How NICOclub Celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the Z

Post by **AZhitman** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 7:35 pm

Last year, when I got the opportunity to drive a preproduction 370Z in the cross-country 370Z Tour, we knew the 40th anniversary of the Z was right around the corner.

To commemorate that event, my copilot (Gregg Rogers) and I decided to re-stage a photograph taken 40 years prior....

In October of 1969, exactly 40 years ago, Datsun engineers drove a pair of pre-production 240Z cars through Phoenix, ostensibly for hot-weather testing.

That visit was captured in a photograph taken on Van Buren Street in downtown Phoenix, which was the main drag through town in those days... Prior to the construction of Interstate 10. The scene is just northeast of the old Phoenix Greyhound Park. The black-and-white photo shows both 240Z's, followed by a Datsun 510 support vehicle.

Nearby, we see the Datsun employees consulting a map during the break.

40 years later, in almost exactly the same location, here we are with the modern interpretations: Two 2009 370Z's and a new Maxima... The cars were positioned just as they were 40 years prior.

I've often wondered if the guys in the picture had ANY idea how much of an impact the Z would have on the automotive landscape... I'd like to think that somewhere, the guys in the picture are still around, and I'd love for them to see the pictures together.

Thanks, Mr. K and Nissan for the Z-car.... and for all the great memories.

Post by **initial_jc** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 7:42 pm

thats really cool that you guys did that

YouTube · Post by **dasoupdude** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 7:52 pm

He turned 100 not too long ago

And here's the thread in which NOBODY has posted in yet. zer...z-car

Good God that Tiburon killed it.

Post by **Solar_Runner** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 7:52 pm

Nice work Greg.... I love stuff like this!

Thanks,

Post by **TroubleBound** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 7:54 pm

You guys did a good job replicating that it would have been dishonor to do anything less. 2 2009 Z's and the support vehicle in the exact same place with the map lookers. The cars angles even look perfect it looks like it took some time to research the exact location and set everything up right. Thats awesomeI wish i lived breathed and slept Nissan like you do, your threads are all so interesting i want to be you when i grow up haha.

Post by **RCA** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 7:54 pm

Hey Greg by any chance do you have hi-res versions of both those pictures?

I would love to make a wallpaper using the two

Post by **Bmore-coupe** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 7:58 pm

RCA wrote:Hey Greg by any chance do you have hi-res versions of both those pictures?

I would love to make a wallpaper using the two

Post by **AZhitman** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 8:01 pm

We do.

However, I'd like to hang onto them for just a bit... I'd hoped that the guys from NNA would want to use them for some sort of promotion or ad campaign.

If not, we'll release the hi-res for you guys.

Post by **Bmore-coupe** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 8:04 pm

AZhitman wrote:We do.

However, I'd like to hang onto them for just a bit... I'd hoped that the guys from NNA would want to use them for some sort of promotion or ad campaign.

If not, we'll release the hi-res for you guys.

FINE!

*stomps around throwing child-like temper tantrum*

Post by **hannibal** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 8:05 pm

Very cool! The angles are spot on. Shadows are perfect. Well done!

They better use these pics. Its the coolest thing a mfg'er could do. And I assume NICO would receive fair compensation...

Post by **nissangirl74** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 8:08 pm

Dasoupdude wrote:He turned 100 not too long ago

And here's the thread in which NOBODY has posted in yet. zer...z-car

Good God that Tiburon killed it.

It would be so cool to have the chance to meet him. When we went to JCCS, we met three of the people who work at the Datsun Heritage Museum. One of them was Mr. K's personal assistant for 30 years. A very sweet lady...I bet she could write a best seller about all the wonderful things she has seen in her lifetime!

Website · Post by **ScrapMetal** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 2:29 am

AZhitman wrote:I'd hoped that the guys from NNA would want to use them for some sort of promotion or ad campaign.

Hopefully they do. Like TroubleBound said, it looks like you guys took the time to get everything right and you did. The pic looks awesome, great job.

Post by **Looneybomber** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 2:47 am

So did they tear down that greyhound park building I guess?

Post by **naladude911** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 4:20 am

Damm, what happened to the gas station pump lol. that's a really good picture.

Post by **Otto.** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 4:56 am

This is so cool! Great job guys!

Post by **billabong093** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 5:34 am

Thats really cool, you guys did a good job on that

Post by **Dattebayo** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 5:56 am

Cool concept with the photo! How did you figure out where exactly that was? The backgrounds are totally different...

My friend here thinks the car to the left is on the wrong angle and too far back. Something about the wheel profiles not being the same...

Post by **ddgsxr504** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 6:19 am

Noice, I love 370 and it's styling which re-captures that sloped back Z look. Way sexier than the 350Z.

Post by **dusred** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 7:57 am

You can email the high res picture to [email protected].

Thanks!

Post by **RCA** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 8:15 am

nissangirl74 wrote:One of them was Mr. K's personal assistant for 30 years. A very sweet lady...I bet she could write a best seller about all the wonderful things she has seen in her lifetime!

She could write a best selling book about Mr. K's penor?

He's that great huh?

Post by **asoomal** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 3:34 pm

I like it =)

Find it kinda emotional lol

Post by **float_6969** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 6:12 pm

Awesome shot Greg. Great work.

Post by **AZhitman** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 8:08 pm

Dattebayo wrote: Cool concept with the photo! How did you figure out where exactly that was? The backgrounds are totally different...

Because if you've lived in PHX for any length of time, you know exactly where Greyhound Park is. It wasn't hard to study the picture, go to the former location, and position the cars.

Dattebayo wrote:My friend here thinks the car to the left is on the wrong angle and too far back. Something about the wheel profiles not being the same...

Your friend needs to punch himself in the eye. Hard.

Did he also notice that the people in the second pic are significantly taller and whiter?

Post by **hannibal** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 9:40 am

AZhitman wrote:Did he also notice that the people in the second pic are significantly taller and whiter?

Bump for the coolest thing Ive seen in a long time!

Post by **Infinitiguy19** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:58 am

What was the car behind the Z in the first picture?

Amazing how much can change in 40 years, But I think the fist picture looks cleaner and more free of industrialization. It would be nice to have the pic look as grainy as the picture taken 40 years ago, But I suppose you want to show advancement in technology.

Post by **NSR_s30** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 2:11 pm

AWESOME. Alls I have to say is look at my sig.

Post by **AZhitman** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 5:23 pm

^ Yep... Good stuff!

Post by **nissangirl74** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 5:37 pm

Paul Wall wrote:What was the car behind the Z in the first picture?

a dime

Post by **hannibal** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 6:13 pm

Paul Wall wrote:It would be nice to have the pic look as grainy as the picture taken 40 years ago

I agree. Somebody add some photoshop grain to that later pic.

Greg, I'm sure you've spoken to the right people about Nissan using this in an ad. This is the best 40th anniv salute anyone could do. I showed this to my Dad (not a car guy) and he freakin loved it.

Nissan North America, you NEED this!

Post by **RCA** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 6:29 pm

When can we has the High Res'?

How NICOclub Celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the Z

How NICOclub Celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the Z

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