firm in London. 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 was knighted in 1969 and was honored by the city of Oxford with a street named after him, Alec Issigonis Way. The Mini, and the other Issigonis BMC front wheel drive cars, benefited from Issigonis continuing collaboration with Alex Moulton and his suspension system developments. LJK Setright, in his book The Designers describes Issigonis as working as a sculptor works, moving masses into different juxtapositions until his trained eye told him they were right. Issigonis became a fellow of the Royal Society in 1967 and was knighted in 1969. I was amazed at the amount of space in that car you could even hide things in the cubbyhole under the rear seat. An image from the 1964 Racing Car Show in the aftermath of the Mini's first Monte Carlo Rally win. Alec Issigonis It is much easier to drive without having an accident. [12], In 1964 Issigonis was appointed a Royal Designer for Industry (RDI). It was at Alvis that Issigonis first worked with another of the influential characters of his career. 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. Alec Issigonis was a hugely . Alternate titles: Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis. (The Maxi, by comparison, was a bland lump.). Comments about the bus-like steering wheel angle remind me of what I learned about that subject from my Italian cars (Fiats): the relatively horizontal wheel requires/enables the driver to push forward, rather than up, to make a turn a difference that makes better use of the arm, translating to easier and less tiring driving. 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 British citizen born in Turkey in 1906, Issigonis did not see an automobile until he was 12 years old. Sir Alec Issigonis, in full Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, (born Nov. 18, 1906, Smyrna [now zmir], Tur.died Oct. 2, 1988, Birmingham, Eng. Issigonis died in England in 1988 at the age of 81, having lived long enough to see his beloved Mini sell in excess of five million units. as an American familiar only with U.S. cars. 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. The ways in which things went sour for BMC , and for Alec himself, are all too well known: but with this little car, they surely both earned a big place in history. The original Minor design was so narrow they had to chop it lengthways and widen it. His father died in 1922, at which point he and his mother moved to the U.K.. BMC . 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. He lived with his mother to whom he was devoted, until her death in 1972, latterly in Edgbaston in Birmingham, in a large bungalow, divided into two wings. He left Morris in 1952 for Alvis just as BMC was created from Austin and Morris (as well as Riley, Wolseley and MG).. 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. Ford clinging to the T too long was the same sort of corporate inertia that had VW clinging to the Bug too long. There is a truck factory in the city of Izmir, on the western Mediterranean coast of Turkey, builtby the British Motor Corporation (BMC) in 1967, and which still builds vehiclesunder the BMC brand. He was born in 1906 in a city that is now known as Izmir, in Turkey which itself can trace its . Bernd Peter Pischetsrieder. All Rights Reserved. The first application of Sir Alec Issigonis' engineering breakthrough - All Photos by Randy Stern, except otherwise noted Remember Sir Alec Issigonis? The Mini quickly became cult and had enthusiastic fans worldwide. 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. At Alvis, Issigoniss main task was to lead the development of a more affordable, higher volume luxury car. From 1925-1928 he studied engineering at Battersea Polytechnic in London. Issigonis had also been involved in the larger Oxford, Isis and Wolseley ranges. 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. But accounts do suggest it done in a pretty crass way. 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. Alec Issigonis Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Relationships, Married, Dating, Family, Wiki Biography . Issigonis customer in this case was Maurice Wilks, later the man behind the Land Rover. On the right is Alec Issigonis and standing next to him is John Cooper. Oxbotica Toronto Office. 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. Discover what happened on this day. 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. In 1961, with the Mini gaining popularity, Issigonis was promoted to Technical Director of BMC. Whos the richest Entrepreneur in the world? He was known for being a Entrepreneur. The gearbox sharing the sump oil worked ok, but the transmission absolutely pulverised the lubricating qualities out of the oil, and it really required changing every 3000 miles if you wanted the thing to last. Back the early 2,000 B.C. People of this zodiac sign like truth, being right, longtime friends, teasing, and dislike dishonesty, revealing secrets, passive people. Thanks for this terrific bio on one of the all-time greats in the field. This generation experienced much of their youth during the Great Depression and rapid technological innovation such as the radio and the telephone. When Morris and Austin merged to form the British Motor Corporation in 1952, Issigonis decided to leave the company. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The Minor was, of course, a huge success, for Nuffield and for Issigonis. Austin Maxi: Big On The Inside But Not On The Outside, What a great write up Roger. 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. 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. 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. The initials "G.I." 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. Im sure the Renault 4, 5, 6, and 16 had longitudinal engines. Excellent article. . [3] Whilst he is most famous for his creation of the Mini, he was most proud of his participation in the design of the Morris Minor. [9] He was cremated at the Lodge Hill Cemetery in nearby Selly Oak. He lived and worked in England " A camel is a horse designed by a committee " " Pure Math is the enemy of every truly creative man" Sir Alec's grandfather Demosthenes was sort of a mechanical genius having . He immigrated to Britain in 1922, studied engineering and in 1948 masterminded the Morris Minor, the first British car to sell more than a million. . Even more significantly, it effectively defined the configuration of the small and medium car for the next 50 years. Great article there should be a movie about Issigonis! At the end of 1955, Issigonis moved to BMC to head up the development of the corporations new family of cars. Red: Yeah, its mine. He pressed the case, again, for the gearless 9X, complained about electronics in cars, designers using CAD systems and not slide rules, and changes in the model designations of the existing Mini. 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. Nkter data mohou pochzet z datov poloky. 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. The big steering wheels angle was a bit bus-like though. Kereta rekaannya, BMC Mini dilancarkan dalam tahun 1959. Austin 1800 (ADO18 Landcrab): Best In Class Or Just Plain Ugly? Issigonis quickly arranged for Jack Daniels to move up from Cowley to Longbridge to rebuild their close rapport. 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. Alec Issigonis An expert is someone who tells you why you can't do something. A flawed genius, yes, and BMCs failure to manage him is clear. 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. I wanted to know the genesis. SOL 258H is the oldest surviving gearless car and was the preferred transport of Sir Alex Issigonis. . 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. I got to drive his Red mini when I went for fish and chips on a Friday. He attended Londons Battersea Polytechnic before entering the University of London External Programme. This would have been in the early 70s when they were literally everywhere. Chrysler also took a licence to manufacture the device, which was an integral part of their pioneering overdrive in 1934. On his side, Issigonis built a large model railway in the double garage that ran out through the walls and around the garden. 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 . 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. the outer planets, Uranus and Neptune were not yet discovered, since the telescope had not yet been invented. 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. Alec Issigonis (Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis) was born in Smyrna in the Ottoman Empire (now Izmir, Turkey). Comprehensive article. In the face of all this mayhem, Mrs. Issigonis decided to migrate with Alex to Britain, a land neither knew. 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 . Suffice to say it was an ambitious project for a family of compact cars - the smaller of the pair shorter overall than . Issigonis was knighted in 1968, 1955 Morris Minor: Britains Favorite Car Bar None, And Rightly So, Austin Seven (Mini): The Future Started Here. The 1100 and later 1300 outsold the Mini by a considerable margin and remained Britains best-selling car right through the 1960s. Hulda Issigonis then returned to Malta, leaving sixteen year old Alec alone in London, returning only after Constantine had died. Issigonis usually won, even when entered in the 1100cc class if there was no 750cc category. The first car to repeat the concept of the Mini was the ADO16, which is often considered to be Issigoniss finest hour. Issigonis had the dream of becoming an automobile engineer at an early age. An amazing man, and someone who would probably never rise to prominence in todays auto industry. At some point in the mid-60s they ran an After the New Wears Off feature by an MG 1100 owner in Los Angeles. His grandfather Demosthenis Issigonis . I saw that same car several times, so, at least in nice weather, it apparently was a daily driver. 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. 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. On October 2, 1988, he passed . He didnt say by 1974 in regard to VW and Renault. Issigonis with XC/9001, the car that became the Landcrab. If (and I have no evidence and make no suggestions) a young Issigonis had been outed in, say, the early 1950s, his career progression would likely have been ended even, without any prosecution. I wouldnt say Day was offended but took it as evidence that Issigoniss time has passed and that the value Rover were getting from the consultancy was minimal, and it was effectively indulging Issigonis, something Turnbull and Donald Stokes could afford t0 do (and knew looked rational) in 1970. Chinese Zodiac: Alec Issigonis was born in the Year of the Rabbit. 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. This led to a job at Austin, but in 1936, he moved to Morris at Cowley, where he worked on the Morris 10. On the surface it didnt appear very desirable to Me, or to prospective new-car buyers. Its practicality and affordability made it immediately popular; by the time of Issigonis death more than five million had been sold. 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. Please check back soon for updates. The original plan called for a large family car by 1960, to be followed by a smaller car and then a city car. Dr.Ing. 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. Issigonis's mother, Hulda Prokopp, was descended from a Bavarian brewing family who had settled in Smyrna, and established a brewery. He [], DAILY EXPRESS By David Benson Harry Webster is a quiet, unassuming, generous man of 54. 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. BMC was producing over 11,000 Issigonis-designed front-wheel-drive models a week, with demand still exceeding production, which was continually increased. I think you can see a narrower car in one of the pre-production photos, above. View 6 Images. The Mini was designed by. 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. Joseph Lowrey, [], The Mini hit its big landmark in 1969, a seismic year in the history of BMC>Rover. It confronted the conservative image of BMC head on, even if the rest of BMC range didnt. That Alvis is one of those missed opportunities that ultimately doomed the company. Perhaps it was a trait that ran in the family. 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. At the peak if his career he was by far the most well-known personality in the British motor industry, one of the most well-known names in the European motor industry, and was the first and perhaps the only car British designer who could claim celebrity status. The rest is racing . Alec Issigonis, technical director of the British Motor Corporation and Charles Griffin, chief engineer, answer questions from our technical editor. Indeed gay sex was illegal in the UK until 1968 and for many years after prejudice was rife. During 1956 Issigonis concentrated on the larger two cars, producing several prototypes for testing. In 1922 the family left Turkey for England, as all British people were banished from the country. Whos the richest Entrepreneur in the world. This was partly because of the cost but also because in 1953 Ford bought Briggs UK operations and 1954 BMC bought Fisher & Ludlow. In 1934 Issigonis was invited to join the drawing office at Humber Ltd in Coventry. As such he was of the generation who experienced the privations of two apocalyptic world wars. Alec Issigonis - Etsy Check out our alec issigonis selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. The Minor, Mini, ADO16 and Landcrab all had character, and were all friendly cars. Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Death and commemorations 4 Some of his cars The Automotive Hall of Fame. Generation. Yes, it ran like hell when operable as the owner treated it like an Army Jeep. 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. 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. However, his story proves: never give up your dreams even if life puts obstacles in your way. His mother was Bavarian, the daughter of a brewer. 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. All Rights Reserved. is bigger, and is just one of a family of related models. The Mini caused a sensation with its design and rather small size in the late 1950s thanks to its inventor, the Englishman Alec Issigonis. Look what happened to Alan Turing. [], By Clifford Webb British Leyland are selling the Mini at a loss despite the latest price increase and the fact that after 14 years it is still their top export [], Lord Stokes writes to Sir Alec Issigonis on this day. At this time, he was working for Maurice Olley. I appreciate the research the depth and the smooth writing style to present it all in a gripping way. [5]:277. Issigonis and his team produced a revolutionary car that featured a small exterior with a spacious passenger compartment and outstanding handling characteristics. That name was now engraved in my mind and as I got older I was drawn to LBCs (Little British Cars.) The last sighting was of a 71 America, in 81, and looking very well cared for. 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 .