The New Nissan Z: A Legacy Born from a Conspiracy
As I sit here, surrounded by the hype and excitement surrounding the new Nissan Z, I find myself taking a step back to appreciate the roots of this iconic car. The 240Z, released in 1969, is often overlooked in favor of its more recent counterparts, but without it, we wouldn't have any of the subsequent models that followed. The 240Z was a game-changer, and its impact still resonates today.
As I rev up the engine, I'm reminded of the butterfly effect that led to this moment. A series of events, some of which may seem like mere coincidences at first glance, ultimately resulted in the creation of one of the most beloved sports cars of all time. The 240Z was more than just a car – it was a symbol of innovation and rebellion.
The story behind the 240Z is shrouded in mystery, with rumors and false reports swirling around its development. Even experts cannot agree on the details, over 15 years after its release. But that's what makes this story so fascinating. It's like a puzzle, with each piece slowly falling into place as we unravel the conspiracy.
As I delve deeper into the world of the 240Z, I find myself drawn to the dramatic music playing in the background. It's like a symphony of possibility, a soundtrack that sets the tone for what's to come. The 240Z was more than just a car – it was an experience. And that's something that we can still feel today.
I want to take a moment to thank carparts.com for sponsoring this video. Without their support, I wouldn't be able to bring you this in-depth look at the 240Z. So, if you're in need of car parts or accessories, make sure to check them out.
Now, let's get back to the story. As I was saying, the 240Z was a game-changer. It was the first real sports car from Nissan, and it paved the way for all the subsequent models that followed. But what inspired Mr. K, the man behind the 240Z? That's a question that still sparks debate among enthusiasts today.
As I continue to explore the world of the 240Z, I find myself drawn to the nostalgic feel of this story. It's like stepping into a time capsule, with the sounds and smells of a bygone era transporting me back to a different era. And that's what makes this story so compelling – it's like a warm hug on a cold winter's day.
But before we get too caught up in the nostalgia, let's take a step back and look at the bigger picture. The 240Z was more than just a car – it was a cultural phenomenon. It was the first real sports car from Nissan, and it marked the beginning of a new era for the company. And that's something that we can still feel today.
As I continue to explore the world of the 240Z, I find myself drawn to the music playing in the background. It's like a bright melody, a soundtrack that sets the tone for what's to come. The 240Z was more than just a car – it was an experience. And that's something that we can still feel today.
But before we move on, let's take a moment to talk about the people behind the 240Z. There were many individuals who played a crucial role in its development, but one person stands out above the rest: Mr. K. Born and raised in Japan, Mr. K was a true original – a man who refused to be bound by convention. And that's something that we can still learn from today.
As I continue to explore the world of the 240Z, I find myself drawn to the stories of those who were involved in its development. It's like stepping into a time capsule, with the sounds and smells of a bygone era transporting me back to a different era. And that's what makes this story so compelling – it's like a warm hug on a cold winter's day.
But before we move on, let's take a moment to talk about the car parts website that sponsored this video. Carparts.com is more than just a website – it's a community of enthusiasts who share their knowledge and expertise with one another. And that's something that we can all get behind.
Now, as I was saying, Mr. K was being transferred to New York City to establish Nissan's US office. But this didn't seem like a downward move at first glance. After all, it was a chance for Mr. K to spread his wings and take on new challenges. But what he got instead was a demotion.
As I continue to explore the world of the 240Z, I find myself drawn to the drama of this story. It's like stepping into a soap opera, with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end. And that's what makes this story so compelling – it's like a rollercoaster ride that takes you on a wild journey.
But before we move on, let's take a moment to talk about the Japanese Naval flag that Mr. K received as a parting gift from his brother. This flag was more than just a symbol of good luck – it was a reminder of the principles that guided Mr. K throughout his career. And those principles are still relevant today.
As I continue to explore the world of the 240Z, I find myself drawn to the sense of possibility that permeates this story. It's like stepping into a time capsule, with the sounds and smells of a bygone era transporting me back to a different era. And that's what makes this story so compelling – it's like a warm hug on a cold winter's day.
But before we move on, let's take a moment to talk about the 240Z itself. This car was more than just a sports car – it was an experience. It was a symbol of innovation and rebellion, a reminder that even in the most mundane of times, there is always room for excitement and adventure. And that's something that we can still learn from today.
As I continue to explore the world of the 240Z, I find myself drawn to the nostalgic feel of this story. It's like stepping into a time capsule, with the sounds and smells of a bygone era transporting me back to a different era. And that's what makes this story so compelling – it's like a warm hug on a cold winter's day.
But before we move on, let's take a moment to talk about the impact of the 240Z on modern car culture. This car may have been released over 30 years ago, but its influence can still be felt today. And that's something that we can all get behind.
As I continue to explore the world of the 240Z, I find myself drawn to the music playing in the background. It's like a bright melody, a soundtrack that sets the tone for what's to come. The 240Z was more than just a car – it was an experience. And that's something that we can still feel today.
But before we move on, let's take a moment to talk about Mr. K himself. He may have been a demoted employee, but he never lost his passion for innovation and rebellion. And that's something that we can all learn from today.
As I continue to explore the world of the 240Z, I find myself drawn to the sense of possibility that permeates this story. It's like stepping into a time capsule, with the sounds and smells of a bygone era transporting me back to a different era. And that's what makes this story so compelling – it's like a warm hug on a cold winter's day.
But before we move on, let's take a moment to talk about the car parts website that sponsored this video. Carparts.com is more than just a website – it's a community of enthusiasts who share their knowledge and expertise with one another. And that's something that we can all get behind.
Now, as I was saying, Mr. K may have been a demoted employee, but he never lost his passion for innovation and rebellion. And that's something that we can all learn from today.
As I continue to explore the world of the 240Z, I find myself drawn to the sense of nostalgia that permeates this story. It's like stepping into a time capsule, with the sounds and smells of a bygone era transporting me back to a different era. And that's what makes this story so compelling – it's like a warm hug on a cold winter's day.
But before we move on, let's take a moment to talk about the impact of the 240Z on modern car culture. This car may have been released over 30 years ago, but its influence can still be felt today. And that's something that we can all get behind.
As I finish this video, I want to leave you with a sense of wonder and awe at the world of the 240Z. It was more than just a sports car – it was an experience. It was a symbol of innovation and rebellion, a reminder that even in the most mundane of times, there is always room for excitement and adventure. And that's something that we can still learn from today.
But before I go, let me just take a moment to thank you all for watching this video. It's been an absolute pleasure to share the world of the 240Z with you, and I hope that it has inspired you in some way.
WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- There is a butt ton ofpeople stoked out therefor the new Nissan Z.Nolan won't shut up about it.I can't stop dreaming about it.And there's probably gonna be fightsin the fricking streets forthe keys to these things.So I wanted to take a little step back,back to before the 400, before the 350,before the 300, before even the 280ZX,before all of this, there's the 240Z.(car engine revving)Now we wouldn't haveany of these other cars without this one.We almost didn't have any of them at all.Not without a little thing thatI like to call a conspiracy.(dramatic music)I'm talking butterfly, Ashton Kutchereffects stuff here, guys.This story is crazyand it took months for usto get it straight, why?There's tons of rumors, false reports,and even the Z experts around the worldstill can't agree on the details of it,more than 15 years later.This is everything you needto know to get up to speedon the conspiracy, tobuild the Datsun 240Z.(upbeat arcade music)A big thanks to carparts.comfor sponsoring today's video.(singing indistinctly)(phone ringing)Hello, Meemaw?- No, man, it's your cousin,James, where are you right now?- I'm not quite sure,but I'm on my way toMeemaw's for the holidays.- But I have to fix your truck.- Oh, that old thing?I already fixed it.That's what I'm driving.- What, you did what?- I just did what you saidand I went to carparks.comand you know what?You weren't lying.They really do make it quickand easy to find the partsthat you need when you need them.- Well, buddy, I got to say,I'm really proud of you.- Gee, wiz Cousin James, you know,I'm beginning to wonderif I actually am clumsyor perhaps the nickname Clumsy Carlperpetuated myself narrative so potently.If I ever stopped being clumsy,I wouldn't know who I was no more.(hood bangs)- All right, Carl, your truck's all setfor the long snowydrive to Meemaw's house.And remember, if you break downin the middle of the nowhere,tell Meemaw to go tocarparts.com so you can get partsfor any job and any budget.- Golly, gee, cousin, is this reallythe end of my time out here in LA?- Well, based on yourDonut Intern Contract,I think you're obligatedto be in one more video.- That mean my truck'sgonna break down again?- Yes, 100%.All right, buddy, have a good time.- Well, tooth's sweet.(bright melody playing)(beeps)- Just like everyheartwarming story at Disney,this story starts with a demotion.The year's 1916, after 15 years of workingas Nissan's head ofadvertising in Yokohama, Japan,50-year-old Yutaka Katayama,who you probably know as Mr. K,is being transferred to New York Cityto establish Nissan's US office.Now this doesn't soundlike a downward move,but trust me, it is.Nissan's other executives weretired of Mr. K's wild ideas,like taking Nissan racingor establishing the Tokyo Auto Salon.What a fricking weirdo.This dude's (beeps).So they're moving him somewherethat he can't rock the boat this hard,but let me tell you somethingabout Mr. K, all right?This dude who was bornand raised to rock boats,when you're a boat rocker,obstacles and opportunities look the same.They both look like boats,boats that you want to rock.Ask me how I know,I happened to be quitea boat rocker myself.Now, before he leaves forAmerica, Mr. K's older brothergives him a parting gift,a Japanese Naval flagflown to inspire sailors withthis motivational message."Let each man do his utmost."It's called the Z ensign.- Oh, my God.Are you familiar with theconcept of foreshadowing?- I may have wroten thebook on "Foreshadowing".- Meanwhile.- Back in Japan at Nissan HQ,a young 25-year-old Yoshihiko Matsuois settling into his new job at Nissan.This dude wanted to be a car designersince he was three years oldwhen he got busted for drawingon his grandparents' doors.I think we can all relate.If you're watching this channel,chances are that you'vedrawn on a door, too.Well, guess what grandpa,now he's getting paid for itand feels like a dream,but as most of us find outas we entered the real world,big business ain't sointerested in dreams.And all too often, Matuo'sideas are turned downfor being too extreme.He's a boat rocker, just like Mr. K.So he just turns aroundand tells his bossesthat the new sedan thatPininfarina designed for Nissanlooks like a pooping butt.Looks like a pooping butt.Looks like a pooping butt.He actually did this.The guy told them that the carlooked like a pooping butt.Nissan had just paid Pininfarina big moneyto design the new Bluebirdand this rookie comes inand says that the car'sdownward sloping rearlooks like someone squatting on a toilet.That's in quotes, my man,he said that, all right.Stuff like this rubs the supervisors wrongand not in the way that you secretly like,you know what I mean?So just like Mr. K, Matsuo was peeved,but not really surprised whenhe gets a demeaning assignmentto design a miniature carfor an amusement park,but soon after he nailshis bumper car assignment,he gets his first last laugh.The 410 Bluebird that he saidlooked like a pooping butt,is selling like a pooping butt.And this makes the higherups reconsider his tastes.And they ask him to redesignthe car, which he does.He also suggests a new trimlevel with bucket seats,a floor-mounted 4-speedmanual transmissionand dual carburetors for more power, baby.And bing, bang, boom.Matsuo just created one of theworld's first sports sedans,the Bluebird Super Sports Sedan or SSS.You know, like what a cobra sayswhen it's about to be stepped on.SSS,I got venom brother.Now thanks to the successof the Bluebird SSS,Matsuo is promoted to Nissansports car design divisionin 1965, and thanks to thispromotion, he meets Mr. K.Now without this meeting,there's no Z conspiracy.And without this conspiracy,there's no Z, all right?Follow the money.In his first few months as the head honchoof Nissan's fourth design studio,Matsuo and his two teammatesproduce a few sketchesand models of two seat roadsters, and...(speaks in gibberish)And Nissan execs assume they'reworking on a replacementfor the only sports carin the company's lineup,the aging Datsun 1600 roadster.But are they really?Matsuo wanted to builda brand new sports car,something sleek, something modern and fastthat would show the worldwhat Japan was capable of.Mr. K had the same idea and a new title.He was now the president of Nissan USAand after five years of50 years boat rocking,Mr. K successfully shiftedAmerica's view of Datsunfrom a company that makescheap underpowered tin cansto a company that makescheap underpowered reliable tin cans.So Mr. K visits Japan later that year,and this is when he meets Matsuo,who shows him a roadster designwith an aerodynamicEuropean inspired body.And trust me when I say this, you guys,it doesn't look anythinglike a pooping butt.It looks like the futureand Mr. K likes the future.So he tells Matsu that thisis exactly the kind of thingthat he wants for the American market.Matsuo tells Mr. K hismanagers want him to takea more conservative approach.As you can probably imagine dragons,this triggers a bonding moment.The kind of moment that only happenswhen two leashedvisionaries catch a glimpseof a future unchained.Boat rocker meets boat rocker.Things are about to get wet and wild.So how can Matsuo continue developingthe sports car of the futurewhile tasked to keep workingon the boring alternative?Well, it's gonna take a little conspiracy.All right, funnily enough,the key to tricking Nissan corporateis baked into their corporate process.Nissan design teams work onmultiple prototypes at onceto develop several optionsfor the bosses to choose from.So Matsuo's dream sports caris already filed under planning, okay?And the conservative designsthat his bosses want him tobuild are filed under Plan B.So if he and his teamshift focus to Plan A,he's gonna be in deepdookie and he knows that,so he flexes his boss man musclesand hires additionaldesigners to work on Plan B,and decades later, Matsuofesses up to this conin a memoir that hewrote with Mr. K called"Fairlady Z Story"."On the face of things, itlooked as if I was developingboth projects at the same time,but in fact, with the extra staff,I was able to concentrateall of my effortstowards the Plan A proposaland the rest is history."With Mr. K as the windbeneath Matsuo's wings,he and his assistantdesigner, Akio Yoshida,focused on refining Plan A.Then in 1966, something happensthat turns the project on its head.The US is consideringnew vehicle safety rulesand rumors are flying, thatthey're gonna ban convertibles.The National Traffic andMotor Vehicle Safety Actdidn't ban convertibleswhen it passed in 1967,but it did mandate seatbelts, so that's good.I believe in seat belts,you should wear them.But in reaction to the rumors,the Plan A team shiftedto fixed roof designs,fastbacks and notchbacks.They also build onemodel with a targa top,and what's that littleemblem on the targa bar?Enhance.Enhance.It's the fricking Z ensign.(suspenseful music)Which will make more sensenow that I remember this part.Matsuo received a specialmessage in the mail from Mr. Kafter they met, a Z ensign flag.I mean, you'd think that these guyswould name the car after cool flag, right?In early 1967, Mr. K returns to Yokohamato check out the new Bluebird 510before it's released in theUS, another Datsun legend,we did an episode way back in the day.While he's there,he checks in on thesecret sports car projectand what he seescompletely blows him away.The car is stunning.It's long hood and short sloping fastback,recessed sugar scoop headlights,and slim front bumperdividing the open front grillwould cause the prettiestsports cars Europe has to offer,I'm talking Ferrari 275 GTBand Jaguar E-Type coupe.Yes, Matsuo and his team wereinspired by those greats,but this clay model is wholly original.It's more efficient.It's more refined.It's more Japanese dare I say.It's the car Mr. K's been waiting for,the car to show the worldwhat Nissan is capable of,what Japan is capable of.Now this new model is so dang goodthat Mr. K clues in Nissanfirst Design Department Manager,Taichi Hora, and Hora is so stoked on it,that he assembles a teamfor engineering development.He's convinced he can persuadethe board of directorsto approve this car in the future.So he gets the engineeringball rolling earlywithout running it by anyof the corporate higher-ups.Add Mr. Hora to our listof Project Z conspirators.And remember, conspiracies are definedas plots devised in secretby two or more people.And Mr. Hora makes three.We're only eight awayfrom Mr. K's 11, okay?Things are finallygetting real, all right?There's nothing morereal than engineering.I've looked it up, Google it.Pause, goat, wait, hold on.Unpause, open a newwindow, all right, okay.Google, is there anythingmore real than engineering?No, so this is where therealest dude so far comes in.All right, EngineeringDesigner Hitoshi Uemura.He's in charge of engineeringthe yet-to-be-named new sports car.And on June 8th, 1967, Uemuraand the engineering teammeet with Matsuo and the designteam kicking the project,you know, high enoughgear that someone's like,"You know what, guys, we shouldprobably name this thing.""Uh, okay, um.(bee buzzing)What about the Nissan,uh,(bee buzzing)B?"Chief Engineer Hajima Suitsu's like,"All right, we'll figure it out later.For now, we'll just give ita development code name.""Um, not a lot left, we've madeabout 25 cars at this point.How about the Z?"The Z ensign flag had nothingto do with the cars name.Weird.So two months before the June meeting,the engineer team came upwith a checklist of mustsfor the new sports car,including the car will shipfor sale in August, 1969, nice.North American retail price will startan, oddly specific, $2,546, nice.The car will be profitablein North America,sounds like a good plan for a business.Now those specificmentions of North Americaare mostly the resultsof Mr. K's influence.Now he'd been nagging Nissanto build a better sports carfor the American market for years.A hatchback coupe with atorquing 2.4 liter straight-sixwould light American fires hotterthan any tiny four cylinderDatsun roadster ever could.This new sports car also had to fitour big old Americanbots, no big deal, right?Well, Matsuo and his teampainstakingly refinedevery little detail of this car.So when Uemura tells Matsuoto raise the roof lineto accommodate taller drivers,widen the car to fit theoptional automatic transmission,and all this other stuff,Matsuo was like, "Nope."And I get it, all right.This dude battled so hard tokeep his dream of a sleek,low, lightweight sports caralive as he envisioned it.He wasn't to mess thatall up for, you know,big fat chili dog eatingAmericans like me.(groans) I wish I couldstill eat chili dogs.I'd go to Cincinnati right now, boy.But if a good percentageof the Western worldcouldn't fit in the Z, it would be doomed.Someone just has to getthis through to Matsuo,who's at his desk, listening to Lil Peepwith his arms crossed.Hora breaks Matsuo's freezeand brokers a compromise,and the design and engineeringteams work togetherto keep the car sleek,low, and lightweight,but also let a big boy like me and Nolanfit behind the wheel.Now this takes six major layout changesand 70 individual tweaks.All these changes require a new clay modelto represent the finaldesign of Project Z.Matsuo assigns Kumio Tamurato finalize the fine linesof the car on the clay,and it's this version of Project Zthat lights thefour-wheeled world on fire.Before we get there,we have to go to a very important meeting,possibly the most important meetingin the history of Nissan.It's 1967, entire legitimategaggle of Nissan execsare waiting for the sheets to come offseveral prototypes sports cars.They're here to pick one for production.A few hours ago,Taichi Hora secretlyarranged the prototypesto make Project Z looklike the obvious choice.Mr. K mingles with theexecs, ready to act surprisedwhen the sheet comes off Project Z.His dream, the dreamhe shares with Matsuo,who worked so hard to bringit to life, is on the line.Mr. K's stoke gets the better of him."This is it," he says."Well, I don't know what you guys think.I think this was probablya pretty good choice.I mean, whatever you guys think,but this one's pretty good."Thankfully, the presidentof Nissan at the time,Takasugi Kamimata is impressed.And with two words, hesets an honest-to-goodnesssports car revolution into motion.He says, "It's good."(triumphant music)The conspiracy worked.Why was it necessary inthe first place, right?Because taking risks is scary.In the business world, it's expensive.Playing it safe as you know, safer.And in the mid 60s, this planand designs were dangerous,especially for a Japanese car company.I mean, remember what happenedabout 20 years before?Just the idea of the Z Projectwas big nuts, all right.In more ways than one,but these guys figuredout how to make it happen.All it took was a little slight of handand years of intense inspired work.Nissan unveils the Datsun240Z in New York Cityon October 22nd, 1969, nice.And people freaking loved it.Not only is this car beautiful,it offers Porsche 911 performanceat a Mustang price point,that silky smooth 2.4 liter straight-sixsounds the business, andhas the beans to back it up,the handling is fricking superb.And look at it, guys,nothing on the road can touch the 240Zeven cars going for twice the money.And like I said earlier,an honest-to-goodnesssports car revolution.Nissan sells more than 110,000 Zs globallyin the first three years of the model,which is a huge deal forJapanese import at the time.And the car proves justas potent on the trackand on brutal rally stagesas it was on the meanstreets of any town USA.When the first generation Zhit the end of production in 1978,more than half of a million had been soldwith some 83% landingin American driveway.Z fever had taken US by storm.And as we know today, the letter Zis directly linked to Nissan'ssuccess in the States.More than that, the originalZ is hugely responsiblefor America's embrace of any Japanese car,whether you're a Nissan fan or not.If you're an Americanwho likes Japanese cars,you owe everything to Mr. K, Mr. Matsuo,and the Z conspiracy.Because without them, we'dall be driving Mustangs,and there'd be a lot less of us aroundbecause we'd all be dead.(beeps)(suspenseful music)(chicken-like cackling)- It's been years,but the comments still haunts me.More HRSPRS?Was it even possible?(table bangs)How much horse is too much horse?I had to know.(explodes)Test after test, failure after failure,I began to doubt thatI'd ever find out, thenit happened.I think I have it.I think I have it.I've done it, I've done it.HRSPRS areinfinite.- So saddle up boys andgirls, and hit the trailswith this 100% scientificallyaccurate new HRSPRS shirt,available right now at donutmedia.com,and it features everythingthat you need to knowabout pure ekline muscle.A real horse, that costsyou thousands dollars,but this pony is 29.98,which is way less than $30.Go ask your mathematician uncle.Thank you guys so muchfor watching this videoand everything else on Donut Media.If you'd like to hit that like button,it really, really helps us out.You don't want to miss anything,hit that subscribe button.We have new merch droppingevery single week.Go to donutmedia.com topick yourself something upand join our mailing list.Because like I said, abunch of stuff coming out.You don't want to miss anythingand you'll get a sweet little discounton your first purchase.I love you.(gentle upbeat music fades)
