alec issigonis family

He and Frank Stephenson are both famous car designers. Issigoniss legacy is undoubtedly best seen through his cars, from the Minor to the Maxi, which challenged conventions through engineering ingenuity. After returning to England in 1922, he enrolled in engineering school, failing mathematics at every turn. Again,Issigonis was able to get close to some of the most impressive cars of the era, and take ideas and influences home. After studying engineering, he joined Morris Motors in 1936 as a suspension designer. 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. The Boudjah - Smyrna born Alec Issigonis was an engineering genius and even after his death there is a fan base for his cars. Alec Issigonis An expert is someone who tells you why you can't do something. Sir Alec Issigonis - Motoring Weekly This car was remarkably light, weighing 587lb, of which the engine contributed 252lb. A British citizen born in Turkey in 1906, Issigonis did not see an automobile until he was 12 years old. Click the answer to find similar crossword clues . Thank you very much for a wonderful biography. 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. 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. It was more like a Lancia or a rear drive Citroen than a Rover or a Sunbeam-Talbot. Demosthenis acquired British nationality through the work he did for the British-built Smyrna-Aydin Railway. Issgonis preferred to work by sketching his ideas onto Arclight pads, each numbered in sequence and retained, and then having Daniels, looking after chassis elements, or another close confidant John Sheppard, looking after the body shell itself, work to turn these in physical reality. When we stopped sending children up chimneys we reemployed them to work or minis. Oxford Study Courses My Family's Cars and Industry Pivots: Transverse Mounted Front Wheel Drive Issigonis and his team produced a revolutionary car that featured a small exterior with a spacious passenger compartment and outstanding handling characteristics. Our tool for managing your permission to our use of cookies is temporarily offline. Towards the end of WW2, he began work on the Mosquito project, which ended up being launched in 1948 as the Morris Minor. 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 appreciate the research the depth and the smooth writing style to present it all in a gripping way. The Landcrab and Maxi were so butt ugly that no self respecting petrolhead would be seen it one. 1988: The Passing of an Automotive Legend - Transportation History Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, CBE, FRS terkenal kerana menjadi pencipta kereta Mini yang menjadi ikon tahun 1960-an. There he developed the Morris Minor, which remained in production from 1948 to 1971. It really showed up typical RWD cars of the time as being great space-wasters. Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis (Greek: , )CBE FRS RDI (18 November 1906 2 October 1988) was a British-Greek automotive designer. 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. Many did not even make it through the warranty period without the transmission self-destructing. The Crossword Solver found 30 answers to "an alec issigonis family car launched in 1969 (6,4)", 10 letters crossword clue. A truly great man and an honour for me. Constantine was very proud of his British citizenship and Alec grew up in a traditional British type of household. 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. Unfortunately I didnt turn out quite as brilliant, but I like to think I missed out some of the stubbornness/arrogance as well. 130 King Street West, Exchange Tower, Suite 1800, Toronto, Canada, M5X 1E3. Issigonis worked as a draughtsman and design engineer, and also in a sales and project engineer role, succeeding in securing Rover as a customer use the freewheel device on the new for 1933 Rover Ten (P1 series, above). Autokonstrukteur, GBPortrt mit Zigarette- 1959. By 1938, Issigonis was lead engineer for steering and suspension for all the Morris car range. 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. 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. A deeply flawed genius at best. XC/9002 became ADO16 and was launched as the Morris 1100 with the Hydrolastic interconnected suspension system in August 1962. Shunning all offers of silver service with the management. Morris 1100. 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. People : Sir Alec Issigonis - AROnline Alec Issigonis - Trivia, Family, Bio | Famous Birthdays Its entirely believable that Issigonis would have been prosecuted if hed had gay sex. The Morris Minor was an immediate success, selling over 11 million units, and was the first characterization of Issigoniss philosophy of maximizing interior space while shrinking all other components. 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. meantime, John preferred his psychedelic Rolls .. Roger, hats off for this excellent treatment of an engineering legend. August 26, 2019. That's exactly what he did. The first car to repeat the concept of the Mini was the ADO16, which is often considered to be Issigoniss finest hour. Issigonis did observe and try to improve on what he saw, but always challenged himself to be original and better. Issigonis had also been involved in the larger Oxford, Isis and Wolseley ranges. RM G4TJWM - Alec Issigonis, creator of the British Motor Corporation 'Mini' car range, drives the 1,000,000th Mini off the production line at the Austin Plant at Longbridge, Birmingham. The last sighting was of a 71 America, in 81, and looking very well cared for. 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. I remember being quite put off by the sound of the engine seemingly racing to maintain 45mph. Your article sure did him justice; thank you, Roger. 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. Was it to be front or rear engined? The Royal Navy Marines evacuated British Subjects, including the Issigonis family, from Smyrna before Turkey attacked. An image from the 1964 Racing Car Show in the aftermath of the Mini's first Monte Carlo Rally win. Where was the gearbox to be fitted on a front wheel drive car? On a cheerier note, Id love to see that Alvin on the flesh. . In 1936, he moved to Morris Motors Limited at Cowley working on an independent front suspension system for the Morris 10. 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. But accounts do suggest it done in a pretty crass way. Sir Alec Issigonis | British automobile designer | Britannica His mother was Bavarian, the daughter of a brewer. The problem was that I would never have initially chosen to drive one. He was knighted in 1969 and was honored by the city of Oxford with a street named after him, Alec Issigonis Way. All Rights Reserved. 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 . Issigonis name will always be associated with the Morris Minor, built for over 20 years, and with the Mini, a car he designed very quickly in the late 1950s and which was built for over 40 years, throughout the tumultuous history of BMC and BLMC, ending only after the BMW led break up of the Rover Group in 2000. The childhood . Heynes later became Technical Director at Jaguar and was a personal friend of Issigonis for many years. So Sir Alec Issigonis had an impact on my life. Issigonis actually sketched the Minis original design with a pencil on a tablecloth. Issigonis and Dowson then travelled into Austria to the mountain climb competition at the then new Grossglockner Hochalpen Pass. 10 Things Everyone Forgot About Mini And Its Cars Sir Alec Issigonis, in full Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, (born Nov. 18, 1906, Smyrna [now zmir], Tur.died Oct. 2, 1988, Birmingham, Eng. George Harriman, Leonard Lord and Alec Issogonis. He was born in 1906 in a city that is now known as Izmir, in Turkey which itself can trace its . He was knighted in 1969 and was honored by the city of Oxford with a street named after him, Alec Issigonis Way. This post and its visuals and videos explains this pivotal vector of the international industry with such clarity and depth. . 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. [8], With the creation of British Leyland in 1969, new chairman Lord Stokes quickly sidelined Issigonis and made him into what was termed "Special Developments Director", replacing him with Harry Webster as the new Technical Director (Small/Medium cars). Alexandros Arnold Constantine Issigonis, more commonly known as Alec Issigionis, was born in Smyrna, Asia Minor, on November 18, 1906. In 1942, the first scale model was produced and the following year work began on a hand-formed steel prototype. The all-new Mini will be revealed today, on what would have been Mini creator Sir Alec Issigonis's 107th birthday. Arguably, Issigonis and BL were in danger of being left behind. BL were in thrall of the myth theyd created, but the buying public had much more sense. info@oxbotica.com +44 (0)1865 433 998. THE CREATOR OF AN ICONIC CAR: ALEC ISSIGONIS. 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. [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. I wanted to know the genesis. 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 Crossword Solver finds answers to classic crosswords and cryptic crossword puzzles. He despised such luxuries as radios and comfortable seats, once stating I would like people to sit on nails to be extremely uncomfortable all the time. and declaring that an uncomfortable driver is an alert driver. Sir Alec Issigonis ( 1906-1988 ) was an exceptional car designer who is best known for his development of the Mini.He was born in Smyrna ( Izmir ) in Turkey, the son of British-Greek parents. His father, however, did not survive the crossing. He was involved in engine design as well, requesting unsuccessfully that BL build 4 and 6 cylinder engines for Mini variants. Demosthenis's son (Alec's father) Constantine Issigonis (Greek: ), was born, with British nationality, in Smyrna in 1872. 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 . Issigonis had the dream of becoming an automobile engineer at an early age. Issigonis 'response was dry and forceful:'I'm an engineer. The war prevented this design from going into production but it was later used on the MG Y-type. 1925 . His grandfather Demosthenis Issigonis . Sir Alecs design which we built won the design centre award. Like many famous people and celebrities, Alec Issigonis kept his personal life private. Another Mini!). 41 Copy quote. In 1956, the focus was shifted towards a new economy car and from here, the Mini was born in 1959. 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. 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. Issigonis' first cousin once removed was Bernd Pischetsreider, responsible . Biography: Sir Alec Issigonis - Curbside Classic O interesse pelo automvel veio aos 12 anos, quando ele viu um pela primeira vez. I saw this tiny car among the Buicks Oldsmobiles Mercurys and Chevrolet Impalas that were the usual fare. From London to Longbridge: The streets that made Mini 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. 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. Issigonis's mother, Hulda Prokopp, was descended from a Bavarian brewing family who had settled in Smyrna, and established a brewery. ALEC ISSIGONIS Automotive Designer (1906-1988) One of the most original car designers of the modern era, ALEC ISSIGONIS (1906-1988) is best known as the creator of the Mini, but also designed two more of the five best-selling cars in British motoring history - the Morris Minor and the Austin 1100. . A truly fascinating man he was. This isnt 1942. At the time of his retirement, 71, hatchbacks were not the thing they were 4 years later. Happy birthday to the Mini! 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. It amounted to no more than surface rust on the chassis. Constantine studied in England. At Alvis, Issigoniss main task was to lead the development of a more affordable, higher volume luxury car. 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. [16], In 2003 he was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in the United States. He attended Londons Battersea Polytechnic before entering the University of London External Programme. Alec Issigonis - Career - LiquiSearch On the right is Alec Issigonis and standing next to him is John Cooper. He was known for being a Entrepreneur. To get to this point wasnt easy. Alec Issigonis is a famous Entrepreneur. Sir Alec Issigonis | Autopedia | Fandom People born under this sign are seen as warm-hearted and easygoing. Alec Issigonis nasceu na Turquia Filho de um grego naturalizado britnico casado com uma turca. His inability to accept guidance (stubbornness may be a better term) also led to some misjudged products the Maxi comes to mind but perhaps the purity of hispredominantly engineering solution with poor execution in the areas Issigonis didnt or wouldnt appreciate (looks, practicality, ergonomics, product revisions, marketing) was also overlooked by too many within BMC. He left Morris in 1952 for Alvis just as BMC was created from Austin and Morris (as well as Riley, Wolseley and MG).. Alec Issigonis, the man who dreamed of the Mini - Archyde He would instead research work on his Mini replacement the 9X with its compact transverse engine. The original Minor design was so narrow they had to chop it lengthways and widen it. 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. Innovative. I got to drive his Red mini when I went for fish and chips on a Friday. is military terminology referring to "Government Issue" or "General Issue". Alviss options for body shell production were being reduced, at the same as the estimated costs of the body manufacture doubled. [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. 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. The irony being, of all the cars built in the world that follow his layout, none carry an Austin or Morris badge. At the end of 1955, Issigonis moved to BMC to head up the development of the corporations new family of cars. 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. Issigoniss mother, Hulda Prokopp, was descended from a Bavarian brewing family who had settled in Smyrna, and established a brewery. I was amazed at the amount of space in that car you could even hide things in the cubbyhole under the rear seat. 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. His father died in 1922, at which point he and his mother moved to the U.K.. The innovation he created by switching the orientation of the engine, changing the traditional transmission to a transaxle and sending power to the front wheels was a magnificent idea! Issgoniss retirement, with George Turnbull, then Managing Director of Austin-Morris. Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis was born into the Greek city of Smyrna (now zmir) in the Ottoman Empire. 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. Alec Issigonis - Wikipedie Alec Issigonis Net Worth 2023: Wiki Bio, Married, Dating, Family Sir Alec Constantine Issigonis, born in Smyrna, Ottoman Empire on November 18, 1906, is famous for designing the beloved Mini Cooper motor car. As a person whos worked as a CAD drafter for 24 years, I wonder what his objection to CAD was. 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. Zodiac Sign: Alec Issigonis was a Scorpio. Alec Issigonis The public don't know what they want; it's my job to tell them. Im sure the Renault 4, 5, 6, and 16 had longitudinal engines. Unfortunately the ADO16 did not do well in the U.S. as the Austin America, which was imported here in an attempt to eat some of VWs lunch in the late 1960s. Copyright 2011 - 2023 Curbside Classics. Maybe because theyd lost the Issigonis chassis manners? Issigonis was born in Smyrna in 1906. An amazing man, and someone who would probably never rise to prominence in todays auto industry. Thanks for the great article. Despite its stated mission being to provide basic transport, this level of driving enjoyment, and capability, was like a non stop Christmas present. He often had to be discreetly talked through financial documents when he was in the board meetings. The closure of the Suez canal created . Sir Alec Issigonis. 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 . The rest is racing . I wonder if he was to blame for the Mini never having a hatchback, or a more softly suspended version? This was the man who persisted in pursuing a gearless car using only a torque converter, who rubbished CAD in favour of slide rules, who did most of his designs in rough and passed them to his acolytes to make real. At the age of 30 he worked for the Morris Engineering Department and celebrated his first success with the construction of the Morris Minor. The suspension was trailing arms at the front, attached to a steel cross-member, and a swing axle rear, all with rubber springs made of catapult elastic. It certainly appeared by the Maxi development era that Issigonis wanted to "do his own thing" as cost cutting and development costs spiraled. The Renault 14 was transversely engined, from 1976. You could, however, discern Issigoniss influence on some of BMCs light commercials, especially the underfloor engined JU and walk through EA vans of the late 1960s. And his father, a Greek by origin and British by nationality, had inherited a marine engine construction company, an activity that fascinated little Alec. Found an ad for the US market 1100. Issigonis quickly arranged for Jack Daniels to move up from Cowley to Longbridge to rebuild their close rapport. Morris Minor 1000s , Dropheads, Travelers , Panel Van, and Pick up trucks. Alec Issigoniss mothers name is unknown at this time and his fathers name is under review. Then of course there was severe corrosion in the face of road salt. 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. Nearly $1900 was pretty stiff pricing for a car that size in the mid 60s, $150 more than a Bug. Alec Issigonis 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. The above photo is a publicity shot with the first produced Mini, at his retirement in 1972. Updates? 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. Issigonis legacy - Education 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. Mr. Front-Wheel Drive: Sir Alec Issigonis . A testament to brilliant design or to the modern industrys tendencies towards aversion of risk, I wont say surely some of both. He didnt give a damn about the poor sods who had to work on his cars. Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis was born in Smyrna, on November 18, 1906 and he is the man who designed one of the most beloved cars in the world, the legendary Mini Cooper! After returning to England in 1922, he enrolled in engineering school, failing mathematics at every turn. The big steering wheels angle was a bit bus-like though. A British citizen born in Turkey in 1906, Issigonis did not see an automobile until he was 12 years old. Indeed gay sex was illegal in the UK until 1968 and for many years after prejudice was rife. Alec Issigoniss birth sign is Scorpio and he had a ruling planet of Pluto. Sixty years ago today . with 8 letters was last seen on the March 01, 2023.We found 20 possible solutions for this clue. 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. Sketch by the late Sir Alec Issigonis, of the original Morris Minor, circa 1946. He would attend the usual motor shows, but often would refuse to look in detail at the competition, so he did not become confused. They paid him to design a tractor safety cab after their own designers had 3 attempts and we built 3 failures. Great Designer :: ALEC ISSIGONIS - WordPress.com I think you can see a narrower car in one of the pre-production photos, above. 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. Alec Issigonis (Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis) was born in Smyrna in the Ottoman Empire (now Izmir, Turkey). 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. 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. Generation. 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 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. And the result was the creation of more than just an economical car. He was flattered to be copied, though. ADO15, 16 & 17 (36792752942).jpg 1 712 1 936; 589 KB [13], He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1967. The Axis Powers? 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. " Sir Alec Issigonis. 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 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. Smrna was then the second city of the Ottoman Empire and had a local population of around one million, of which more than half were Greek. 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. Alec Issigonis - Etsy Check out our alec issigonis selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. 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.

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