Father of the Datsun Z Dies at 105
Yutaka Katayama, the former head of Nissan’s U.S. operations and the man credited with creating the brand’s most iconic sports car has passed away at the age of 105.
Known as Mr. K, he was the first president of Nissan Motor Corporation U.S.A. and is widely known as the father of the Datsun Z. Katayama retired from the Japanese automaker in 1977 after joining the company in 1935 and working first in the Administration Department. His initial role in the company was to handle publicity and advertising and was responsible for making one of the first color films of a Datsun on Japanese roads. Later on in his career, he filmed motorsport events around the world before he started building the Datsun brand, Nissan’s initial brand name in the U.S.
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His storied career includes being the team manager as two Datsun 210s entered in a grueling rally circumnavigating the Australian continent with the subsequent victory helping catapult the brand and set the stage for Datsun exports. To automotive enthusiasts, he’s most well known for putting the key concepts for the Z-car to life and contributed significantly to a sports car that’s beloved even today.
Katayama was inducted into the American Automotive Hall of Fame in 1998 as well as the Japan Automotive Hall of Fame.
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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in 1975, he was already 65. he must have been living life on his own terms and never letting anyone grind him down.