Again,Issigonis was able to get close to some of the most impressive cars of the era, and take ideas and influences home. But his true interest was in the 9X and its power unit, and getting a version of it accepted by BL. 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. Sir Alec Issigonis hadn't even seen a car until he was 12 years old. Our tool for managing your permission to our use of cookies is temporarily offline. Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, CBE, FRS (18 November 1906-2 October 1988) was a Greek-British designer of cars, now remembered chiefly for the groundbreaking and influential development of the Mini, launched by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) in 1959. In the face of all this mayhem, Mrs. Issigonis decided to migrate with Alex to Britain, a land neither knew. 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. When he officially retired from BLMC in November 1971, Issigonis was retained by BLMC on an exclusive consultancy agreement, signed off by and reporting to the Chairman, Donald Stokes. Absolutely brilliant article about an engineering genius. An amazing man, and someone who would probably never rise to prominence in todays auto industry. 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. He title at Alvis was Engineer in charge of passenger car design. It interested me as I had the honour of working with sir Alec for around 3 months. However, his story proves: never give up your dreams even if life puts obstacles in your way. This is the main reason Lord re-hired Issigonis. Alec Issigonis is part of G.I. . BMC and Issigonis were awarded the Dewar Trophy by the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) for the innovative design and production of the Mini. To achieve this feat, Issigonis utilized a front wheel drive layout with a transverse-mounted engine, the first modern application of this concept. On the surface it didnt appear very desirable to Me, or to prospective new-car buyers. A more powerful engine, bigger brakes and a few tuning tweaks later, the Classic Mini Cooper 997 was introduced. I hardly ever drove a Mini or an 1100, but many miles of driving a Landcrab made me understand why it was so very good, in spite of some engineering shortcuts. Yes, it ran like hell when operable as the owner treated it like an Army Jeep. The floor is flat and low to the ground and windows all round make it seem very airy. This strong streak of fierce independence and lack of compromise hid his lateral approach to the design and engineering of cars. Designer Alec Issigonis was born in the southern Anatolian city of Smyrna in 1906. That's exactly what he did. Zodiac Sign: Alec Issigonis was a Scorpio. Issigonis (just in view at the far right) was not involved in the engineering of this car, but was able to start a long term friendship with Battista and Sergio Pininfarina,seenstanding next the car with Leonard Lord and George Harriman. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Issigonis was to use Moultons suspension ideas on all his future cars, with Moulton working in a consultancy capacity to BMC. Thanks for a wonderfully researched article! Sir Alecs design which we built won the design centre award. Later, he was working on an independent suspension for the larger Humber Hawk, with another rising star in the industry, Bill Heynes. Joseph Lowrey, MOTOR: As soon [], Mr Alec Issigoniss New B.M.C. He would attend the usual motor shows, but often would refuse to look in detail at the competition, so he did not become confused. Although primarily a station car, my parents also took it on a vacation through New England. Alec Issigoniss mothers name is unknown at this time and his fathers name is under review. Chrysler also took a licence to manufacture the device, which was an integral part of their pioneering overdrive in 1934. Alec Issigonis and Dr Alex Moulton, the creator of Hydrolastic and Hydragas suspension, with a Morris 1100, circa 1962. The end of the agreement came in 1986, when Issigonis wrote directly to Graham Day, BLs then new Chairman. 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. the outer planets, Uranus and Neptune were not yet discovered, since the telescope had not yet been invented. in there was a 1 hr "The Mini Man " -Sir Alec Issigonis 1906 - 1988 by great friend and car fanatic Peter Ustinov. Issigonis designed the most enduring small cars of the twentieth century, the Morris Minor (1948) and the Mini (1959) - a testament to his insistence that 'styled' cars dated quickly. Issigonis actually sketched the Minis original design with a pencil on a tablecloth. The gearbox in sump was a dead end in terms of automotive design. If you see something that doesnt look right, contact us. Building 9400 Oxford Business Park North Alec Issigonis Way Oxford OX4 2HN Humber was the upscale brand of the Rootes Group, but also the name of the main car building company in the Group. Alec's mother, Hulda Prokopp, could trace her origins back to Wrttemberg (now part of Germany). He was a race car driver during the 30s and 40s. Engine access on the Mini was very awkward, and this was only improved on the ADO16 because Jack Daniels was able to keep Issigonis away from the detail work, which was largely done at Cowley in Oxford rather than Longbridge. 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. Etsy Search for items or shops Close search Skip to Content Sign in 0 Cart Cyber Sales Event Jewelry & Accessories Clothing & Shoes 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 often had to be discreetly talked through financial documents when he was in the board meetings. The car was launched at the 1948 London Motor Show, alongside the Land Rover and Jaguar XK120, and the rest is pure CC history. George Harriman, Leonard Lord and Alec Issogonis. His grandfather Demosthenis Issigonis . 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. Sir Alec Issigonis, in full Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, (born Nov. 18, 1906, Smyrna [now zmir], Tur.died Oct. 2, 1988, Birmingham, Eng. . I caught up to my mate and I said thats a really cool car, what is it? Thats my BrothersMini Cooper. Autokonstrukteur, GBPortrt mit Zigarette- 1959. Click the answer to find similar crossword clues . 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. 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. By 1945, a full scale static prototype close to the familiar production form was completed. Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis CBE FRS RDI (18 November 1906 - 2 October 1988) was a Greek automotive designer. He was involved in engine design as well, requesting unsuccessfully that BL build 4 and 6 cylinder engines for Mini variants. Alec Issigonis, technical director of the British Motor Corporation and Charles Griffin, chief engineer, answer questions from our technical editor. The mini leaked like a sieve because of the way hed designed the sills and had to be redesigned. Alec Issigonis's mother was German, and it was on her side of the family that he was a first cousin once removed to automobile engineer and executive manager Bernd Pischetsrieder. After returning to England in 1922, he enrolled in engineering school, failing mathematics at every turn. Alec Issigonis was born in Turkey. Issigonis planned two versions, known as the TA/350 with a 3.5 litre V8 and TA/175 with a 1750cc, V4 engine. 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. British car designer best remembered for his work on the development of the iconic Mini. Astrologers and astronomers could only work with planets visible to the eye. 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. Fascinating piece and what a character! meantime, John preferred his psychedelic Rolls .. Roger, hats off for this excellent treatment of an engineering legend. What a great, nicely balanced piece about the ever-controversial Sir Alec, and his equally controversial designs. Issigonis usually won, even when entered in the 1100cc class if there was no 750cc category. I saw this tiny car among the Buicks Oldsmobiles Mercurys and Chevrolet Impalas that were the usual fare. Oxbotica Toronto Office. Please check back soon for updates. Issigonis spent his early years as an engineer with Morris Motors working on steering and suspension. His father, a successful and wealthy shipbuilding engineer, was of Greek origin but held a British passport. He was popular for being a Entrepreneur. How about an uncomfortable driver is a distracted driver? Shortly after in 1962, when gender roles were thought to be defined, one woman chose a life of speed. The greatest overall compatibility with Scorpio is Taurus and Cancer. Issigonis was a good packaging designer. Meanwhile from 1930, he raced a supercharged Ulster Austin Seven, and fitted it with an independent front suspension of his own design. It was as modern and progressive in 1948 as the ADO16 Morris 1100 was in 1962, and let down only by the relatively weak and old side valve engine. He and Frank Stephenson are both famous car designers. Discover what happened on this day. They kept it several years until they decided they needed their 1st air-conditioned car a 66 LeMans. Alternate titles: Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis. THE CREATOR OF AN ICONIC CAR: ALEC ISSIGONIS. I saw that same car several times, so, at least in nice weather, it apparently was a daily driver. Generation also known as The Greatest Generation. (I can remember seeing Austin Americas just a few years old being offered up for $50.) 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. Issigonis officially retired from the motor industry in 1971, although he continued working until shortly before his death in 1988 at his house in Edgbaston, Birmingham. Indeed gay sex was illegal in the UK until 1968 and for many years after prejudice was rife. Innovative. But at the age of 50, he began designing one of the most iconic vehicles ever produced: the classic Mini. with 8 letters was last seen on the March 01, 2023.We found 20 possible solutions for this clue. Issigonis's mother, Hulda Prokopp, was descended from a Bavarian brewing family who had settled in Smyrna, and established a brewery. [citation needed] He considered it to be a vehicle that combined many of the luxuries and conveniences of a good motor car with a price suitable for the working classes in contrast to the Mini which was a spartan mode of conveyance with everything cut to the bone. My appreciation of Issigonis designs really came when Auntie Merle traded her Austin A30 (horrible car) for a Morris 1100. He was a race car driver during the 30's and 40's. In 1928 his first job was in the design office of Gillett, an engineering firm in London. 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. O interesse pelo automvel veio aos 12 anos, quando ele viu um pela primeira vez. Subsequently my main triumph of design is a carbon block conveyor that fit into an oddly shaped spot while using less pieces of steel than its predecessor. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alec-Issigonis. 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. Enter your username or email to reset your password. 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. Issigonis continued to work as Engineering Director at the Austin-Morris Division of BMC, and as Technical Director of BMC in 1965. As a young man, Constantine was sent to England to study, and he later married Hulda Prokopp, the daughter of a wealthy German brewer in Smyrna. When we stopped sending children up chimneys we reemployed them to work or minis. . Alec Issigonis The public don't know what they want; it's my job to tell them. His retirement gift from the company was the largest available Meccano set, complete with a steam engine. 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. ), British automobile designer who created the best-selling, economical Mini and the perennially popular Morris Minor. This prototype was never manufactured because its cost was beyond Alvis's resources. Here in Australia they didnt seem particularly small, but they were certainly a lot more roomy than the competition. Great summary of a giant of industrial design. A testament to brilliant design or to the modern industrys tendencies towards aversion of risk, I wont say surely some of both. He also had plans for a flat four cylinder engine, and at frequentlychallenged convention and Morris Motors conservatism. 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. A truly fascinating man he was. The first application of Sir Alec Issigonis' engineering breakthrough - All Photos by Randy Stern, except otherwise noted Remember Sir Alec Issigonis? Joseph Lowrey, [], The Mini hit its big landmark in 1969, a seismic year in the history of BMC>Rover. Sketch by the late Sir Alec Issigonis, of the original Morris Minor, circa 1946. Cooper took the prototype out for a spin and realised this fuel-saving people's car cornered like no other. After returning to England in 1922, he enrolled in engineering school, failing mathematics at every turn. By October 1957, Issigonis had shown Lord a working prototype and the decision had been made to manufacture the car, using the existing BMC A series engine. In 1957, Issigonis received the project that would make him famous. Nearly $1900 was pretty stiff pricing for a car that size in the mid 60s, $150 more than a Bug. 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. He was knighted in 1969 and was honored by the city of Oxford with a street named after him, Alec Issigonis Way. 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. Sir Alec was a combination of everything that was right AND wrong about the British car industry in his day. So in here in the U.S. the ADO16 went down in obscurity, while its far less sophisticated but more reliable competition built by the Axis powers took over the small car market. MINI, official partner of Team GB and ParalympicsGB, has unveiled its new London 2012 special, Keith Adams Well, Christmas and Boxing Day are out of the way and the, The replacement for the Austin-Healey 3000 never took off, thanks in part to a poor, British Motor Holdings the joining of BMC and Jaguar, The cars : Mini (ADO15) development story Part One, Concepts and prototypes : BMC 9X (1968-87), Blog : Why the Italians beat us to a supermini by a decade, History : The Road to Perdition Part One, Interview : Alec Issigonis on the BMC 1100, Archive : Mini Shortlisted For Car Of The Century, Archive : Mini still sold at a loss. The challenge of designing the Mini was engineering a car that would seat four passengers and their luggage in a package not to exceed ten feet in length. 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. Contents Early life and education Career Legacy Honours Some of his cars At the opening of the factory BMC was represented by Sir Alec Issigonis. Whos the richest Entrepreneur in the world? People over the road from us had a Wolseley Six (top of the range Landcrab) when we were kids. Style wise, the car has been identified as having a visual similarity to Lancia Aureliathe 1950-58 Lancia Aurelia saloon, with some Morris Oxford overtones and a traditional Alvis style grille added. [4] Issigonis returned to BMC to design a range of family vehicles. When Morris and Austin merged to form the British Motor Corporation in 1952, Issigonis decided to leave the company. 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. I thought I knew everything about Issigonis already, but there were some fascinating insights here. Bookmark this page and come back often for updates. 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. The problem was that I would never have initially chosen to drive one. It did get Hydrolastic eventually, then lose it again. The loss of British sovereignty led not only to a political defeat but also to an oil crisis. Alec Issigonis Popularity Most Popular Born in 1906 First Name Alec #31 #1 Entrepreneur Born in Turkey #2 Alec Issigonis Is A Member Of Born In 1906 Entrepreneurs First Name Alec Scorpios Issigoniss mother, Hulda Prokopp, was descended from a Bavarian brewing family who had settled in Smyrna, and established a brewery. He also took his lunch with the workers in the local pub and travelled to this in our Bedford crew bus with wooden bench seats. Was it to be front or rear engined? 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. American Brands: AMC, Jeep and All Others, Tractors, Lawn Mowers, Off-Road Equipment, Biography: Sir Alec Issigonis The Designer of Britains Favourite Cars, Britains Favourite Car Designer, I have labelled it the Most Significant Car of the 1940s, Vintage R&T Technical Analysis: AMCs New Pacer As Short As A Pinto; As Wide As A Chevelle, Vintage Car Life Comparison: 1961 VW Bus, Corvair Greenbrier, and Ford Econoline Wherein A 40 HP VW Bus Ties An 80 HP Greenbrier In The 1/4 Mile, Cohort Pic(k) of the Day: NSU Ro80 Just Your Typical Bay Area Car Show, The CC Graveyard: Part Three An Exotic Foreigner Hiding In The Bushes, Wordless Outtake: Ford, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot, Renault, MAN The Subcontractors Sixsome, BOAL: 1982 Honda GL500 Silverwing Chapter 5, The Baby Wing. Dr.Ing. Enter the length or pattern for better results. 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 . Omissions? It was designed to follow on from the Mini and 1100 as the next generation . What a great. Issigoniss first project was to design an independent suspension for Rootes highest volume car, the Hillman Minx. 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. Ruling Planet: Alec Issigonis had a ruling planet of Pluto and has a ruling planet of Pluto. Who are the richest people in the world? He attended Londons Battersea Polytechnic before entering the University of London External Programme. Nkter data mohou pochzet z datov poloky. It was apparent to Morriss senior managers that Issigonis was cut from a different cloth compared to his contemporaries. He was also referred to as the Greek God, perhaps more openly. Stokes was heard on his appointment to say: "We'll sharp sort this bloke Issigonis out!". If only it had had more power and better gearing. https://www.mini.com/ His father Constantine Issigonis was a successful shipbuilding engineer, whose own father was from Paros. Required fields are marked *. His mother was Bavarian, the daughter of a brewer. Daniels (right) and Sheppard (left), no doubt, had to smooth a few ruffled feathers on the way. He didnt give a damn about the poor sods who had to work on his cars. ADO15, 16 & 17 (36792752942).jpg 1 712 1 936; 589 KB [1][2], Issigonis was born on 18 November 1906 in the Ottoman port city of Smyrna, the only child of Constantine Issigonis and Hulda Prokopp. The Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum is now home to the Issigonis Prototype 1970 Mini 9X 'Gearless', donated to the Museum by the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon, Warwickshire. Thanks for the great article. Proslavil se zejmna nvrhem vozu Mini, kter uvedla na trh British Motor Corporation v . He took advantage of other peoples suspension designs, Moultons rubber cones and the isolastic, as they freed up more space. . 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. It was still in production when BMW, led by Bernd Pischetsreider, bought Rover in 1994. The Automotive Hall of Fame. While the intention was for the space efficient FWD cars to replace much of the existing overlapping BMC range (that all should have been hatchbacks in retrospect), it would have been interesting to see a rear-wheel drive Cortina rival with fully-independent suspension derived from Issigoniss work at Alvis to slot between the 1100/1300 and 1800/2200. 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. In 1936, he moved to Morris Motors Limited at Cowley working on an independent front suspension system for the Morris 10. Demosthenis's son (Alec's father) Constantine Issigonis (Greek: ), was born, with British nationality, in Smyrna in 1872. The Crossword Solver found 30 answers to "an alec issigonis family car launched in 1969 (6,4)", 10 letters crossword clue. A flawed genius, yes, and BMCs failure to manage him is clear. And his father, a Greek by origin and British by nationality, had inherited a marine engine construction company, an activity that fascinated little Alec. Red: Yeah, its mine. 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! View gallery - 6 images. 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. Suffice to say it was an ambitious project for a family of compact cars - the smaller of the pair shorter overall than . Alec's grandfather Demosthenis migrated to Smyrna from the Greek island of Paros in the 1830s. A GLIMPSE INTO THE LIFE OF THE MINI FOUNDER. 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. Issigonis legacy. Did they aim to build in greater volume, to compete with emerging brands such as Jaguar, or did they retreat further upmarket or even entirely into other activities? Upon meeting Alec, she is shy and ashamed . 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. 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 typical American indifference to regular maintenance did not play well with this setup. I had a book about Issigonis, but its lost. He excelled in mechanical drawing, but failed his mathematics exams three times. 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. 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 best-selling cars in British motoring history the Morris Minor and the Austin-Morris 1100 (ADO16). The Mini, and the other Issigonis BMC front wheel drive cars, benefited from Issigonis continuing collaboration with Alex Moulton and his suspension system developments. Sir Alec Constantine Issigonis, born in Smyrna, Ottoman Empire on November 18, 1906, is famous for designing the beloved Mini Cooper motor car. He showed that cars could be practical and pleasant to ride in and drive, and that size was not everything; he defined the template for the small petrol engined car for 50 years, maybe longer, and showed how modest cars could become wish list items, attracting customer such as Enzo Ferrari. The Renault 14 was transversely engined, from 1976. Whos the richest Entrepreneur in the world. Noch ein Mini! Im sure the Renault 4, 5, 6, and 16 had longitudinal engines. 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. It was 1961 when the humble little people-mover fell into the hands of British racing legend John Cooper. He was impossible to work with, had Henry Fords arrogance and nearly bankrupted the company like Ford, by refusing to listen to anyone. 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. Issigonis did observe and try to improve on what he saw, but always challenged himself to be original and better. Born in Turkey, Issigonis come to England as a teenager. He then moved on to Alvis, where he worked on the development of a luxury saloon, but the project had to be discontinued for cost reasons. Twitter; Issigonis and his team produced a revolutionary car that featured a small exterior with a spacious passenger compartment and outstanding handling characteristics. His mother was from Bavaria. Thanks for this terrific bio on one of the all-time greats in the field. Alec Issigonis (Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis) was born in Smyrna in the Ottoman Empire (now Izmir, Turkey). [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. And the 1800 the rear seat really seemed limousine-like for the size of the car. Mr. Front-Wheel Drive: Sir Alec Issigonis . I think you can see a narrower car in one of the pre-production photos, above. 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. Great article there should be a movie about Issigonis! Having been a passenger in an early Austin Landcrab on several occasions I can confirm they are amazingly spacious inside, front and rear. By the mid 1970s, Issigonis was beginning suffer from Menieres disease, and the consequent loss of full control of his balance let him to retreat from prominence. Apparently Walter Chrysler could also be difficult to work with. The inability of these cars to withstand business case scrutiny crucial in the companys decline, and others must also stand up for that -Issigonis didnt claim to be a product planner in the sense Ford would recognise but saw all his cars as separate entities.
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