Father of the Nissan Z dies at 105

Former Nissan US boss Yutaka Katayama had died at the age of 105. File photo: YouTube.

Former Nissan US boss Yutaka Katayama had died at the age of 105. File photo: YouTube.

Published Feb 23, 2015

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Tokyo - Yutaka Katayama, a former president of Nissan’s North American division and, more importantly, the man who built the Z sportscar into a powerful global brand in the 1970s, has died at the age of 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 last Thursday, retired from Nissan way back in 1977.

Carlos Ghosn, who has led a turnaround at the Japanese car company under an alliance with Renault, resurrected Katayama's legendary status at Nissan and brought back the Z car last decade.

Inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in both the US and Japan, Katayama is revered by Z fan clubs around the world.

Sapa-AP

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