Happy late 100th birthday to Yutaka Katayama, father of the Z car

[dasoupdude]

If you've ever known or loved a Z-Car, you have Yutaka Katayama to thank. Mr. K, as he's called, was a Nissan ad guy sent to the United States in the 1950s to build the Datsun brand from the ground up. He established the company's U.S. headquarters in Gardena, CA, where it remained until last year's move to Tennessee. In the late 1960s, Mr. K insisted the Datsun brand needed a sports car. Then, he went out and made it happen. The original 240Z debuted for 1970.

Today, September 15, Mr. K turns 100, and you can see him celebrating with Nissan/Datsun owners in this photo. In his honor, we have collected three special Nissan Z commercials, one featuring racecar driver John Morton in a 240Z, another for the 260Z, which came along in 1974 (with a stroked 2.6-liter version of the inline-6), and the shift_Longing commercial for the 2003 350Z.



(Sept. 15th) Mr. Yutaka Katayama, the father of the Nissan Z-car, turns 100 years old. Above is a photo from the Datsun Heritage Museum of Mr. K celebrating in Japan with his long time friend Peter Brock (Yes, the Peter Brock of Cobra Daytona and BRE fame.)

Happy Birthday Mr. K. And thanks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...edded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...edded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...edded

[AZhitman]

[daconkiftador]

happy bday.

[PEZi]

this wins

[float_6969]

Happy late b-day Mr.K!

[numbnuts240]

mr. k ftmfw.

Peter Brock (Yes, the Peter Brock of Cobra Daytona and BRE fame.)

bob sharp>peter brock

[marlin29311]

feliz cumpleaños!