Zedsabbath Posted February 21, 2015 Posted February 21, 2015 Nissan Executive Known as 'Father of the Z' Dies at 105 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSFEB. 21, 2015, 2:27 A.M. E.S.T.TOKYO — Yutaka Katayama, a former president of Nissan Motor Co.'s U.S. unit who built the Z sportscar into a powerful global brand in the 1970s, has died. He was 105. Known as the "father of the Z," Katayama won international respect for the Datsun Z as an affordable sportscar at a time when Japan-made products were synonymous with slipshod quality. Katayama, who died Thursday, retired from Nissan in 1977. Carlos Ghosn, who has led a turnaround at the Japanese automaker under an alliance with Renault SA of France, resurrected Katayama's legendary status at Nissan and brought back the Z. Inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in both the U.S. and Japan, Katayama is revered by Z fan clubs around the world. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/02/21/world/asia/ap-as-obit-japan-father-of-the-z.html?ref=world Quote
Moderators PB260Z Posted February 21, 2015 Moderators Posted February 21, 2015 RIP Katayama-san. Quote
Administrators gav240z Posted February 21, 2015 Administrators Posted February 21, 2015 105 is a good innings. RIP. Quote
chris240 Posted February 21, 2015 Posted February 21, 2015 Yep RIP... I wonder if there is any connection with him and the Katayama that raced the 1983 Rx7 with Moffat ? More than likely Katayama could just be a common name in Japan. Quote
Scotty_Rah Posted February 21, 2015 Posted February 21, 2015 RIP without his contribution to the motor industry, we wouldn't have our amazing cars and this great community. Might have more money in our pockets though.. Quote
24 Dat Posted February 21, 2015 Posted February 21, 2015 Farwell Mr K thanks for the Z that we all love so much RIP Love Cars. Love People. Love Life. Yutaka Katayama Quote
Mr Camouflage Posted February 24, 2015 Posted February 24, 2015 R.I.P Mr K. Thanks for the Z. A car that created history, myths and legends, as evident by the first user comment in this article: http://www.wsj.com/articles/nissans-father-of-the-z-dies-aged-105-1424510374 FYI: the first "Z cars" were called my fair lady cars because, of Mr Katayama love for the movie.... Quote
PeterAllen Posted February 24, 2015 Posted February 24, 2015 FYI: the first "Z cars" were called my fair lady cars because, of Mr Katayama love for the movie... Just as well he didn't name it after the play, though I sometimes think it would be apt. There are a few members here who might qualify for association with the Greek mythology connection. Quote
HS30-H Posted February 24, 2015 Posted February 24, 2015 R.I.P Mr K. Thanks for the Z. A car that created history, myths and legends, as evident by the first user comment in this article: http://www.wsj.com/articles/nissans-father-of-the-z-dies-aged-105-1424510374 LOL. Well spotted. The bullshit piles up so fast and high that you need a bulldozer to get through it. I might start collecting those stupid comments to make a compilation tribute page to the unintentionally tragic. Just this morning I read a post (on a Facebook group dedicated to the Z, no less) which claimed that Katayama was the "chief designer on the Z project" (presumbly he sent all his designs by Telex machine) and that he had personally flown to France to "collect the patent" for the hatch strut (like you need to personally collect patents and put them in a suitcase to take them home). Just... bizarre. Obviously that last bit is rooted in Matsuo's story of getting his inspiration for using a gas strut for the rear hatch when he saw one on a (French) Mirage jet, but it's a story that's now been put through a crack pipe backwards for the guy on the Facebook page. In the 'Information Age' there should be no excuse for it, but it seems the dumb gene is just getting stronger. Quote
HS30-H Posted February 24, 2015 Posted February 24, 2015 Yep RIP... I wonder if there is any connection with him and the Katayama that raced the 1983 Rx7 with Moffat ? More than likely Katayama could just be a common name in Japan. No, no connection. Yes, it's a fairly common name in Japan. Quote
Mr Camouflage Posted February 24, 2015 Posted February 24, 2015 Just saw the jalopnik article comments. You'd think Dale Ishimoto had passed away a second time. They are probably have a good old laugh about it where ever they are. http://jalopnik.com/nissans-father-of-the-z-and-rogue-exec-katayama-yutaka-1687214072 Quote
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