Sir alec issigonis designed the distinctive twodoor car for bmc. Alec issigonis synonyms, alec issigonis pronunciation, alec issigonis translation, english dictionary definition of alec issigonis. The genius of sir alec issigonis ten of the best from. Sir alec issigonis 1906 1988 sir alexander arnold constantine issigonis, kbe, will be marked in the history books as the man who added a new word to the english language. There is a road named alec issigonis way in oxford business park on the former site of the morris motors factory in cowley, oxford. Woods candid and meticulously researched account, which exposes sir alecs public and private faces, and is the product of some 30 years of research, is complemented by interviews conducted with many of issigoniss former colleagues and friends, including. Ronald barker, john cooper, jack daniels, christopher dowson, paddy hopkirk, spen king. Sir alexander arnold constantine issigonis, best known as alec issigonis, is a car designer of greek origins and the developer of the groundbreaking mini.
He took up motor racing with an ulster a7, before creating the very successful. This symbol of irreverence and fun arrived at a time when the world was. Sir alec issigonis 1906 1988 unique cars and parts. Indeed, sir alec had more of an impact on britains postwar motor industry than just about any of his peers. What i didnt expect was an in depth history of turkish history, and the travails that refugees of wwii had to go through. Alec issigonis, or more formally sir alexander arnold constantine issigonis cbe frs rdi 1906 1988, is best known as the creator of the mini, but he also designed two other cars that have featured on cc and that are amongst the bestselling cars in british motoring history the morris minor and the austinmorris 1100 ado16. He was the designer of the morris minor and the mini, two of the most important british car designs of the 20th century. Sir alec issigonis, british automobile designer who created the bestselling, economical mini and the perennially popular morris minor.
It was the icon of the 1960s and was built because of the 1950s fuel crisis. His father, a successful and wealthy shipbuilding engineer, was of greek origin but held a british passport. Alec issigonis the designer, biography, facts and quotes. O interesse pelo automovel veio aos 12 anos, quando ele viu um pela primeira vez. Synopsis sir alec issigonis lived his life in parallel with the rise and decline of the british motor industry, becoming its first and only celebrity. The man who made the mini, a book by jonathan wood. Alec issigonis bio, facts, family famous birthdays. British car designer best remembered for his work on the development of the iconic mini. Alec issigonis was born on november 18, 1906 in smyrna, ottoman empire as alexander arnold constantine issigonis. What a great read, a bit slow at times, but i thoroughly enjoyed it. Issigonis will forever be remembered for his two most famous designs. As the designer of the iconic mini, the stylish 1100, and the legendary morris minor, his ingenious and effective designs had a deep, lasting influence on the evolution of the motor car and. A biography about the british motor industrys most influential and controversial engineer, sir alec issignois. Sir alexander arnold constantine issigonis, cbe, frs november 18, 1906october 2, 1988 was a greekbritish designer of cars, now remembered chiefly for the development of the mini, launched by the british motor corporation bmc in 1959 alec issigonis.
The genius of sir alec issigonis ten of the best from mini. Sir alec issigonis the designer of britains favourite. John sheppard spent 20 years working with sir alec issigonis, the engineering genius who created the mini, having originally met him at alvis and then followed him back to austin in 1956. Sir alexander arnold constantine issigonis, cbe, frs, rdi alec issigonis was born on 18 november 1906 in. Alec issigonis was important and successful because he was the first person to create a car with front wheel driveand with a transverse engine. Sir alec issigonis 19061988 was a designer of cars, now remembered chiefly for the development of the mini in 1959 he was born alexander arnold constantine issigonis in smyrna, turkey, and came to live in the uk in 1923, taking up a course of study at battersea polytechnic in london. His ingenious and effective designs had a deep, lasting influence on the evolution of the motor car and on the wider history of. Sir alec issigonis sir alexander arnold constantine issigonis, cbe, frs november 18, 1906october 2, 1988 was a greekbritish designer of cars, now remembered chiefly for the development of the mini, launched by the british motor corporation bmc in 1959. Alec issigonis first sketched the minis simple lines on a restaurant table cloth. Alec issigonis the genius behind the mini and the morris minor. The mini went on to become the best selling british car in history with a production run of 5. His father constantine issigonis and his grandfather were engineers.
For example, upi states in its the almanac feature that this was written by issigonis in the guardian. Sir alec issigonis, british automobile designer who created the bestselling, economical mini and the. Alec issigonis definition of alec issigonis by the free. Sir alexander arnold constantine issigonis,18 november 1906 2 october 1988 was a britishgreek designer of cars, widely noted for the groundbreaking and influential development of the mini, launched by the british motor corporation bmc in 1959. The man who made the mini, published by breedon books. Alec issigonis, the brilliant british designer of the morris minor and the mini, is one of the commanding figures in the history of automobile design and engineering. He was knighted in 1969 and was honored by the city of oxford with a street named after him, alec issigonis way. The mini was built by the british motor corporation in birmingham. British motor industrys most influential and controversial engineer, sir alec issignois. Ljk setright, in his book the designers describes issigonis as. This is a biography about the british motor industrys most influential and controversial engineer, sir alec issignois. This book celebrates 60 glorious years of the mini cooper airows.
Our collection contains 5 quotes who is written told by alec. Sir alexander arnold constantine issigonis cbe, frs, rdi 18 november 1906 2 october 1988 was a british. Alec issigonis sir alexander arnold constantine issigonis was born in smyrna in the ottoman empire now izmir. The son of greek and german parents, he inherited british citizenship via his father and developed very english attitudes. Alec issigonis was a famous designer from turkey, who lived between november 18, 1906 and october 2, 1988. Issigonis hardback the official biography gillian bardsley. Wood exposes a behindthescenes impression of the personal and corporate struggles within the declining british car industry, a complex process in which issigonis played a famous role.
Sir alec issigonis quotes 1 science quotes dictionary. Alexander issigonis was born into the greek community of smyrna now izmir in ottoman turkey. Sir alexander arnold constantine issigonis, cbe, frs november 18, 1906october 2, 1988 was a greekbritish designer of cars, now remembered chiefly for the development of the mini, launched by the british motor corporation bmc in 1959. These drawings had been executed over a number of years and were personally annotated by issigonis in 1970 in preparation for this display. Sir alec issigonis quotes today in science history. Mini creator alec issigonis talks about his creation youtube. Sir alexander arnold constantine issigonis, cbe, frs, rdi was an englishgreek designer of. He made the mini and broke the mould the independent. Mini creator alec issigonis talks about his creation. This fulllength biography chronicles the rise and fall of sir alec issigonis, the most influential and controversial engineer in englands motor industry. After an early career on the stage, guinness was featured in several of the ealing comedies, including kind hearts and coronets 1949, in which he played nine different characters, the lavender hill mob 1951, receiving his first academy award nomination, and the ladykillers 1955. Oct 23, 2014 a small and understanding documentary about sir alec issigonis he is the designer who created the bestselling, economical, small mini.
Pdf alec issigonis the man who made the mini download. Alec issigonis the genius behind the mini and the morris. Sir alec issigonis, in full sir alexander arnold constantine issigonis, born nov. Alec issigonis, or more formally sir alexander arnold constantine issigonis. Contentsshow biography alexander arnold constantine issigonis was born into the greek city of smyrna now izmir in the ottoman empire. He died on october 2, 1988 in edgbaston, birmingham, west midlands, england. Mini cooper the mini cooper was a small, light car. With the death of sir alec issigonis, the motor industry has lost another great individualist, a born engineer who rose above the hampering restraints of his employers. He remained on the bl books as a consultant until 1988, shortly before his death. This drawing was one of 165 original drawings by sir alec issigonis displayed in an exhibition at the ica in 1970. In the first paragraph it is alleged that sir alec issigonis was greek with british passport this statement cannot be verified by the reference cited earlier in the paragraph. Sir alec issigonis british automobile designer britannica. But, says jonathan wood, alec issigonis was a flawed genius. Issigonis prototype 1970 mini 9x atwellwilson motor.
Alec issigonis sir alexander arnold constantine issigonis was born in smyrna in the ottoman empire now izmir, turkey. He attended londons battersea polytechnic before entering the university of london external programme. The son of a greek merchant, issigonis immigrated to london in 1922 during the war between greece and turkey. Alec issigonis 19061988 was one of the most original car designers of the modern era, he is best known as the creator of the mini, but he also designed two more of the five best selling cars in british motoring history the morris minor and the austin 1100. Sent by andrew, if you have any pictures of your minis both classic and modern just message me to post them for you. Sir alec issigonis lived his life in parallel with the rise and decline of the british motor industry, becoming its first and only celebrity. 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 worldrenowned for designing the mini and morris minor for bmc. Pdf alec issigonis the man who made the mini download full.
Early life alec issigonis was born 18 november 1906, into the greek cosmopolitan community of the ottoman port smyrna now. In this fulllength biography the author chronicles the rise and fall of issigonis. Sir alexander arnold constantine issigonis cbe, frs, rdi 18 november 1906 2 october 1988 was a british designer of cars, widely noted. Issigonis prototype 1970 mini 9x atwellwilson motor museum. Sir alec officially retired from the motor industry in 1971, although he continued working until shortly before his death from parkinsons disease in 1988 in his house at edgsbaton, england. The revolutionary design of the mini was created by sir alec issigonis 19061988, considered a visionary in industrial transportation. For example, upi states in its the almanac feature that this was written by issigonis in the guardian, but webmaster suspects it was a saying in use before him.
Sir alec issigonis as attributed, perhaps incorrectly. The chairman, sir leonard lord, was fed up with seeing bubble cars everywhere and told us to make a small car. In the 1930s he converted an austin car to a rcing car and drove it in races. Durante o curso ele foi reprovado tres vezes em matematica.
Sir alec issigonis, who had the opportunity to reshape mass motoring like few before or since, chapman notes. It was manufactured at the cowley and longbridge plants in the uk, and later on in spain, belgium, australia, chile, italy, malta, portugal, south africa, uruguay, venezuela and yugoslavia. Sir alexander arnold constantine issigonis, kbe, will be marked in the history books as the man who added a new word to the english language. I wanted to learn more about their history and its designed alec issigonis. He is noted for his designs for the morris minor and the mini. And yet there was far more to his success than those two gamechanging models. Born in smyrna in 1906, but a british citizen, issigonis came to england as a boy. Alec issigonis the man who made the mini book depository. Heshe is born under the zodiac scorpio, who is known for transient, selfwilled, purposeful, unyielding.
1171 1201 599 1115 155 1277 1583 700 1304 665 674 44 1568 624 1049 1021 38 696 1270 1161 1459 1273 1238 289 214 1441 792 17 270 214 929 1031 593 1115 643 206 1247 760