Editing Alec Issigonis

{{Short description|British car designer}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix   = [[Sir]]
| name               = Alec Issigonis
| honorific_suffix   = {{postnom|country=GBR|size=100|CBE|FRS|RDI}}
| image              = Thinktank Birmingham - Issigonis A.jpg
| birth_name         = Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|df=yes|1906|11|18}}
| birth_place        = [[Smyrna]], [[Ottoman Empire]]
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1988|10|2|1906|11|18}}
| death_place        = [[Edgbaston]], [[Birmingham]], England
| nationality        = British-Greek
| occupation         = [[Automotive design]]er and engineer
| known_for          = Designer of the [[Morris Minor]], [[Austin Mini]], and the [[Mini Moke]]
| honours            = [[Knight Bachelor]]<br>[[Commander of the British Empire]]<br>[[Fellow of the Royal Society]]<br>[[Royal Designer for Industry]]
}}
'''Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: Αλέξανδρος Άρνολντ Κωνσταντίνος Ισηγόνης) {{postnom|country=GBR|CBE|FRS|RDI}} (18 November 1906 – 2 October 1988) was a British-Greek [[automotive design]]er.  He designed the [[Mini]], launched by the [[British Motor Corporation]] in 1959, and voted the second [[Car of the Century|most influential car of the 20th century]] in 1999.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cobb |first=James G. |date=24 December 1999 |title=This Just In: Model T Gets Award |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/24/automobiles/this-just-in-model-t-gets-award.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Strickland|first=Jonathan |date=21 March 2007 |url=https://auto.howstuffworks.com/mini-cooper.htm/printable|title=How the MINI Cooper Works |website=[[HowStuffWorks]] |access-date=20 July 2010}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
[[File:Issigonis factory.jpg|thumb|The machine factory (shown here in a company letter of 1910) founded by Demosthenis Issigonis, Alec's grandfather, once a thriving Greek businesses in Smyrna (now Izmir)]]
[[File:Mini-ature Parking Space - geograph.org.uk - 1169507.jpg|thumb|The Mini as a British icon]]
[[File:The Prisoner (5631842525).jpg|thumb|Mini Moke taxi from ''[[The Prisoner]]'']]
[[File:Morris Minor 1000.JPG|thumb|Morris Minor]]
[[File:Morris Mini-Minor 1959 (621 AOK).jpg|thumb|The first Morris Mini-Minor (ADO15)]]
[[File:Austin 1100 - Flickr - mick - Lumix.jpg|thumb|Austin 1100 (ADO16)]]
[[File:Austin 1800 Automatic 1969.jpg|thumb|Austin 1800 (ADO17)]]
[[File:Austin Maxi 1980.jpg|thumb|Austin Maxi (ADO14)]]
[[File:Issigonis centenary rally Minis.jpg|right|thumb|Some of the Minis at the Issigonis centenary rally]]

Issigonis was born on 18 November 1906 in the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] port city of [[Smyrna]], the only child of Constantine Issigonis and Hulda Prokopp.<ref name="Wood">{{cite news |last=Wood |first=Jonathan |date=26 July 2005 |title=He made the Mini - and broke the mould |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/features/he-made-the-mini-and-broke-the-mould-301594.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801164832/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/features/he-made-the-mini-and-broke-the-mould-301594.html |archive-date=2021-08-01 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |access-date=21 June 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mini.com/en_MS/home/automotive/heritage/the-creator-of-an-iconic-car-alec-issigonis.html |title=The creator of an iconic car: Alec Issigonis |author=<!--Not stated--> |publisher=[[Mini (marque)|MINI]] |access-date=21 June 2020}}</ref> His maternal ancestors originated in the [[Kingdom of Württemberg]]. It was through his mother's kinships that Issigonis was a first cousin once removed to [[BMW]] and [[Volkswagen]] director [[Bernd Pischetsrieder]].<ref name="Bardsley">{{cite book |last=Bardsley |first=Gillian |title=Issigonis: The Official Biography |year=2005 |publisher=Icon Books |isbn=1-84046-687-1}}</ref>

As British subjects, his father having naturalised whilst studying engineering in London in 1897, Issigonis and his parents were evacuated to [[Crown Colony of Malta|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 (1919–1922)|Greco-Turkish War]].<ref name="Wood"/><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=26869 |date=2 July 1897 |page=3638}}</ref><ref name="nam2021">{{cite report |title=1922 The Epic of Smyrna Refugees in Malta |work=Annual Report 2021 |pages=149–170 |year=2021 |url=https://www.levantineheritage.com/pdf/National-Archives-Annual-Report-Smyrna-2021.pdf |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250130120120/https://www.levantineheritage.com/pdf/National-Archives-Annual-Report-Smyrna-2021.pdf |archive-date=30 January 2025 |publisher=[[National Archives of Malta]] |issn=1997-6348}}</ref> His father died shortly after and Issigonis and his mother moved to the United Kingdom in 1923. Issigonis studied engineering at [[Battersea Polytechnic]] in London. Having failed his mathematics exams three times, subsequently declaring it 'the most uncreative subject you can study',<ref name="Wood"/> Issigonis decided to enter the [[University of London Worldwide|University of London External Programme]] to complete his university education.

== Career ==
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2020}}
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Despite the political upheavals the Issigonis family lived an affluent and comfortable life. Issigonis was maintained by his family so that he could pursue racing sport as a hobby.<ref>{{cite book |title=Mini |author1=Gillian Bardsley |date=2013 |publisher= Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=9780747814115 |page= }}</ref> Issigonis went into the motor industry as an engineer and designer working for [[Humber Limited]]. He competed successfully in motor racing during the 1930s and 1940s. Starting around 1930, he raced a supercharged "Ulster" [[Austin 7|Austin Seven]], later fitting it with a front axle of his own design, leading to employment at [[Austin Motor Company|Austin]]. This greatly modified machine was replaced with a radical special completed in 1939, constructed of plywood laminated in aluminium sheeting. 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. This car was remarkably light, weighing 587 lb, of which the engine contributed 252 lb. By the time the chassis had been completed (hard labour; it was all done by hand, no power tools), Issigonis had moved to [[Morris Motors|Morris Motors Limited]], but Austin supplied a "works" specification supercharged side-valve engine. Issigonis usually won, even when entered in the 1100cc class if there was no 750cc category. Most events entered were sprints, but he also raced at circuits.

=== Morris Motors ===
In 1936 Issigonis was given the opportunity to work for a leading motor manufacturer as suspension designer. [[Morris Motors]] was based in Cowley near Oxford.<ref>{{cite book |title=Mini |author1=Gillian Bardsley |date=2013 |publisher= Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=9780747814115 |page= }}</ref> Issigonis worked on an independent front suspension system for the [[Morris 10]]. The war prevented this design from going into production but it was later used on the [[MG Y-type]]. He worked on various projects for Morris through the war and towards its end started work on an advanced post war car codenamed ''Mosquito'' that became the [[Morris Minor]], which was produced from 1948 until 1971.

=== Alvis Cars ===
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. This prototype was never manufactured because its cost was beyond Alvis's resources.

=== BMC ===
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. 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. During 1956 Issigonis concentrated on the larger two cars, producing several prototypes for testing.

=== The Mini ===
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. 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. In August 1959 the car was launched as the Morris Mini Minor and the Austin Seven, which soon became known as the Austin Mini. In later years, the car would become known simply as the ''[[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 Mini went on to become the best selling British car in history with a production run of 5.3&nbsp;million cars. BMC and Issigonis were awarded the [[Dewar Trophy]] by the [[Royal Automobile Club]] (RAC) for the innovative design and production of the Mini.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Dewar Trophy |url=https://www.royalautomobileclub.co.uk/motoring/trophies-and-awards/the-dewar-trophy/ |access-date=2022-10-17 |publisher=Royal Automobile Club }}</ref> This ground-breaking design, with its [[front wheel drive]], [[transverse engine]], sump gearbox, 10-inch wheels, and phenomenal space efficiency, was still being manufactured in 2000 and has been the inspiration for almost all small front-wheel drive cars produced since the early 1960s.

In 1961, with the Mini gaining popularity, Issigonis was promoted to Technical Director of BMC. He continued to be responsible for his original ''XC'' projects.  ''XC/9002'' became ''ADO16'' and was launched as the [[Morris 1100]] with the [[Hydrolastic]] interconnected suspension system in August 1962.  ''XC/9001'' became ''ADO17'' and was launched, also with the Hydrolastic suspension system, as the [[Austin 1800]] in October 1964.The same principle was carried over for his next production car the [[Austin Maxi]], However, by then he had become more aware of the cost considerations of vehicle manufacture and in service warranty costs which were crippling BMC. It certainly appeared by the Maxi development era that Issigonis wanted to "do his own thing" as cost cutting and development costs spiraled. He would instead research work on his [[Mini]] replacement the 9X with its compact [[transverse engine]]. He was also responsible for the development of the [[Mini Moke]], initially intended for military use, which later achieved cult status.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-29 |title=The Genuine MOKE® {{!}} Steer clear of imitations {{!}} Story |url=https://mokeinternational.com/about-us/ |access-date=2022-10-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229091014/https://mokeinternational.com/about-us/ |archive-date=29 December 2021 }}</ref>

With the creation of [[British Leyland]] in 1969, new chairman [[Lord Stokes]] quickly sidelined Issigonis and made him into what was termed "Special Developments Director", replacing him with Harry Webster as the new Technical Director (Small/Medium cars). Stokes was heard on his appointment to say: "We'll sharp sort this bloke Issigonis out!".{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}}

=== Acclaim as an engineer ===
Issigonis was nicknamed "the Greek god" by his contemporaries.<ref name="Wood"/> Whilst he is most famous for his creation of the Mini, he was most proud of his participation in the design of the Morris Minor. {{Citation needed|reason=reliable source needed, doesn't match information in Issigonis biography by Bardsley, G on p277|date=January 2013}} 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 design. {{Citation needed|reason=reliable source needed for the whole sentence|date=January 2013}} 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.<ref name="Bardsley"/>{{rp|277}}

Issigonis officially retired from the motor industry in 1971. <ref>{{Cite web|title=The Motor Museum in Miniature|url=https://www.themotormuseuminminiature.co.uk/inv-alec-issigonis.php|publisher=themotormuseuminminiature.co.uk}}</ref> He continued working until shortly before his own death in 1988 at his house in [[Edgbaston]], Birmingham.<ref>{{cite news |title=Père de l'Austin "Mini" Alec Issigonis est mort |trans-title=Father of the Austin "Mini" Alec Issigonis is dead |last=Lamotte |first=Claude |newspaper=[[Le Monde]] |date=6 October 1988 |language=fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1988/10/06/pere-de-l-austin-mini-alec-issigonis-est-mort_4092249_1819218.html |access-date=21 June 2020}}</ref> He was cremated at the [[Lodge Hill Cemetery]] in nearby [[Selly Oak]].

==Legacy==
On 15 October 2006 a rally was held at the [[Heritage Motor Centre]] in Gaydon, England, to celebrate the centenary of Issigonis's birth.<ref>{{cite web |title=Issigonis Centenary Celebration |publisher=[[Heritage Motor Centre]] |url=http://www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/news/issigonis.html}}</ref>

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]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Brown|first=Douglas|title=Review of 'The Thames and Hudson Dictionary of Design Since 1900 (2nd edition)'|journal=Reference Reviews|year=2006|volume=20|issue=5|pages=54–55|url=http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=1562471&show=html|doi=10.1108/09504120610673141|access-date=17 August 2010|archive-date=21 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921071132/http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=1562471&show=html|url-status=dead|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-06-22 |title=Mini was designed 'in a Rolf Harris manner' |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/9776074.mini-designed-in-rolf-harris-manner/ |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=Oxford Mail |language=en}}</ref>

==Honours==
Issigonis was appointed a [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) in the [[1964 Birthday Honours]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=43343 |date=5 June 1964 |pages=4947 |supp=y}}</ref>

In 1964 Issigonis was appointed a [[Royal Designer for Industry]] (RDI).<ref>{{cite web |date=March 2015 |title=Past Royal Designers |url=https://www.thersa.org/about-us/royal-designers-for-industry/past-royal-designers/ |access-date=21 April 2016 |website=Royal Society of Arts}}</ref>

He was elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] (FRS) in 1967.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Downs |first=Diarmuid |author-link=Diarmuid Downs |year=1994 |title=Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis. 18 November 1906 – 2 October 1988 |journal=[[Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society]] |volume=39 |pages=200–226 |doi=10.1098/rsbm.1994.0012 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

He was granted the rank of [[Knight Bachelor]] in the [[1969 Birthday Honours]]<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=44863 |date=6 June 1969 |pages=5962 |supp=y}}</ref> and was knighted by [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] during an investiture ceremony at [[Buckingham Palace]] on 22 July of the same year.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=44904 |date=25 July 1969 |page=7689}}</ref>

In 2003 he was inducted into the [[Automotive Hall of Fame]] in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=» Alec Issigonis {{!}} Automotive Hall of Fame |url=https://www.automotivehalloffame.org/honoree/alec-issigonis/ |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=www.automotivehalloffame.org}}</ref>

The Weeny Issi, a car based on Mini in 2013 video game [[Grand Theft Auto V]] named in his honour.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IGCD.net: MINI Cooper S Cabrio in Grand Theft Auto V|url=https://igcd.net/vehicle.php?id=59327|website=igcd.net}}</ref>

==Some of his cars==
* 1948 [[Morris Minor]]
* 1948 [[Morris Oxford MO]]
* 1959 [[Mini]]
* 1962 [[BMC ADO16]]
* 1964 [[BMC ADO17]]
* 1969 [[Austin Maxi]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|30em}}

==References==
*{{cite book | author=Gillian Bardsley | title=Issigonis: The Official Biography | publisher=Icon Books | year=2005 | isbn=1-84046-687-1}}
*{{cite book | author=Wood, Jonathan | title=Alec Issigonis: The Man Who Made the Mini | publisher=Breedon Books Publishing | year=2005 | isbn=1-85983-449-3}}
*{{cite book | author=Nahum, Andrew | title=Alec Issigonis (Modern European Designers Series)  | publisher=Hyperion Books | year=1988 | isbn=0-85072-172-5}}
*{{cite book | author=Bolster, John | title=Specials | publisher=GT Foulis & Co | year=1949}}

== External links ==
*{{Wikiquote-inline}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160124204818/http://design.designmuseum.org/design/alec-issigonis Alec Issigonis Automotive Designer (1906–1988)] from the website of the [[Design Museum]] in London
*[https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp05435/sir-alec-issigonis Portraits of Sir Alec Issigonis] at the [[National Portrait Gallery (London)]]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Issigonis, Alec}}
[[Category:1906 births]]
[[Category:1988 deaths]]
[[Category:English people of Greek descent]]
[[Category:English people of German descent]]
[[Category:Smyrniote Greeks]]
[[Category:Emigrants from the Ottoman Empire to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Surrey]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of London]]
[[Category:Alumni of University of London Worldwide]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:Royal Designers for Industry]]
[[Category:People in the automobile industry]]
[[Category:British automotive engineers]]
[[Category:British automobile designers]]
[[Category:British automotive pioneers]]
[[Category:British industrial designers]]
[[Category:Mini (marque)]]
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