dimeguy 510 Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 Just read he has passed away on Thursday he was a 105. Quote Link to comment
decoy12 Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 So sad to hear, RIP :sleep: 1 Quote Link to comment
flatcat19 Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 First Kersey, now this?!? Rest in peace, good man. 2 Quote Link to comment
Z-train Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 This blows beyond words. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/02/21/world/asia/ap-as-obit-japan-father-of-the-z.html?_r=1 Quote Link to comment
qwik510 Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 Mr. K was an amazing man. He lived a great life and made huge contributions to the automotive world. I am so thankful that I had a chance to meet him in person, twice. RIP. You will always be remembered. Sorry about the reflections on the glass. 6 Quote Link to comment
Dolomite Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 Damn...just...damn. Mr. K has achieved immortality through the legends created under his command. He had an amazing vision and pulled it off to perfection. Our lives were positively impacted by Mr. K, he is the reason we all drive Datsuns, I'm grateful every time I hit the key and go for a ride. Quote Link to comment
Skib Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 “A sports car doesn’t have to be luxurious. It should be affordable so that anyone can own one, it should be easy to maintain, and it should be something that you can enjoy without having to spend too much money. To attach a price tag of $50,000 to a sports car just seems uncomfortable to me. You can get any price you want if you increase the number and level of features and equipment. But if you don’t add any extra equipment and features and you can still experience great exhilaration when driving, then that’s the best situation as far as I am concerned! After all, all you need to ride a horse is a saddle (laughter).”~ Yutaka Katayama 2 Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 And he only looked 65! RIP Mr K. Quote Link to comment
datrod Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 I was very lucky to meet him several times. One cool cowboy. I knew there was a reason I took my 240Z out last Thursday night. Quote Link to comment
merlin Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 I'll post my NissanSport article on him here in a few hours. The world has lost a great person, a visionary and so much more. Do something on your car today in hour of mr K. And hit the gas a little hard next time you get a chance. 2 Quote Link to comment
Ranman72 Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 His life and legacy will live on through the cars he created and all the people he influenced throuout his life What a great loss but also what a great life he had 105 WOW Quote Link to comment
nismo dr Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 survived by his wife, Masako, two sons and two daughters, 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren....quite a life. very gonzo kersey was 52? over doubled that! Quote Link to comment
Jesse C. Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Vaya Con Dios, Mr. K Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 I loved hearing his story of the first time he got onto an American freeway. He said he was so freaked out that he took the first off ramp. His understanding of American markets paved the way for the Datsun/Nissan motorsports powerhouse they became. Racing would never be the same had he not crested our shores. Quote Link to comment
505plus5 Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Even at the age (105) in his passing, his sense of humor decodes into 510! Legendary! :angel: Quote Link to comment
HRH Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 RIP Mr. K. All Datto enthusiasts the world over owe many fond memories to you. Amazing you made it to 105, you will be missed. Quote Link to comment
datzae Posted February 24, 2015 Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 Thanks mr k. Changed my life. 510 for 105 more. Vaya con Dios! Quote Link to comment
ratpatrol66 Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 Designed the timeless Z-Car and lived to 105. Thats a good life! I'm sure he will be a legend in his home land!!! Quote Link to comment
paradime Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 Yutaka Katayama (片山豊, born Yutaka Asoh; 15 September 1909 – 19 February 2015), aka Mr K. I have to admit I heard of Mr. K's passing on NPR this Monday, and I instantly thought of the Rat pack. Many of the new guy's may know of him in passing, or not at all, so I thought I'd put together a small bio to help document what he means to our beloved Datsuns. As president of Nissan Motor Corporation U.S.A. Katayama's contribution was expanding the company's focus from economy vehicles towards sportier vehicles in the US market. After doing market research in 1960, he returned to Nissan in Japan and persuaded the company to start its own sales company in the United States. Mr. K was instrumental in rebranding the Nissan image for the US market and helped name the Datsun brand. The new company started to import the first of the Fairlady models in 1960 through to the Datsun 2000 Roadster. The Datsun 320 pickup hit the American shores in 1961, but it was the introduction of the 520 pickup in 1965 that took it from the 100s in sales to 10s of thousands. In 1968, the Datsun 510 was introduced at a cost of $2,000, and in 1970 he introduced the Datsun 240Z to the US. The success of Datsun came from Mr. K’s understanding of the North American market, and the confidence he had in his product. He knew that for Datsun to gain legitimacy as a sports car in the US, these cars would have to compete and win on the race track. Pete Brock's BRE team’s first success was in 1966 driving a 1300cc Pre-Toyota: Hino Contessa Coupe at a Times-Mirror event in Riverside Raceway. When Brock Racing Enterprises began successfully racing Datsun 2000 roadsters, Katayama asked for a meeting and the rest is history. Datsun/Nissan earned a record 84 SCCA Manufacturers Championships and established Datsun as the Godzilla of racing in the 70s and 80s. Yutaka Katayama was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame on October 13, 1998, and he was inducted into the Japan Automotive Hall of Fame in 2008. What’s interesting to note here; Automotive Hall of Fame honors are normally reserved for designers, and corporate executives. Mr. K was neither, he was essentially a salesman with massive balls and vision. Without question, the charismatic “Mr. K” almost single-handedly changed the way Americans look at Japanese cars. Although he was not there designer, to Datsun enthusiasts he is regarded as the father of the Datsun 510, as well as the Z-Cars. RIP Mr. K(ing) Quote Link to comment
Filipe Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 In a way to remember Mr. K and his favorite charity, I have designed shirts and set up a campaign on tee spring as a means to raise some money. All profits will be donated to Make a wish in memory of Mr. khttp://teespring.com/LNDMRK2 Quote Link to comment
Skib Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 Ordering one when I get paid Mon Quote Link to comment
maltese Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 Just ordered two shirts. RIP Mr. K Quote Link to comment
Jesse C. Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 Ordered mine up! Thanks! Quote Link to comment
HRH Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 I just ordered two. Hope Medium is regular-sized and they're pre-shrunk. Don't want to be swimming in it. Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.