ALEC ISSIGONIS
ALEC ISSIGONIS was born in 1906 in Izmir, Turkey. His mother was German
and his father was Greek with British citizenship. Issigonis didn’t go to
school. He was taught by a private teacher at home. After the First World
War, the family moved to Britain, and Issigonis studied engineering. He was
already a good designer but he couldn’t do math’s. He failed his math’s
exam three times at technical college! He worked for a number of car
manufacturers before joining Morris in 1936. After the Second World War he
design the Morris Minor, the first British car to sell over a million. In
1956 he joined the British Motor Corporation. In that year the Suez Crisis
caused petrol shortages in Europe, so everyone wanted cars that did not use
much petrol. Issigonis was asked to design a small economical car that
could take four passengers. The result was the Mini. Issigonis had complete
control over the design of the Mini. He was an arrogant man who did not
like to listen to other people. For example, he was told that all modern
cars should have radios and seat belts. But he did not listen to the radio
himself or wear seat belts, so he refused to put them in the first Minis.
Later he changed his mind and seat belts and radios were added. He saw
himself as an artist rather than a scientist. He once said, ‘Mathematics is
the enemy of every truly creative man.’ Issigonis always followed his
instincts. Luckily, they were usually right!About MINI. First of all he
decided that the Mini should be three meters long, half a meter shorter
than most small cars. Next, the wheels were made much smaller, with
independent suspension. And they were put right at the four corners of the
car. Then, the engine was turned sideways, and the gearbox was put
underneath. Most space was saved by having front-wheel drive. And there was
still room for four passengers. In 1959 this design was revolutionary.
Today nearly every small car is based on the design of Mini. Henry Ford
(1863-1947) Henry Ford was born in 1863. He was a man who transformed the
world. The car he built changed the lives of people everywhere. In 1896,
Ford succeeded in building an automobile powered by a gasoline engine. He
built this engine in his kitchen sink. In 1903, Henry Ford established the
Ford Motor Company and introduced the Model T Ford. Henry Ford wanted to
make a car that everyone would be able to afford. He was able to lower the
price of the Model T from $850 to $360 by introducing mass production
assembly line techniques. On an assembly line each person has one specific
job and can do it faster and more efficiently.
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