Roy Axe
Encyclopedia
Royden Axe was a British
car designer.
in 1966.
In 1982 Axe moved to British Leyland (BL) where he took over as styling director from David Bache
, and was responsible for the building of a new styling studio at their Canley
, Coventry plant; the former opened in 1982. He also recruited a new team. Early projects from the new studio included Project XX (the Rover 800
) and the MG EX-E
concept car
.
Axe went on in 1991 to become head of the Warwick
-based vehicle design consultancy Design Research Associates (DRA), which resulted from a management buyout
of Rover's design studio in 1986. DRA was acquired by Arup
in 1999.
Roy Axe died on 5 October 2010 after battling cancer for two years.
Axe was also involved in the design of the 1984 Austin Montego
. The design had been initiated prior to his joining BL, but he was able to make last-minute changes to it shortly before it entered production. Cosmetic changes – which aimed to improve the by-then dated design – included black trim along the car's waist line. Due to BL's financial problems, the release of the Montego, and the related David Bache-designed Austin Maestro
hatchback had been delayed by several years.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
car designer.
Career
Axe started his career in 1959 with the Rootes Group where he progressed first to "Chief stylist" and then to "Design director". Rootes became part of Chrysler EuropeChrysler Europe
Chrysler Europe was a division of the Chrysler Corporation that operated between 1967 and 1979.-Formation:In the 1960s, Chrysler sought to become a world producer of automobiles. The company had never had much success outside North America, contrasting with Ford's worldwide reach and General...
in 1966.
In 1982 Axe moved to British Leyland (BL) where he took over as styling director from David Bache
David Bache
David Ernest Bache was a British car designer. For much of his career he worked with Rover.-Early life:Bache was born in Worcestershire, the son of Aston Villa and England footballer Joe Bache...
, and was responsible for the building of a new styling studio at their Canley
Canley
Canley is a suburban neighbourhood located in southwest Coventry, England. Canley became part of Coventry as a result of successive encroachment of the latter's boundaries between 1928 and 1932, having historically been part of the Stoneleigh parish....
, Coventry plant; the former opened in 1982. He also recruited a new team. Early projects from the new studio included Project XX (the Rover 800
Rover 800
The Rover 800 series is an executive car introduced by the Austin Rover Group in 1986 and also marketed as the Sterling in the United States. Co-developed with Honda, it was a close relative to the Honda Legend and the successor to the Rover SD1....
) and the MG EX-E
MG EX-E
The MG EX-E was a concept car produced by Austin Rover Group and presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1985. The EX-E was a mid-engined sportscar inspired by the Ferrari 308 and designed by Roy Axe and Gerry McGovern. The car's drivetrain and chassis were derived from the mid-engined MG Metro...
concept car
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
.
Axe went on in 1991 to become head of the Warwick
Warwick
Warwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England. The town lies upon the River Avon, south of Coventry and just west of Leamington Spa and Whitnash with which it is conjoined. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 23,350...
-based vehicle design consultancy Design Research Associates (DRA), which resulted from a management buyout
Management buyout
A management buyout is a form of acquisition where a company's existing managers acquire a large part or all of the company.- Overview :Management buyouts are similar in all major legal aspects to any other acquisition of a company...
of Rover's design studio in 1986. DRA was acquired by Arup
Arup
Arup is a global professional services firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom which provides engineering, design, planning, project management and consulting services for all aspects of the built environment. The firm is present in Africa, the Americas, Australasia, East Asia, Europe and the...
in 1999.
Roy Axe died on 5 October 2010 after battling cancer for two years.
Examples of Axe's car designs
- 1967 Sunbeam Rapier and Sunbeam Alpine fastback coupés
- 1970 Hillman AvengerHillman AvengerThe Hillman Avenger was a rear-wheel drive small family car originally manufactured under the Hillman marque by the Rootes Group from 1970–1976, and made by Chrysler Europe from 1976–1981 as the Chrysler Avenger and finally the Talbot Avenger...
/ Plymouth CricketPlymouth CricketPlymouth Cricket can refer to two badge-engineered automobiles associated with the Chrysler manufacturer.* Hillman Avenger, an automobile sold in North America between 1971 and 1973* Dodge Colt, an automobile sold in Canada between 1973 and 1975... - 1975 Chrysler Alpine (Talbot)
- 1979 Chrysler HorizonChrysler HorizonThe Horizon was a subcompact automobile developed by Chrysler Europe and was sold in Europe between 1977 and 1985 under the Chrysler, Simca and Talbot nameplates...
(Talbot) - 1986 Rover 800Rover 800The Rover 800 series is an executive car introduced by the Austin Rover Group in 1986 and also marketed as the Sterling in the United States. Co-developed with Honda, it was a close relative to the Honda Legend and the successor to the Rover SD1....
(developed in conjunction with the Honda LegendHonda LegendThe Honda Legend is a mid-size luxury car made by the Japanese automaker Honda. It was the result of Project XX, a joint agreement started in November 1981 with the Austin Rover Group of Great Britain and was mechanically related to the Rover 800 series....
)
Axe was also involved in the design of the 1984 Austin Montego
Austin Montego
The Austin Montego is a British mid-size saloon car that was produced by the Austin Rover subsidiary of British Leyland , and its successors, from 1984 until 1994. The Montego was the replacement for the Morris Ital, to give British Leyland a modern competitor for the Ford Sierra and Vauxhall...
. The design had been initiated prior to his joining BL, but he was able to make last-minute changes to it shortly before it entered production. Cosmetic changes – which aimed to improve the by-then dated design – included black trim along the car's waist line. Due to BL's financial problems, the release of the Montego, and the related David Bache-designed Austin Maestro
Austin Maestro
The Austin Maestro is a compact-sized 5-door hatchback car that was produced from 1983 to 1994, initially by the Austin Rover subsidiary of British Leyland , and from 1988 onwards by its successor, Rover Group. The car was produced at the former Morris plant in Cowley, Oxford. It was initially...
hatchback had been delayed by several years.