Alec Issigonis

1906 – 1988

Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis was a British-Greek automotive designer best known for designing the original Mini, launched by the British Motor Corporation in 1959 and voted the second most influential car of the 20th century in a 1999 international poll. His pioneering transverse front-wheel-drive layout, with the engine packaged sideways above the gearbox, gave the Mini space efficiency that became the template for nearly every subsequent compact car. He was knighted in 1969 for his contributions to automotive engineering.

Last checked: May 10, 2026, 1:06 PM