Sir Alec Issigonis - 1906-1988

Sir Alex Issigonis

“The public don’t know what they want; it’s my job to tell them.”– Sir Alec Issigonis

From the Daily Telegraph from their Top 10 refugee contributions :

"Sir Alec Issigonis was the creator of the Mini. The son of a naturalised British citizen of Greek descent, he was born in the Greek community of Smyrna, now part of Turkey. After the First World War, he and the rest of the the British community were evacuated."

It started with that world famous scribble:

Original Issigonis Sketch

Which is one part of a whole (see below)

From which came this:

The first Mini

The equally famous registration number 621 AOK known to at least as many as NCC 1701 being the USS Enterprises serial number!

Full sketch

The full 'schematics' if you will - images courtesy of The Design Museum

Issigonis aged 71

Alec Issigonis at his retirement party in 1971 © British Motor Industry Heritage Trust

30 Years on in 1989

Issigonis with 30 year apart Minis

Alec Issigonis, who was influential in the development of the Mini, pictured at Longbridge with the first production Mini and a 1965 Model in 1989, the 30th anniversary of the Mini - Photograph: Rex Features via the Telegraph

Cover of Book 'The Man Who Made the Mini'

The last word perhaps?

What better way to keep an achievement alive? Torvill and Dean also have routes named after them! Image courtesy of Mk1-forum.net member Tanya

From the Oxford Mail - Friday, 22nd June 2012 :

Tribute to Sir Alec Issigonis

John Sheppard, left, and Wayne Morse of Mini unveil the tribute to Sir Alec Issigonis

One of the design team who worked on the original Mini has revealed how the revolutionary small car came about.

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. The 90-year-old recalled: “The chairman, Sir Leonard Lord, was fed up with seeing bubble cars everywhere and told us to make a small car. “We had to replace the A30 anyway and an entirely new department was set up to produce the Mini.”

Mr Sheppard was speaking as a road sign, designed to be a lasting tribute to Sir Alec, was unveiled close to the spot where the Mini was manufactured at Cowley. He went on to reveal how Sir Alec could be an awkward person to work with because he always knew what he wanted. “Fortunately, we hit it off and got on like a house on fire,” he said. “He did not draw like we had to do – he sketched designs on pieces of A4 paper like Rolf Harris. “He was looked upon as the conductor and we were members of the orchestra. He conducted us to put his sketches into proper drawings.”

The Mini went on to become the best selling British car in history, with 5.3 million vehicles produced. Mr Sheppard, who went on to help design the Mini Metro and Montego before retiring in 1982, said: “We did not expect any of the success it had. It was a big surprise to us. “But I know that he, like me, would be overwhelmed by the level of respect and appreciation that people continue to have for his designs and the work that we did. “The fact that the old and new Mini can stand side by side and are still loved is a testament to the original design and its practicality.”

While Alec Issigonis Way has been on maps since the Oxford Business Park was developed on the site of the old Cowley plant’s North Works in 1993, there had been no road sign to mark the tribute. 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 Minor more than a decade before the Mini was launched in 1959.

Mini Forum member Tanya Field from Headington said: “Alec Issigonis Way has been there since the redevelopment of the old North Works site. “Someone at the Forum said they could not find a sign on Google Maps and when I went to look, sure enough there wasn’t one there.” Ms Field contacted Park developers Goodman and bosses agreed to rectify the oversight and put up a sign. To mark the occasion, the Forum invited Mr Sheppard as guest of honour along with representatives from the Mini factory and Oxford East MP Andrew Smith.

Also at the unveiling were an original 1959 Cowley-built Mini, a 1950 Morris Minor and a new Mini Roadster.

Mini spokesman Wayne Morse said: “This is a tribute to the legacy of Alec Issigonis and the iconic car he designed. Everyone at the plant is proud to be part of both the heritage and future of Mini.”

Goodman development director James Raven added: “The sign will add to the unique identity of the park.”

Page refreshed : 19th November 2018