Unless, of course, you happened to have been dining with Sir Alex
Issigonis when he was feeding his imagination.
He and his team were skilled at creating prototypes, concepts and mock-ups and he worked closely with names such as Alec
Issigonis, Charles Griffin and Jack Daniels to create the Mini and 1800 in particular.
DESIGNER: Sir Alec
Issigonis with the original Mini launched in August 1959
The iconic car, which was designed by Sir Alec
Issigonis, was produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and its successors, from 1959 to 2000.
Finally, small cars wouldn't be going anywhere fast at all today, had it not been for the considerable design talents of Sir Alec
Issigonis.
This model, brainchild of the great Alex
Issigonis who later penned the Mini, came into being after studies started in 1944.
Special features tell how the Mini has become a cultural icon, and cover the stories and personalities behind the car from its designer Sir Alec
Issigonis and launch in 1959 to its wide-ranging popularity with past and
The tiny town car was steered towards an open-armed public thanks to the innovation of designer Sir Alec
Issigonis.
Appropriately, the new Mini made its debut 107 years to the day since
Issigonis was born and in the next few days it is being shown across the world at the ToKyo and Los Angeles motor shows.
Minis old and new will be on show including an exhibit of 1950s Minis, a fancy dress contest for the four-wheeled car, trade stands and displays as well as a guest displays of 1100s, which were also designed by Sir Alec
Issigonis.
But it was also a cheap and practical car for ordinary families, designed by motoring genius Alec
Issigonis.
USTIN and Morris engineer WJ ``Jack'' Daniels, who was said to be the ``90% perspiration behind Alec
Issigonis's 10% inspiration'' in designing the Morris Minor and the original BMC Mini, has died at his Bournemouth home, aged 92.