Alec Issigonis | Automotive Hall of Fame Shunning all offers of silver service with the management. Vic Oak and Reginald Hanks, Morriss Managing Director did though, arranging a 50% salary increase for Issigonis in April 1948, to 1500 per year. Alec Issigonis was born on the 18th of November, 1906. 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) Alec Issigonis (Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis) was born in Smyrna in the Ottoman Empire (now Izmir, Turkey). 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. Alec Issigonis | Bartleby The Crossword Solver finds answers to classic crosswords and cryptic crossword puzzles. Indeed gay sex was illegal in the UK until 1968 and for many years after prejudice was rife. Alec Issigonis, the man who dreamed of the Mini - Archyde He didnt give a damn about the poor sods who had to work on his cars. Mr. Front-Wheel Drive: Sir Alec Issigonis - Academia.edu Nkter data mohou pochzet z datov poloky. A deeply flawed genius at best. is bigger, and is just one of a family of related models. Alec Issigonis - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia He was popular for being a Entrepreneur. Sir Alec Constantine Issigonis, born in Smyrna, Ottoman Empire on November 18, 1906, is famous for designing the beloved Mini Cooper motor car. Omissions? 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. 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 first car to repeat the concept of the Mini was the ADO16, which is often considered to be Issigoniss finest hour. He died in October 1988, aged 82. Issigonis legacy - Education The Axis Powers? Then of course there was severe corrosion in the face of road salt. The war years were spent. On the surface it didnt appear very desirable to Me, or to prospective new-car buyers. In November 1971, Issigonis officially retired from BLMC, with a major ceremony at Longbridge, for which BL marshalled an example of every car for which he had led the design, of which only the Minor was no longer in production. 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? His love/hate relationship with the companys products stayed with []. I saw one, in 79 or 80, sold here as the MG Sports Sedan. 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. Sir Alec Constantine Issigonis: The Greek who designed the legendary Its entirely believable that Issigonis would have been prosecuted if hed had gay sex. We now call them Real Minis, to distinguish them from the post 2001 imitations. Durante o curso ele foi reprovado trs vezes em matemtica. PDF SIR ALEC ISSIGONIS was an automobile engineer whose name will always be Alec's mother, Hulda Prokopp, could trace her origins back to Wrttemberg (now part of Germany). One tidbit I recall: when the Morris Minor design was almost finished the book showed the designer holding a brass model of the car it was decided to add a few inches of width at the centerline. Your article sure did him justice; thank you, Roger. Our tool for managing your permission to our use of cookies is temporarily offline. The last sighting was of a 71 America, in 81, and looking very well cared for. If so, that would seem vindictive on Days part. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. Certainly, it was not the right job for him, taking him too far away from the sketching and ideas, and into meetings about pay scale reviews and marketing policies. This car was remarkably light, weighing 587lb, of which the engine contributed 252lb. Issigonis quickly arranged for Jack Daniels to move up from Cowley to Longbridge to rebuild their close rapport. The Motor Museum in Miniature Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis was born into the Greek city of Smyrna (now zmir) in the Ottoman Empire. . is military terminology referring to "Government Issue" or "General Issue". 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 had the dream of becoming an automobile engineer at an early age. [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. Alec Issigonis was already known for his popular and respected Morris Minor. German Engineer Who Designed And Built The First Practical Automobile (Crossword ClueThe crossword clue German engineer who designed and built the first practical automobile. This would have been in the early 70s when they were literally everywhere. Alec Issigonis is a famous Entrepreneur. So Sir Alec Issigonis had an impact on my life. 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 []. . Demosthenis acquired British nationality through the work he did for the British-built Smyrna-Aydin Railway. Alec Issigonis: The Greek Creator of the Mini Car 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. Austin Healey Sprites , 3000s Austin Americas, MG Midget, MGAs MGBs Mg 1100s I had many of each model. 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. Im sure this was never part of Issigoniss plan, as he was anti-style, but only the 1100 benefited from external help. 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. No wonder Issigonis felt flattered I feel very, very proud that so many people have copied me.. He [], DAILY EXPRESS By David Benson Harry Webster is a quiet, unassuming, generous man of 54. Another Mini! This car basically took the Mini concept and enlarged it by 20%, adding some experience, and ambition, at the same time. Issigonis studied engineering at Battersea Polytechnic in London. They kept it several years until they decided they needed their 1st air-conditioned car a 66 LeMans. BMC . Towards the end of WW2, he began work on the Mosquito project, which ended up being launched in 1948 as the Morris Minor. Speaking of steering, one of the earlier reviews of the Mini contained the sentence, This is the first car Ive driven that caused me to laugh out loud just going around a corner ! Or words to that effect . 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 Mini, and the other Issigonis BMC front wheel drive cars, benefited from Issigonis continuing collaboration with Alex Moulton and his suspension system developments. I wonder if he was to blame for the Mini never having a hatchback, or a more softly suspended version? This is the main reason Lord re-hired Issigonis. Who are the richest people in the world? [], 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. - Wikipedia In 1969, in recognition of his engineering genius, Queen Elizabeth granted him Knighthood. 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 was amazed at the amount of space in that car you could even hide things in the cubbyhole under the rear seat. Chrysler also took a licence to manufacture the device, which was an integral part of their pioneering overdrive in 1934. Alec Issigonis | Classic Cars Wiki | Fandom On the right is Alec Issigonis and standing next to him is John Cooper. 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. Unless it was at some very small, unique company; something like TVR comes to mind. Alec Issigonis - Wikipdia, a enciclopdia livre Humber were more interested in the sales engineer than his product, and Issigonis moved to Humber in 1933. Whos the richest Entrepreneur in the world. For his accomplishments, Queen Elizabeth knighted Issigonis in 1969. Issigoniss first project was to design an independent suspension for Rootes highest volume car, the Hillman Minx. It had one option an AM radio, hung below the dash. The first car I could identify was apparently a Mini and my mother still tells the story of an early trip to England where I wouldnt be quiet Ein Mini! 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. ), British automobile designer who created the best-selling, economical Mini and the perennially popular Morris Minor. At the time of his retirement, 71, hatchbacks were not the thing they were 4 years later. Alec Issigonis - Wikipedia Bahasa Melayu, ensiklopedia bebas 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. A flawed genius, yes, and BMCs failure to manage him is clear. It confronted the conservative image of BMC head on, even if the rest of BMC range didnt. Click the answer to find similar crossword clues . People of this zodiac sign like truth, being right, longtime friends, teasing, and dislike dishonesty, revealing secrets, passive people. As a matter of interest, go to this site: and click on the Letter From Dr. Alex Moulton link. Great article there should be a movie about Issigonis! Issigonis usually won, even when entered in the 1100cc class if there was no 750cc category. Independence is one of their greatest strengths, but sometimes they're overly frank with others. He was involved in engine design as well, requesting unsuccessfully that BL build 4 and 6 cylinder engines for Mini variants. The Mini was launched in 1959, and became instantly popular. Despite its stated mission being to provide basic transport, this level of driving enjoyment, and capability, was like a non stop Christmas present. Alec Issigonis and Dr Alex Moulton, the creator of Hydrolastic and Hydragas suspension, with a Morris 1100, circa 1962. Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis ( 18. listopadu 1906 Smyrna - 2. jna 1988 Birmingham) byl ecko - britsk automobilov konstruktr narozen na zem dnenho Turecka. I saw about 3 Americas in the wild that I can remember, and 1 example of the earlier MG 1100 Sport Sedan. Born in Turkey, Issigonis come to England as a teenager. It was at Alvis that Issigonis first worked with another of the influential characters of his career. Sticks in my mind I read a road test that put engine speed at 60 around 4,000rpm. Sir Alec Issigonis, in full Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, (born Nov. 18, 1906, Smyrna [now zmir], Tur.died Oct. 2, 1988, Birmingham, Eng. BMCs Great Leap Forward was a bold move, unfortunately marred by the inability to check Issigonis tendencies that often put the buyer last instead of first. Alexandros Arnold Constantine Issigonis, more commonly known as Alec Issigionis, was born in Smyrna, Asia Minor, on November 18, 1906. A family that . Below are all possible answers to this clue ordered by its rank. 1988: The Passing of an Automotive Legend - Transportation History TOP 8 QUOTES BY ALEC ISSIGONIS | A-Z Quotes Kereta rekaannya, BMC Mini dilancarkan dalam tahun 1959. His grandfather Demosthenis Issigonis . Sir Alec Issigonis started his career at Humber, known for their Humber Snipe and Humber Hawk models, even Queen Elizabeth II owned a Humber. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. . Issigonis then went back to the British Motor Corporation, where the influence of many political factors led him to his major breakthrough. People born under this sign are seen as warm-hearted and easygoing. His little cars were a success despite him. In 1957, Issigonis received the project that would make him famous. Alec Issigonis Net Worth 2023: Wiki Bio, Married, Dating, Family Styled by Pininfarina, it was launched as the Morris 1100 in 1962, and a year later as the Austin 1100, and the clean, classical lines of the car served BMC well. But beneath this surface, he was a sensitive and more vulnerable person, and was almost certainly (and inexcusably) the subject of some intolerance and prejudice from the UK born staff. The Renault 14 was transversely engined, from 1976. 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. A more powerful engine, bigger brakes and a few tuning tweaks later, the Classic Mini Cooper 997 was introduced. Alec Issigonis, technical director of the British Motor Corporation and Charles Griffin, chief engineer, answer questions from our technical editor. Issigonis, Alec - Hellenism.Net This generation experienced much of their youth during the Great Depression and rapid technological innovation such as the radio and the telephone. At this time, he was working for Maurice Olley. At the opening of the factory BMC was represented by Sir Alec Issigonis. He was knighted in 1969 and was honored by the city of Oxford with a street named after him, Alec Issigonis Way. [], BMC changed the world with the launch of the Mini in 1959. It did get Hydrolastic eventually, then lose it again. Alviss options for body shell production were being reduced, at the same as the estimated costs of the body manufacture doubled. Diz lenda que ele considerava a rigidez . Issigonis Prototype 1970 Mini 9X - atwellwilson.org.uk In August 1959 the car was launched as the Morris Mini Minor and the Austin Seven, which soon became known as the Austin Mini. 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 cars design with its front wheel drive and independent suspension provided good road handling, but Issigonis had scant regard for passenger comfort. 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. The typical American indifference to regular maintenance did not play well with this setup. Alec Issigonis - Wikipedie In 1952, just as the British Motor Corporation (BMC) was formed by the merger of Morris and Austin, he moved to Alvis Cars where he designed an advanced saloon with all-aluminium V-8 engine, and experimented with interconnected independent suspension systems. The car was launched at the 1948 London Motor Show, alongside the Land Rover and Jaguar XK120, and the rest is pure CC history. After these cars, and the formation of British Leyland in 1968, Issigonis was sidelined by a new influx of engineers led by Triumphs Harry Webster. On October 2, 1988, he passed . Constantine married a German lady whose name was Hulda Prokopp and in 1906 they had a baby who they named Alexander Arnold Issigonis, or Alec to his family. Apparently Walter Chrysler could also be difficult to work with. All Rights Reserved. [citation needed], Issigonis was nicknamed "the Greek god" by his contemporaries. 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. 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. Issigonis actually sketched the Minis original design with a pencil on a tablecloth. Cylcops center guage; magic wand shift-lever; and bus-sized steering wheel. Issgoniss retirement, with George Turnbull, then Managing Director of Austin-Morris. Issigonis was giving punters what they needed, rather than what they wanted. It did not have everything Issigonis wanted, as he originally planned this car to have a V4 engine rather than the BMC A series. A British citizen born in Turkey in 1906, Issigonis did not see an automobile until he was 12 years old. Issigonis continued to work as Engineering Director at the Austin-Morris Division of BMC, and as Technical Director of BMC in 1965. Moultons hydrolastic suspension as installed on the BMC ADO16 by Issigonis. His mother was from Bavaria. 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. The [], CARS AND DRIVERS by GEOFFREY CHARLES Whatever the outcome of the BMH-Leyland merger in model rationalization, intensified marketing or expansion-and any joint project will not appear for at least 3 [], MOTOR WHY IS THE ADO16? . How about an uncomfortable driver is a distracted driver? . 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. info@oxbotica.com +44 (0)1865 433 998. He was born in 1906 in a city that is now known as Izmir, in Turkey which itself can trace its . I think you can see a narrower car in one of the pre-production photos, above. The end of the agreement came in 1986, when Issigonis wrote directly to Graham Day, BLs then new Chairman. In 1922 the family left Turkey for England, as all British people were banished from the country. The above photo is a publicity shot with the first produced Mini, at his retirement in 1972. Its practicality and affordability made it immediately popular; by the time of Issigonis death more than five million had been sold. While much derided for its lack of style, I do love the huge smile he put on the front of the original 1800 Landcrab. 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.
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