Japan Grand Prix Grille Badge

[WingZr0]

Here's a nicely atmospheric shot of the Daytona from the rear.

Doesn't look all that slow in the photo..........

Great Alan many thanks for that. I believe only 6 of those Daytona coupe's were ever built. I have one question where do you acquire these pictures and documentation from?

I'd love to look into this stuff more, it's great learning the history of all these cars.

:classic:

I was thinking the same thing, lots of great info always Alan.

Didn't know one of the 6 Cobras did Fuji,

but is that a Swastika on that car? :stupid:

~Z~

[full house]

Its from Japan, Is there any history on how Japan got to Grand Prix?

[Mr Camouflage]

but is that a Swastika on that car? :stupid:

~Z~

It might be.

The word swastika is derived from the Sanskrit svastika, meaning any lucky or auspicious object, and in particular a mark made on persons and things to denote good luck.

The symbol dates back along time before its meaning was corrupted by the Nazis.

[WingZr0]

It might be.

The word swastika is derived from the Sanskrit svastika, meaning any lucky or auspicious object, and in particular a mark made on persons and things to denote good luck.

The symbol dates back along time before its meaning was corrupted by the Nazis.

HAHA, Thats True ~_^

I was wondering who would get that

Seen that symbole in lots of different places to which I was suprised,

but never on a race car.

My Uncle once told me Hitler or the Nazis stole that symbole from

one of the African peoples and fliped it in reverse.

He also said that the original symbole of those

particular peoples was supossed to mean LOVE.

Athough I haven't read that for myself yet, ...nor tryed to look

OK, an American car, in Japan, driven by a Japaness driver,... wheres the

connection to Sanskrit? Ain't that Aribic?

The story on that Cobra keeps getting weirder / intersting,

you'd figure the Muscle car guys, like Barrett Jackeson and such, would be

deep on the info for this APEX of all muscle cars.

But Alan comes through as always

~Z~

[sblake01]

Not wanting to get into the politics involved etc., I'll just say that the origins of the symbol that has become known as the swastika and is commonly associated with Nazi Germany/Hitler etc., predates that era considerably and was used by many peoples/religions including Africa, the Far East and many other regions. In fact it dates back to B.C.

[gogriz91]

I've seen many "swastikas" at Japanese religious sites...not sure why though.

[Go240Zags]

I was thinking the same thing, lots of great info always Alan.

Didn't know one of the 6 Cobras did Fuji,

but is that a Swastika on that car? :stupid:

~Z~

My guess is its a number like "45" just looks like a Swastika from the photo's angle.

[HS30-H]

Just to clear up the matter of that symbol on Sakai's Cobra Daytona Coupe:

In Japanese this character / symbol is called 'Manji', and is closely associated with the Buddhist religion - where it simply denotes good fortune ( amongst other things ). Sakai's team would have been using it on the car in that context, and not in any other.

As has been mentioned, the symbol has a long and complex history - but in Japan it has been used for many centuries in the Buddhist religion, which intertwines with the Japanese 'Shinto' religion. The Manji symbol has been used in dynastic and feudal heraldry ( most notably in Daimyo and family flags ) across the centuries too, so it is quite possible that Sakai's team were using it in that context too.

There's nothing sinister about it.

Alan T.

[Montezuma]

As a guy who lived and spent many years in the Orient, living 3 years in Japan I saw nothing wrong with the symbol on Sakai's team car. I have a funny story (sorry if the thread has been hi jacked) about the symbol. Our ship was in Singapore for a little liberty and on the dash of the bus that was hired to take us from Sombawang to the MRT station there was a Manji on the dash board. That thing caught the attention of some of my shipmates and they were affended. I said to them: "how would you feel if a Buddist person saw a cross or the fish symbol on your dash and told you he was offened?" I told them that it is no different and that the symbol was stolen and misrepresented by the Nazis. Some of the guys wanted the Navy to stop using the bus because of it....I could not believe it. To stay true to the thread: That badge is real cool, sounds like Alan would love to make a play on it because "1966 features big in my collection".

[WingZr0]

HAHA, Very cool info all

Right you are Mont and Alan.

Didn't mean to imply something was wrong, it just backed up the

old, "I thought I saw everything", saying for me.

American Muscle Car on Nippon Track etc etc and thought it all a

unique combination of things.

Even learned of a new driver namded Sakai

Indeed, All that history in just one badge

Wait a minute, how this Happen, 1,000th POST !

~Z~

[2-3-Z]

Viewing an old thread. Lots of good info here.

My compliments, Alan. I'm impressed. :classic:

Me too.

For my small contribution to the subject, I've noticed that 1966 was the 3rd annual race and is often referred to as such. (No race in 1965.) This may the reason for "3rd" on the badge.