Friday 9th April 1920

Born on this day, Alexander Eric (“Alex”) Moulton CBE, English engineer and inventor, who designed the suspension system for BMC’s new small car, the Mini. The combination of conical rubber springs and small wheels was one of the many innovative developments which allowed Issigonis to achieve the Mini’s small overall size. This was later refined into the hydrolastic and hydragas suspension systems used on later British Leyland cars such as the Austin Maxi and Rover Metro. Moulton also designed the Moulton Bicycle, again using rubber suspension and small wheels. Moulton Bicycle Company is based in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England.