02-25-2015, 10:12 AM | #1 |
Tri-State Post Whore
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Creator of the Datsun Z
"Yutaka Katayama, former president of Nissan USA, better known as the “father of the Z,” died last week at the age of 105. Katayama, or “Mr. K,” began his career at Nissan in 1935, working in publicity. After World War II, Mr. K pushed for the creation of a domestic auto show to help promote Japan’s car industry, and in 1954, the first Tokyo Motor Show was held. In 1960, Mr. K was sent to California to start the difficult process of building a U.S. dealership network. He worked tirelessly, bringing the brand huge recognition stateside. In 1967, the 510 was introduced, setting the stage for the creation of the beloved 240Z. "How can we transpose the relationship between man and horse into the one between man and car? Even after I was sent to Los Angeles in 1960 to establish Nissan Motor in the U.S., this question never really left me,” Mr. K would later recall. “Eventually I came up with the concept of the Z-car. It was a sports car with a sleek body with a long nose and a short deck, designed so that it could be built utilizing some of the parts and components that were already used in our other production cars, and it was a car that anybody could drive easily and that would give the driver that incredible feeling of jubilation that comes when car and driver are as one.” Why it matters It’s not often that a single individual can be so closely associated with a car as widely adored as the Z. But to a lot of folks, Mr. K was the personification of his creation. His zeal to produce something fun and exhilarating, his ingenuity in constructing its success, and his overarching vision forged the Z car, a vehicle backed by personality, excitement, and above all, enthusiasm. He made cars that he wanted to drive, which is a sentiment that could go a long way in the current state of the industry. Mr. K’s son, Mitsuo Katayama, mused that his father was now joyfully rocketing around heaven in a Z, without the worries of “gas, police, or traffic tickets.” Mr. K is survived by his wife, Masako, two sons and two daughters, 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Datsun Z Datsun 240Z Also known as the Fairlady, the Z car story starts in 1969 with the S30 240Z. Two versions hit the road that year, one for the Japanese market and another for the U.S. market, both sporting an inline-six cylinder engine mounted up front, a rear-wheel-drive drivetrain, undeniably good handling prowess, and classically beautiful exterior styling. The car was an instant hit, with American dealerships selling over 45,000 units through the ’71 model year, 50,000 units in 1972, and 40,000 units in 1973. Five successive generations followed, with the current Nissan 370Z introduced in 2008. Lately, rumors of a seventh-generation Z car have been swirling, including talk of transplanting a four-cylinder turbocharged hybrid engine under the hood."
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96 Mazda Protege DX 5MT 92HP, 96 ft-lb torque, 2378 lbs. - SOLD! 2005-2012 00 Porsche 986 5MT Est. 230HP, 205 ft-lb torque, 2777 lbs. - DD/Track Car. SOLD! 2010-2014 12 Mazda2 5MT. 100HP of Fury. 2300 lbs. DD/Autox 2015 - Current 13 MK6 GTI 2020 - Current |
02-25-2015, 11:28 AM | #2 |
Tri-State Post Whore
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Bloomfield, NJ
Member #16741
My Ride: 2012 Nissan Juke & 1987 Nissan 300ZX GLL iTrader: (0)
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I'm a Z guy, always have been, always will be. Have been lucky enough to own 4, 2 of them being S30s. I am also a firm believer that the Z started its life as a 6 cylinder, and it should continue its life as one. Nissan should do right by Mr. Katayama and make a special edition Z in a few years to honor him. Give it some classic styling that the original S30 had like a wooden steering wheel and shift knob, classic Datsun badges and Fairlady badges (written in the classic font), perhaps an updated L28 engine (okay that is a pipe dream but it could happen!!!), a reverse opening hood, etc...
The Z and L series engine have always been my favorites (though the S30 is my all time favorite car, I never felt right driving one, hard to explain, which is why I prefer owning and driving Z31s, I have never felt more right in a car in my whole life, and it took me 2 Z31s that I sold to realize that). The L series engine is a thing of beauty to me. Stout and powerful for its time. A carbed L28 with a header and catless exhaust makes the most beautiful noise. I've always wanted to throw one in a S13, or even a Z31. Hell I would throw a L28 into every car if I had the means. Rest in peace Mr. Z. |
02-25-2015, 03:53 PM | #3 |
Tri-State Post Whore
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I'm not much of a Nissan buff, but the S30 is my favorite Nissan. I never drove it, but I love how it looks. I did drive an automatic Z31 TT and manual 350z and Nismo 350z. They were fast and felt like strong cars, but I never connected to them.
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96 Mazda Protege DX 5MT 92HP, 96 ft-lb torque, 2378 lbs. - SOLD! 2005-2012 00 Porsche 986 5MT Est. 230HP, 205 ft-lb torque, 2777 lbs. - DD/Track Car. SOLD! 2010-2014 12 Mazda2 5MT. 100HP of Fury. 2300 lbs. DD/Autox 2015 - Current 13 MK6 GTI 2020 - Current |
02-26-2015, 08:57 AM | #4 |
Tri-State Post Whore
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Bloomfield, NJ
Member #16741
My Ride: 2012 Nissan Juke & 1987 Nissan 300ZX GLL iTrader: (0)
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Isn't it crazy how some people can get behind the wheel of a car and feel nothing, and other get behind the wheel of the same car and just instantly know that they were meant to drive it?
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