Harris Mann, an influential car designer who passed away at the age of 85, gained recognition for his 1973 creation of the Austin Allegro, which is regarded as one of the most ridiculed British cars in recent memory. Over the past four decades, the unfairly mocked Allegro has become a symbol of everything that was perceived to be wrong with British Leyland and even Britain itself during the 1970s, making it a comedic centerpiece in the classic car world.
Contrary to popular belief, the Austin Allegro received a much warmer reception than its critics would lead you to believe. It enjoyed respectable sales for a decade in a highly competitive market, which was even more challenging than the one its predecessor, the much-loved Austin 1100, faced. The Austin 1100, famously thrashed by John Cleese in Fawlty Towers, set a high bar to follow. Early Allegros were reported to have leaks and could even have their rear screens pop out if improperly lifted, leading some to speculate that Leyland had achieved the unusual feat of developing a new model that was worse than its predecessor. However, it is worth mentioning that many Allegro sales were lost due to production shortages resulting from strike action at the Longbridge factory in Birmingham.
Mann openly acknowledged that outdated manufacturing practices and subpar build quality had a negative impact on the reputation of the cars he designed for British Leyland in the 1970s. He also noted that many other car manufacturers, both foreign and domestic, faced similar issues but were better at keeping them under wraps.
In 1973, as the UK prepared to join the European Economic Community (EEC), the success of the Allegro, which was designed in-house, was crucial. With his unconventional appearance and flamboyant suits, the talented and modest Mann was positioned as the “face” of the new car, representing the British response to the emerging young Italian designers like Giorgetto Giugiaro, who shared Mann’s affinity for the distinctive wedge-shaped designs that defined the decade. While Giugiaro’s highly acclaimed 1971 Alfa Romeo Alfasud influenced BL’s Allegro, it was Mann’s groundbreaking designs for the Triumph TR7 and Austin Princess in 1975 that truly popularized wedge-shaped cars.
Mann cannot be held accountable for the Allegro’s shortcomings. His initial renderings showcased a sleek design that bore little resemblance to the boxy reality of the vehicle presented to the public. The widely criticized Quartic “square” steering wheel found in early models was not Mann’s creation either. This peculiar attempt to provide a cheap alternative to power steering, if implemented in a Citroën, would have likely been praised as another stroke of French brilliance.
Additionally, Mann was not involved in the creation of the pig-nosed Vanden Plas luxury version of the Allegro. This particular model, adored by elderly drivers, was even suggested to come standard with bifocal windshields.
Known for his amiable nature, unassuming demeanor, and the admiration he received from car enthusiasts, Mann spent much of his retirement clarifying to journalists that the proportions he envisioned for the Allegro on paper were compromised by Leyland engineers who had to incorporate bulky off-the-shelf components from other BL cars for cost reasons.
Mann was born in North London to a mother who worked as a statistician at the War Office and a father who owned a plumbing company. After attending Ebury Technical College and briefly working as a body engineer at Duple, a coachmaker, Mann relocated to New York in the late 1950s to work at the Raymond Loewy industrial design consultancy. During this time, he had minimal interaction with the renowned French design guru and primarily focused on designing tread patterns and side walls for tires.
Upon his return to the UK, Mann’s career experienced a setback due to his extended national service. However, in 1962, he joined Ford of Britain as a feasibility engineer and quickly impressed his way into the styling studios within a few months. During his five-year tenure, Mann contributed to the design of the Mk2 Cortina, the original Escort, and the Capri.
In 1967, Mann departed for British Leyland (then known as the British Motor Corporation) after being recruited by his former Ford boss, Roy Haynes, to help develop what would become the Morris Marina. Mann was taken aback by the archaic, outdated atmosphere at the Cowley site and recalled moments of disdain from Alec Issigonis, the creator of the Mini, who looked down on him for lacking an engineering degree.
Following Haynes’ resignation in 1970, Mann assumed more responsibility. As head of styling, he had greater creative freedom and introduced his iconic wedge designs in the mid-1970s, starting with the 18-22 Series (later renamed Princess), a bold family sedan that only fell short due to the absence of a fifth hatchback door, a feature increasingly adopted by international competitors. His even more daring TR7, which prevailed over Italian proposals, initially shocked loyal Triumph sports car enthusiasts but ultimately became the best-selling TR model.
In 1983, Mann left British Leyland for BMW’s motorcycle division in Germany after working on the Austin Metro and Maestro. He later returned to the UK, specifically the Midlands, in the 2000s to collaborate with Peter Stevens on MG and Rover projects while also serving as a lecturer at Coventry University.
During his retirement, Mann frequently attended gatherings featuring Leyland cars from the 1970s and 1980s, engaging with enthusiasts and occasionally judging meticulously preserved examples of the once-reviled but now beloved vehicles he played a key role in bringing to life.
In 1969, Mann married Anne, and they settled in Worcester. Anne predeceased him, but he is survived by their three children: Hanna, Nathan, and Laura.
Harris Mann, renowned car stylist, was born on April 27, 1938, and passed away on August 14, 2023.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
