Car Designers, Entrepreneurs, Engineers of the Century

Introduction

The editors came across this survey by accident whilst researching an A&R article on the Lotus Esprit.

We were rather interested and record the findings to share with our subscribers.

The editors deliberately use benchmarking as a means of comparison to establish values.

We invite subscribers to examine the outcomes published .It’s possible that they will have differing priorities and indeed might identify omissions.

The exercise has a positive educational opportunity and can trigger a more in-depth analysis.

On this occasion we use the fact that Ferdinand Porsche was elected winner as prompt to make a brief assessment of his career and compare this with Colin Chapman of Lotus. This acts as feeder and shortly we will provide a dedicated illustrated article comparing and contrasting both of these exceptional engineer/entrepreneurs.

Subscribers might like to see our article:-

Car Engineer of the Century

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Car Engineer of the Century was an international award given to the most influential car engineer of the twentieth century. The election process was overseen by the Global Automotive Elections Foundation.

The winner, Ferdinand Porsche, was announced at an awards gala on December 18, 1999 in Las Vegas.

The selection process

The process for deciding the Car Engineer of the Century started with the list of candidates below.

The candidates
Name Notable for
Béla Barényi Daimler-Benz passive safety work
Walter Owen Bentley Innovative solutions
Karl Benz Credited with creating the world’s first purpose-built motor car in 1886
Marc Birkigt Hispano-Suiza H6
Ettore Bugatti Bugatti cars
Colin Chapman Lotus Cars radical and innovative technical solutions
Gottlieb Daimler Pioneer of internal-combustion engines
Rudolf Diesel The diesel engine
William Edwards Deming Revolutionised car production with statistical process control
Henry Ford I Motor car pioneer, entrepreneur and industrial visionary
Dante Giacosa Fiat innovator
Walter Hassan Engine innovator at Coventry Climax and Jaguar
Nicolas Hayek Father of the MCC Smart car concept.
Alec Issigonis The innovative packaging of the Mini
Vittorio Jano Motor car innovator
Spencer King Conceived the luxury all-wheel drive SUV concept with the Range Rover
Frederick Lanchester Car pioneer founder of the Lanchester Motor Company
Hans Ledwinka Pioneered an advanced backbone chassis configuration and paved the way for the Volkswagen Beetle with Tatra
André Lefèbvre Citroën cars
Harry Mundy Engine innovator with Coventry Climax, Lotus and Jaguar
August Otto Credited with creating the first useful four stroke engine
Ferdinand Porsche Automotive innovator and creator of Volkswagen.
Frederick Henry Royce The engineering genius behind Rolls-Royce
Rudolf Uhlenhaut Mercedes-Benz cars
Gabriel Voisin Automotive and engine innovator
Felix Wankel Perfected the rotary piston engine concept with NSU

The next step was for a jury of 132 professional automotive journalists, from 33 different countries, under the presidency of Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, to reduce the list to 5, which they did, and the result was announced in November 1999. Finally the 5 were ranked by the jury and the overall winner was selected.

The Car Entrepreneur of the Century was an international award given to the most influential car entrepreneur of the 20th century. The election process was overseen by the Global Automotive Elections Foundation.

The winner, Henry Ford, was announced at an awards gala on December 18, 1999 in Las Vegas.

Car Designer of the Century

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Car Designer of the Century was an international award given to the most influential car designer of the 20th century. The election process was overseen by the Global Automotive Elections Foundation.

The winner, Giorgetto Giugiaro, was announced at an awards gala on December 18, 1999 in Las Vegas.

The selection process

The process for deciding the Car Designer of the Century started with the list of candidates below.

The candidates
Name Notable works
Uwe Bahnsen Ford Taunus, Ford Sierra
Nuccio Bertone Alfa Romeo BAT, Alfa Romeo Montreal
Flaminio Bertoni Citroën Traction Avant, Citroën DS, Citroën 2CV, Citroën Ami
Gordon Buehrig Cord 810
Jean Bugatti Bugatti Atlantic
Wayne Cherry Vauxhall SRV, Pontiac Solstice, Cadillac Sixteen
Harley Earl Cadillac LaSalle
Virgil Exner Chrysler 300
Leonardo Fioravanti Ferrari Daytona, Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer
Pietro Frua Maserati
Tom Gale Plymouth Prowler, Dodge Viper, Dodge Stealth
Marcello Gandini Lamborghini Miura, Lamborghini Countach, Fiat X1/9, Lancia Stratos, Citroën BX
Giorgetto Giugiaro Maserati Ghibli, Audi 80, Alfa Romeo Sprint, Alfa Romeo Alfasud, Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Scirocco, Fiat 850 Sport Spider, Fiat Uno, Lotus Esprit, Lancia Delta, DeLorean DMC-12, Lexus GS
Patrick le Quément Renault Twingo, Renault Scénic, Renault Initiale Concept
Raymond Loewy Hupmobile, Studebaker Avanti
Giovanni Michelotti Triumph Herald, Triumph Spitfire, Triumph TR4, BMW 700, Renault Alpine A110, DAF 55
Bill Mitchell Chevrolet Corvette, Chevrolet Corvair
Robert Opron Citroën SM, Citroën GS, Citroën CX, Renault Fuego
Battista Pininfarina
Mario Revelli di Beaumont Simca 1000
Bruno Sacco Mercedes Benz S-Class (W126 series), Mercedes Benz 190 (W201 series)
Sixten Sason Saab 93, Saab 99
Ercole Spada Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, Alfa Romeo TZ, Osca GT, Lancia Fulvia Sport
Jack Telnack Ford Mustang
Jan Wilsgaard Volvo Amazon (P1200/120), Volvo 144, Volvo 240, Volvo 850

The next step was for a jury of 132 professional automotive journalists, from 33 different countries, under the presidency of Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, to reduce the list to 5, which they did, and the result was announced in November 1999. Finally the 5 were ranked by the jury and the overall winner was selected.

Ferdinand Porsche 1875-1951

The corporate design ethos of Porsche declares:-

“For Porsche , the ultimate test is to exhaust all possibilities for excellence even at the cutting edge of technology .we regard every idea as an opportunity .it is this perception that has created our company and what guides us still .it is the very essence of Porsche”

Porsche has possessed strong identity and design methodology based around form and function.

Porsche came into existence with a sports car that was designed with light weight and efficiency.

Very briefly F.Porsche contributed to the following:-

  • Benz Tropfenwagen
  • Mercedes Benz SS/SSK
  • Volkswagen Beetle
  • Tanks and military vechicles
  • Trolley buses
  • Auto Union
  • Porsche sports cars and sports racing e.g. 356,911
  • Industrial design and utility vechicles

F.Porsche employed some very talented men in his service including his son Ferry and Erwin Komenda.

Of course the marque/brand has evolved since Ferdinand’s death proceeding through family and recruiting designers of international renown.

The excellent reputation of Porsche continues to the present [see appendix below comparing models from both marques/brands]

Porsche has helped create one of the strongest brands in Germany.

The prestige, status and heritage of the Porsche marque is enhanced by their dedicated Museum.

See: www.porsche.com

F.Porsche/Colin Chapman: Comparisons

Both engineers shared the following:-

  • Both qualified engineers
  • Both designers and manufactures of their own brand sports cars which they exported
  • Both to varying degree participated in FI and sports car &sports racing car internationally
  • Both had a focus on light weight , efficient , well performing cars
  • Both enjoyed success at highest level
  • Both marques have entered popular culture
  • Both marques have continued brand originators design codes successfully to the present
  • Both undertook consultancy and served the transport industries
  • Both men employed and enjoyed working with very gifted engineer /designers
  • Both deployed aerodynamic theory to varying degrees
  • Both diversified to some extent
  • Both might be considered Industrial /Product Designers

G.Giugiaro

The editors feel this decision was fully and rightly deserved.

Subscribers are directed to our existing articles about Giugiaro and his significant design of the Lotus Esprit.

The editors would comment that Giugiario was a design consultant and like Chapman diversified around core skills.

See A&R dedicated/related articles

Henry Ford

We understand the outcome and indeed are in the process of providing a detailed article entitled “Minimalism and the Motorcar” and will look carefully at Henry Ford, the T and of course the production methods adopted.

Interestingly F.Porsche visited America and was impressed by Ford’s mass production methods.

Of course there is a very important link between Chapman and the Ford marque as worked out through the adoption of Ford engines in many of the early Lotus models not least the significance of the Cosworth-Ford [see our dedicated articles]

In future articles we will develop this argument and provide illustrations; we will take a general  look at the marque , compare the GT40 and in some depth look at significant Ford engines like the 1172 side-valve, the cross-flow and Cosworth, Holbay variants.

Learning Opportunities

Our learning /educational opportunities are intended to be challenging thought provoking and requiring additional research and/or analysis.

These opportunities are particularly designed for a museum/education centre location where visitors would be able to enjoy access to all the structured resources available in conjunction with any concurrent exhibition.

In this instance we suggest the following might be appropriate:-

  • Establish the hierarchy for candidates where not listed /or collate representative group
  • Establish criteria for measurement/assessment  or suggest
  • How close do you place Colin Chapman to F.Porsche?
  • Debate if Chapman suffers or benefits from being a designer/engineer, entrepreneur FI team owner. Does this prevent him being categorized?

Exhibitions, Education and Economics

In the museum context the editors believe that commercial considerations are both necessary and complementary with its educational objectives.

For these reasons our suggested outline Business Plan includes provision for promoting products and services which share Chapman’s ideals of mechanical efficiency and sustainability. In addition we propose merchandising that explain and interprets the social and cultural context of Chapman’s designs in period. It’s suggested there will be catalogue for on line purchasing.

In this instance we suggest the following might be appropriate:-

  • 20th Century,Cars,Culture and Designers
  • Colin Chapman and the Auto-Engineering Elite
  • Chapman’s Racing Line
  • Pole Position :Chapman’s place in 20th Century auto engineering
  • Chapman’s Stature: A Frame of Mind

Conclusion

This survey and honor is very significant.

To the individuals or marque/brands they created it provides:-

  • A powerful commercial dimension born of the acknowledgement that confers  considerable status , reputation ,heritage of the brand that feeds through to sales and creates employment
  • The award offers an opportunity to embrace an evolving  continuity and development born of key engineering objectives
  • It might also motivate staff , provide sources of inspiration , generate pride and identification

In addition to a range of disciplines the listing provides opportunities for critical analysis benchmarking and comparison:

  • The ready-made list saves time and provides immediate momentum
  • It can be used as yardstick which user can modify
  • It provides an immediate core backbone for hard research
  • The listing can be further specialized using spreadsheet into eras etc.
  • The list provides immediate focus and triggers evaluation based on contrasts and juxtaposition
  • Throughout history events and individuals are subject to revisionary thought and this list can be easily updated in the future
  • The list by equal measure inspiring and challenging

The editors would like to have seen the written submissions or score sheets or indeed the order of placements. We believe that Chapman might have scored well in each category whilst noting that Enzo Ferrari, Frank Costin, Gordon Murray do not seem to have been rated.

Chapman was something of a polymath; we believe this contributed to his stature but it might also prevent him being more generously estimated against a strict criteria.

The debate and evaluation will continue. The A&R hopes to enrich this discussion especially by calling attention to the problem solving, creativity and aesthetic prowess of Chapman and how this was distributed to a wide audience both through marque ownership but by studying his methodology.

By this method we hope in future a broader, kinder, more considered, objective, holistic and culturally informed analysis can be feed into future assessments.

Appendix 1:2106 Marque/Model Comparisons-data Top Gear Magazine

Marque Model Price 0-62mph mph bhp lb.ft mpg co2 Rating
Porsche B’r2.5TS 51,105 4.6 177 350 310 34.9 184 8-ten
Porsche Cayman 50,756 4.2 177 350 309 38.7 167 8-ten
Porsche 911GT3R 131,296 3.3 193 500 399 22.2 296 10-ten
Porsche Panam’ 82,199 4.5 177 422 627 42.2 176 8-ten
Porsche Macan 62,540 4.8 165 400 405 31.7 208 8-ten
Porsche Cayenne 65,495 5.4 156 383 626 35.3 209 8-ten
Lotus Elise 36,500 4.6 145 217 184 37.7 173 8-ten
Lotus Evora 82,000 3.9 190 410 309 29.1 225 8-ten
Lotus Exige 55,900 3.7 170 350 295 28 235 9-ten
Lotus 3-Eleven 82,500 3.4 174 410 302 n/a n/a 8-ten


Reference:

See internet for details particularly Porsche website and for biography of F.Porsche.

The A&R library contains 35 dedicated books on Porsche

From wiki site [Ferdinand Porsche]

  • Hiott, Andrea: “Thinking Small: The Long Strange Trip of the Volkswagen Beetle.” Random House, 2012, ISBN 0345521420.
  • Barber, Chris (2003). Birth of the Beetle: The Development of the Volkswagen by Ferdinand Porsche. Haynes Publishing. ISBN 1-85960-959-7.
  • Ludvigsen, Karl E. (2008). Porsche: Excellence Was Expected – The Comprehensive History of the Company, Its Cars and Its Racing Heritage. Brooklands Books. ISBN 978-0-8376-0235-6
  • Hans Mommsen; Manfred Grieger: Das Volkswagenwerk und seine Arbeiter im Dritten Reich, ECON Verlag, Düsseldorf 1996, ISBN 3-430-16785-X (German)
  • Peter Müller: Ferdinand Porsche. Der Vater des Volkswagens, 4. Aufl., 1998 (German)
  • Martin Pfundner: Austro Daimler und Steyr. Rivalen bis zur Fusion. Die frühen Jahre des Ferdinand Porsche. Böhlau, Wien 2007. ISBN 978-3-205-77639-0 (German)

Design: Inteligence Made Visible.Bayley&Conran.Firefly.2007

ISBN: 9781554073108

Giugiaro Design: Looking at Design 1981-2001.Electa.2001.

ISBN: 8843595237

Industrial Design.C&P.Fiell.Taschen.2000.

ISBN: 3822863106

A-Z Modern Design.Polster, Neumann, Schuler, Leven.Merrell.2009.

ISBN: 978858945026

Italian Design.Sparke.Thames&Hudson.1988.

ISBN: 0500235317

A Century of Design.Sparke.Mitchell Beazley.1998

ISBN: 1840000007

Made in Italy.ed by Lees-Maffei&Fallan.Bloomsbury.2014.

ISBN: 9780857853899

Please note the editors of the A&R attempt to give the broadest spectrum of references but not all are available for consultation in an article. However by noting their existence it may assist students in their research.

*Items in italics non A&R library books.