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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