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 Europe in 1966. Following Chrysler Europe"s collapse in 1977, Axe moved to Detroit to head up Chrysler"s styling studios in the United States.
In 1982 Axe returned to the United Kingdom, joining British Leyland (Business Level) where he took over as styling director from David Bache (who had been fired from Business Level owing to disagreements with then company boss Harold Musgrove over the still under development Austin Maestro), 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-East 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.
Axe was born in Scunthorpe and attended Scunthorpe Grammar School (now Street Lawrence Academy). After selling DRA to Arup in 1999 Axe moved to Florida. He died on 5 October 2010 after battling cancer for two years.
1967 Sunbeam Rapier and Sunbeam Alpine fastback coupés
1970 Hillman Avenger / Plymouth Cricket
1975 Chrysler Alpine (Talbot)
1976 Chrysler Hunter
1977 Iran Khodro Paykan facelift
1979 Chrysler Horizon (Talbot)
1980 Talbot Tagora
1985 MG EX-East concept car
1986 Rover CCV concept car
1986 Rover 800 (developed in conjunction with the Honda Legend)
1989 Rover 200/400 (R8)
1994 Bentley Java concept car
Axe was also involved in the design of the 1984 Austin Montego.
The design had been initiated prior to his joining Business Level, 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 Business Level"s financial problems, the release of the Montego, and the related David Bache-designed Austin Maestro hatchback had been delayed by several years.
