Issigonis and Dowson then travelled into Austria to the mountain climb competition at the then new Grossglockner Hochalpen Pass. 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. 104 Alec Issigonis Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Images Images Creative Editorial Video Creative Editorial FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 104 Alec Issigonis Premium High Res Photos Browse 104 alec issigonis stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alec-Issigonis. At the time of his retirement, 71, hatchbacks were not the thing they were 4 years later. In the face of all this mayhem, Mrs. Issigonis decided to migrate with Alex to Britain, a land neither knew. After returning to England in 1922, he enrolled in engineering school, failing mathematics at every turn. Most events entered were sprints, but he also raced at circuits. Shunning all offers of silver service with the management. He persisted in this into the 1980s, competing in vain against the Austin Metro, an improved version of the BMC A series engine and seemingly oblivious to the Companys financial state. 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. 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. But, as ever, events intervened in this case the Suez Crisis of 1956, complete with petrol rationing. He was retired from British Leyland in 1971, memorably being given a Meccano kit for his leaving present. Heynes later became Technical Director at Jaguar and was a personal friend of Issigonis for many years. 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. 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. Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, CBE, FRS, RDI (18 November 1906 - 2 October 1988) was a Greek-British designer of cars, now remembered chiefly for the groundbreaking and influential . Therefore, when Alec's father, Constantine Issigonis, was born in Smyrna in 1872, he was also a British national. By early 1957, prototypes were running, and by mid-1957 the project was given an official drawing office project number (ADO15) so that the thousands of drawings required for production could be produced. BLMC says, Archive : Lord Stokes writes to Alec Issigonis, Archive : How Harry Webster is going to shape your car, Archive : The Thoughts of Chairman Stokes, Archive : Issigonis The Giant Who Thought Small, Archive : Creative role for Issigonis in BMC board switch, Archive : Mr Issigonis looks to the future, Archive : Interview Motor meets Alec Issigonis, The cars : Alfa Romeo Alfasud development story, Opinion : Celebrating 40 years of the Austin Maestro, Essay : Austin Maestro styling the real killer, Concepts and prototypes : LM10 and LM11 facelifts, Archive : Coventry Council Debates Rover Crisis, News : PSA confirms continued van production in Luton. Issigonis actually sketched the Minis original design with a pencil on a tablecloth. The first application of Sir Alec Issigonis' engineering breakthrough - All Photos by Randy Stern, except otherwise noted Remember Sir Alec Issigonis? Kereta rekaannya, BMC Mini dilancarkan dalam tahun 1959. It didnt just raise the bar it kicked it into next week ! Issigonis (standing) with the special at Shelsey Walsh hillclimb. I saw one, in 79 or 80, sold here as the MG Sports Sedan. FamousBirthdays.com - use subject to the practices disclosed in our privacy policy. Click the answer to find similar crossword clues . In 1942, Morris gave Issigonis overall responsibility for an all-new model; the Morris Minor. By the mid 1950s, as Europe got back on its feet after the war, there had been many attempts to define the modern car, but none was proving to be dominantly successful. 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. Like many famous people and celebrities, Alec Issigonis kept his personal life private. 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. Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, CBE, FRS terkenal kerana menjadi pencipta kereta Mini yang menjadi ikon tahun 1960-an. A deeply flawed genius at best. John Daly, Your email address will not be published. They kept it several years until they decided they needed their 1st air-conditioned car a 66 LeMans. I saw about 3 Americas in the wild that I can remember, and 1 example of the earlier MG 1100 Sport Sedan. Issigonis then went back to the British Motor Corporation, where the influence of many political factors led him to his major breakthrough. In many ways, this car was a clear, but simpler, derivative of the work Issigonis had been doing at Alvis, and Issigonis recruited some former colleagues from Alvis to BMC to develop V6 and V4 engines for the projected BMC cars, possibly using the aborted work at Alvis as a basis. Nkter data mohou pochzet z datov poloky. [4] The Landcrab and Maxi were so butt ugly that no self respecting petrolhead would be seen it one. 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. 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. It did not have everything Issigonis wanted, as he originally planned this car to have a V4 engine rather than the BMC A series. Alec Issigonis was born in 1900s. Moultons hydrolastic suspension as installed on the BMC ADO16 by Issigonis. Astrologers and astronomers could only work with planets visible to the eye. The Mini caused a sensation with its design and rather small size in the late 1950s thanks to its inventor, the Englishman Alec Issigonis. 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. In later years, the car would become known simply as the Mini. SOL 258H is the oldest surviving gearless car and was the preferred transport of Sir Alex Issigonis. 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. Sir Alec Issigonis. [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. It certainly appeared by the Maxi development era that Issigonis wanted to "do his own thing" as cost cutting and development costs spiraled. Issigonis had also been involved in the larger Oxford, Isis and Wolseley ranges. He took advantage of other peoples suspension designs, Moultons rubber cones and the isolastic, as they freed up more space. Nice to see that blue Morris Oxford just the same as our first car that I remember. In 1942, the first scale model was produced and the following year work began on a hand-formed steel prototype. The Minor, Mini, ADO16 and Landcrab all had character, and were all friendly cars. On his side, Issigonis built a large model railway in the double garage that ran out through the walls and around the garden. It confronted the conservative image of BMC head on, even if the rest of BMC range didnt. meantime, John preferred his psychedelic Rolls .. Roger, hats off for this excellent treatment of an engineering legend. When Morris and Austin merged to form the British Motor Corporation in 1952, Issigonis decided to leave the company. The Mini quickly became cult and had enthusiastic fans worldwide. 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 was knighted in 1969 and was honored by the city of Oxford with a street named after him, Alec Issigonis Way. 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. When Alvis cancelled the project, Issigonis was invited by BMC Chairman Sir Leonard Lord to return to BMC at Longbridge, as Chief Body and Chassis engineer, and reporting to BMC Technical Director Sydney Smith. The end of the agreement came in 1986, when Issigonis wrote directly to Graham Day, BLs then new Chairman. BL were in thrall of the myth theyd created, but the buying public had much more sense. * Commander of the British Empire (1964), Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (1967), Royal Designer for Industry (1964). His mother was from Bavaria. If only it had had more power and better gearing. The loss of British sovereignty led not only to a political defeat but also to an oil crisis. The floor is flat and low to the ground and windows all round make it seem very airy. He was a race car driver during the 30s and 40s. Daniels (right) and Sheppard (left), no doubt, had to smooth a few ruffled feathers on the way. He was knighted in 1969 and was honored by the city of Oxford with a street named after him, Alec Issigonis Way. He title at Alvis was Engineer in charge of passenger car design. It was the highlight of my career and came early as I was just 18 years old and just an apprentice engineer for a tractor company. I fist saw a Mini on my way to middle school in 1965. Enter the length or pattern for better results. 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? Found an ad for the US market 1100. ), British automobile designer who created the best-selling, economical Mini and the perennially popular Morris Minor. The relationship got to the point where Issigonis had the ideas, did the sketches and Daniels did the formal drawings. 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. in there was a 1 hr "The Mini Man " -Sir Alec Issigonis 1906 - 1988 by great friend and car fanatic Peter Ustinov. Alec is . Morris Minor 1000s , Dropheads, Travelers , Panel Van, and Pick up trucks. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Alec Issigonis (Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis) was born in Smyrna in the Ottoman Empire (now Izmir, Turkey). The car was launched at the 1948 London Motor Show, alongside the Land Rover and Jaguar XK120, and the rest is pure CC history. Alec Issigonis is part of G.I. While much derided for its lack of style, I do love the huge smile he put on the front of the original 1800 Landcrab. Been a fan of Alec Issigonis since I was 8 years old. I hope he knew that he changed the Automobile World for the better. The Mini remains one of the most important motoring icons of the 1960s, so it's only natural that the band would want a piece of the action as Beatles mania took hold. 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. At the end of 1955, Issigonis moved to BMC to head up the development of the corporations new family of cars. On the surface it didnt appear very desirable to Me, or to prospective new-car buyers. 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. 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? Alec Issigonis was already known for his popular and respected Morris Minor. The above photo is a publicity shot with the first produced Mini, at his retirement in 1972. Enter the length or pattern for better results. It really showed up typical RWD cars of the time as being great space-wasters. His retirement gift from the company was the largest available Meccano set, complete with a steam engine. In 1922 the family left Turkey for England, as all British people were banished from the country. 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. 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 Was it to be water or air cooled? 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. Having failed his mathematics exams three times, subsequently declaring it 'the most uncreative subject you can study',[3] Issigonis decided to enter the University of London External Programme to complete his university education. They paid him to design a tractor safety cab after their own designers had 3 attempts and we built 3 failures. The Royal Navy Marines evacuated British Subjects, including the Issigonis family, from Smyrna before Turkey attacked. What a great, nicely balanced piece about the ever-controversial Sir Alec, and his equally controversial designs. His love/hate relationship with the companys products stayed with []. There was a long drive way that ran along the school cafeteria that parents used to drop off students in the morning. [13], He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1967. 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. 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. 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. Autokonstrukteur, GBPortrt mit Zigarette- 1959. 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. 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. 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. Looking at the Minor or the Mini, I can believe that. 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. In 1936, Issigonis moved again, to the Morris Motor Company, as a project engineer on an independent front suspension system for the Morris 10, where his experience at Rootes would start to bear fruit.