Sir alec issigonis is the most famous and successful car designer britain has produced. Alec issigonis signature car decal sticker mini classic. Andrew nahum is principal curator of technology and engineering at the science museum, london. British car designer best remembered for his work on the development of the iconic mini.
Sir alec issigonis 1906 1988 unique cars and parts. May 05, 2011 alec issigonis first sketched the minis simple lines on a restaurant table cloth. What i didnt expect was an in depth history of turkish history, and the travails that refugees of wwii had to go through. The answer to that question is that since introducing the transverse mounted engine and front wheel drive we have learnt a great deal about a new technique, and the trend towards bigger. Ready to be applied to any flat smooth nonporous surface like body panels, screens, glass and more. Sir alec issigonis the designer of britains favourite. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you. Before he could say anything, alec drew him closer and kissed him. He was the descendent of at least two generations of. The author was able to layout the complex story of issigonis life in an interesting and readable. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the.
Sir alec issigonis, eigentlich alexander arnold constantine issigonis 18. Sir alec issigonis quotes 1 science quotes dictionary of. O interesse pelo automovel veio aos 12 anos, quando ele viu um pela primeira vez. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the. Freehand sketch of the mini prototype by sir alec issigonis.
The genius of sir alec issigonis ten of the best from. However, sir alec issigonis still harboured a dream that his mini was a car for every man. 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. This fulllength biography chronicles the rise and fall of sir alec issigonis, the most influential and controversial engineer in englands motor industry. November 1906 in smyrna, osmanisches reich, heute izmir, turkei. He was knighted in 1969 and was honored by the city of oxford with a street named after him, alec issigonis way. Sir alec issigonis 18 nov 1906 3 oct 1988 turkishbritish engineer who designed the landmark bmc morris miniminor car, popularly known as the mini, which was only 10 feet long, yet carried four people. Sir alexander arnold constantine issigonis, best known as alec issigonis, is a car designer of greek origins and the developer of the groundbreaking mini. Much smaller wheels than those previously seen and an overall utility look with sliding windows and a sashpull for opening the doors did not deter the buyers who saw the mini as an accessible small car.
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. Alec issigonis synonyms, alec issigonis pronunciation, alec issigonis translation, english dictionary definition of alec issigonis. Magnus made a soft, pleased sound, and gripped the back of alecs. Issigonis went into the motor industry as an engineer and designer working for humber and did some motor racing during the 1930s and 1940s. Sir alec issigonis, british automobile designer who created the bestselling, economical mini and the perennially popular morris minor. A maverick genius, his name is inextricably linked with the biggestselling british car ever made. The answer to that question is that since introducing the transverse mounted engine and front wheel drive we have learnt a great deal about a new technique, and the trend towards bigger things is already visible in this new model. Alec leaned into him, pinning magnus between the table and his own body. Sir alexander arnold constantine issigonis, cbe, frs 18 november 19062 october 1988 was a greekbritish designer of cars, now remembered. He was the designer of the morris minor and the mini, two of the most important british car designs of the 20th century. As the designer of the iconic mini, the stylish 1100. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license.
Issigonis will forever be remembered for his two most famous designs. Sent by andrew, if you have any pictures of your minis both classic and modern just message me to post them for you. Although he changed smallcar design forever and was 100 percent central to the minis existence, issigonis was pushed aside by the company that built his iconic machine not so long after hed invented it, his trapdoor demotion coming in 1968. The morris minor is a british car that debuted at the earls court motor show, london, on 20 september 1948. In the 1930s he converted an austin car to a rcing car and drove it in races. Alec issigonis news newspapers books scholar jstor february 2020 learn how. Alec issigonis sir alexander arnold constantine issigonis, cbe, frs november 18, 1906 october 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. 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. What a great read, a bit slow at times, but i thoroughly enjoyed it. Author gillian bardsley publisher icon pages 480 price.
Ongoing, even perpetual, celebration of alec issigonis is fitting in our view, if ironic. 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. Notable abodes hindon square, edgbaston, birmingham. For example, upi states in its the almanac feature that. Now, thanks to a group of enthusiasts at the mini forum, the name is prominently displayed in memory of sir alec who also created the iconic morris. Constantine studied in england, and later, passed his love of all things. Alec issigonis article about alec issigonis by the free.
Issigonis would go on to make a grandfather clock from it. Sir alec issigonis british automobile designer britannica. The similarity of this car to the minis is great, but its engine already has 40% more power and is. Alec issigonis bio, facts, family famous birthdays. Mini creator alec issigonis talks about his creation. This article is within the scope of wikiproject engineering, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of engineering on wikipedia. Alec issigonis automotive designer 19061988 one of the most original car designers of the modern era, alec issigonis 19061988 is best known as the creator of the mini, but also. Demostheniss son alecs father constantine issigonis, was born, with british nationality, in smyrna in 1872. I wanted to learn more about their history and its designed alec issigonis. Mini creator alec issigonis talks about his creation youtube. The son of greek and german parents, he inherited british citizenship via his father and developed very english attitudes.
Alexander arnold constantine issigonis was born into the greek community of smyrna now izmir in the ottoman empire. Wood exposes a behindthescenes impression of the personal and corporate struggles. And yet there was far more to his success than those two gamechanging models. Engineer who sparked mini revolution times higher education. This a really enjoyable book about the designer of the original mini. Magnus let alec pull him to his feet, a questioning look in his eyes. This symbol of irreverence and fun arrived at a time when the world was. The son of a greek merchant, issigonis immigrated to london in 1922 during the war between greece and turkey. Ljk setright, in his book the designers describes issigonis as. In this fulllength biography, published to commemorate the centenary of its subjects birth, which falls in 2006, awardwinning motoring historian jonathan wood chronicles the. Sir alec issigonis, in full sir alexander arnold constantine issigonis, born nov. Durante o curso ele foi reprovado tres vezes em matematica. These cars are not designed for competition use, they are a peoples. He was knighted in 1969 and was honored by the city of oxford with a street named after him, alec issigonis.
He failed his mathematics exams three times and subsequently called pure mathematics the enemy of every creative genius. The story of how alec issigonis and others at bmc created the mini along with the stories of its postrelease cultural impact are rather well known, but this 1994 documentary, mini. Alec issigonis sir alexander arnold constantine issigonis was born in smyrna in the ottoman empire now izmir, turkey. Alec issigonis, who would create the most iconic piece of fully realized automotive design of the 1960s, was born in the greek port of smyrna in 1906. Alec issigonis alexander issigonis was born into the greek community of smyrna now izmir in ottoman turkey.
Both were the work, together with the legendary morris minor, of sir alec issigonis, cbe, frs, the british motor industrys most influential and controversial engineer. Interview motor meets alec issigonis august 1962 news. 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. Designed under the leadership of alec issigonis, more than 1. The first modern small car designed by alec issigonis in 1959 and greeted with amazement by the public. Alec issigonis definition of alec issigonis by the free. Issigonis took ink and paper to produce an illustration for a book called the.
While alec issigonis way has been on maps since the oxford business park was developed on the site of the old cowley plants north works in 1993, there had been no road sign to mark the tribute. Alec issigonis, or more formally sir alexander arnold constantine. He recently led the curatorial team which created the acclaimed special exhibition inside the spitfire, and previously directed the creation of the major new synoptic gallery at the museum on the history. Alec issigonis, the brilliant british designer of the morris minor and the. Alec issigonis news from united press international. Synopsis 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. Science quotes by sir alec issigonis 1 quote a camel is a horse designed by committee. Martin bronstein interviews alec issigonis youtube. Alec issigonis was born 18 november 1906, into the greek cosmopolitan community of the ottoman port smyrna now izmir, turkey in asia minor. When i became a fellow of the royal society and signed the book containing signatures of people such as charles. Share sir alexander arnold constantine issigonis, best known as alec issigonis, is a car designer of greek origins and the developer of the groundbreaking mini.
Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. His father constantine issigonis and his grandfather were engineers. His grandfather demosthenis migrated to smyrna from paros in greece in the 1830s and through the work he did for the british. He died on october 2, 1988 in edgbaston, birmingham, west midlands, england.
Sir alec issigonis quotes 1 science quotes dictionary. Alec issigonis download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Alec studied engineering at battersea polytechnic in london. It was the icon of the 1960s and was built because of the 1950s fuel crisis. May 05, 2015 the man who designed the mini, the car of the swinging sixties, talks seriously about small cars, automatic transmission and fourwheel drive. Much smaller wheels than those previously seen and an overall utility look with sliding windows. He was the designer of the morris minor and the mini, two of the most. This is a biography about the british motor industrys most influential and controversial engineer, sir alec issignois. Alec issigonis first sketched the minis simple lines on a restaurant table cloth. Sir alec issigonis was a meccano fan for most of his life. November 1906 als sohn eines exilgriechen mit britischem pass. Mini facts i sir alec issigonis, the designer of the mini, was also responsible for much of the design work on britains first million selling car, the morris minor. Meccano visionary series sir alec issigonis smithsonian.
Mar 20, 2009 alec issigonis automotive designer 19061988 one of the most original car designers of the modern era, alec issigonis 19061988 is best known as the creator of the mini, but also designed two more of the five bestselling cars in british motoring history the morris minor and the austin 1100. The man who designed the mini, the car of the swinging sixties, talks seriously about small cars, automatic transmission and fourwheel drive. His grandfather demosthenis issigonis migrated to smyrna from paros in the 1830s and through the work he did for the britishbuilt smyrnaaydin railway, in the engineering works that he had established, had managed to acquire british. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options.
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. Magnus made a soft, pleased sound, and gripped the back of alec s shirt, rucking it up, his fingers cool on alec s spine. With a list of winners dating back to 1906, the award recognises the best of british, its previous winners including the likes of rollsroyce in 1907 for its 40. And complexity, notably how we, as a global civilization, deal with science fiction, taste, social media, the cities we live in, aesthetics, powerpoint, burkas, big tech, fullcontact sports, and other thorny topics.
Alec issigonis was born on november 18, 1906 in smyrna, ottoman empire as alexander arnold constantine issigonis. Sir alec issigonis lived his life in parallel with the rise and decline of the british motor industry, becoming its first and only celebrity. Wizardry on wheels, which takes its title from a 1961 bmc promotional video, delves d. He attended londons battersea polytechnic before entering the university of london external programme. The british motor corporation asked alec issigonis to make a smaller car that didn. Greek born british car designer,who was influential in the design and marketing of the. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. The varying meccano sets allow for future engineers with a thirst for knowledge to explore their own ideas. His ingenious and effective designs had a deep, lasting influence on the evolution of the motor car and on the wider history of. Thanks to alec issigonis, bmc was there first, and to celebrate his achievements, explore with me the issigonis effect in action in two of his creations.
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