Toyota 50th celebration website....

[Mike]

From a business plan viewpoint this type of model can be made to work. If the Datsun enthusiast wouldn't have such a problem separating him or herself from a few extra dollars every now and then maybe something like this could work.

I do remember Nissan tried this with the "Z Store" project. It didn't work.

[gnosez]

Actually, I buy my vehicles based on performance, price, reliability, and durability. I won't rule out a vehicle from Nissan just because they can't seem to even take a peek back at their history. Nor will I let my love of Zs cause me to turn a blind eye to their diminishing support for the Datsun/Nissan collector community.

As Nissan's marketing manager told the ZCCA 2 years ago, "the reason why it is increasingly difficult to get funds approved to support the annual ZCCA convention is that Nissan is all about ROI".

The term ROI stands for "return on investment" and the direct monetary support Nissan gives to the ZCCA is all of $25,000. (or the price of one new Nissan vehicle). Now as this statement was being made there were over 25 new 350Zs and a half dozen or so Titans parked just a few hundred feet from the meeting room or as I would like to think a rolling profit statement of $25,000. in OUR commitment to Nissan's "return on investment".

Support is a two-way street.....

[CoastGuardZ]

Support is a two-way street.....

I hear you there. But I can't imagine it would be easier to get money from Nissan if everyone there was using Toyota Tundra's or F-150's as tow vehicles. Now the 350's on the other hand should be enough for them to let go of the purse strings and drop some loot to support the event. Those things aren't cheap.

[hls30.com]

Really what it amounts to is how many more vehicles will Nissan sell from being active in the ZCCA than not.

Nate alluded earler that he will get Titan soon-even with Nissan acting as they are,

That amounts to one sale that had nothing to do with involvement in the show-absolutely lowering the ROI of involvement! If Nate is the only one at a show in need of a new vehicle, why in the world would Nissan have any involvement-they aren't going to sell anything...None of this is to pick on Nate, I was just continuing the example...

How many 350Z buyers were influenced to buy the car by Nissans efforts at the last ZCCA show they participated in? Directly, not many, the pull came directly from energies and enthusiasm of the OWNERS who displayed their cars. Seeing and talking about all of the work and effort on the cars is what got perspective buyers panties in a wad to go get one. A big banner and and some free stuf add to the atmosphere, and do heighten the excitement, but it is the cars in the show that get people frothing at the wallet. Nissan can't buy that kind of exposure to the Z crowd anywhere else, but by the nature of the event, we give it to them for free, and how can we fault them for not supporting something we are going to do anyway?

The only certian way to get Nissan involved in this situation is to exclude the current model cars if they do not participate-not that I am saying this is a good idea-or even suggesting that it be done. The fact is that if we cut the shirt tails too close, they can't use the massive welspring of enthusiasm from the event as free advertising for the 350Z.

If Nissan had no current models in a show, they would get active(or stupidly pissed off) in a hurry-this is exactly what Carlos would do to a parts manufacturer who didn't play ball. What kind of a message would that send Nissan? Pretty much the same message they are sending us-and the current owners of 350Zs by noy participating. ... you don't matter.

Will

[Carl Beck]

That is the difference between cars selling for as low as $65,000 with a healthy margin and cars that sell for the cost of an interior refurbishment to one of the afore mentioned cars-with no margin.-

The 240-Z sold in America held a HUGE profit margin for Nissan Motors Ltd. 70-73. The 510 sold in such numbers that it too was a huge profit center.

I believe that I read last year - that Nissan lead the automotive manufacturers in terms of Profit per Unit...{which is why Nissan stock went from $8.00 per share in 98 - to around $32.00 per share by 2006.. I'd have to go back and look at the exact numbers, but I bought in at $8.00 and sold out at $24.00}.

A couple of short years after Carlos took over - Nissan had eliminated a $20 BILLION DOLLAR debt and was running the Black again...

So I don't believe it has had much to do with profit these last few years, nor in the 70's.

What stops Nissan from that type of plan is:

1) Nissan already knows that the restoration and subsequent sale of an early Z is not a profit maker. To qoute a good friend of mine: "It costs just a much to restore an inexpensive car as it does an expensive one given like condition and parts availability-so save the time and enegry for one you can make some money on."

As I recall, Nissan spent something like $200,000,000.00 on the entire Dream Garage ad. campaign. All to remind us that they were "DATSUN" and there was a time when Mr. K cared about the end customers here in America.

On the other hand, I'm not sure what they spent on the Vintage Z Program - let's say it was $40K per car and they resold...what was it? 38 Z's. Let's guess that they sold the Vintage Z's to the dealers for $20K each... that means that Nissan USA spent $760,000.00 on the Vintage Z Program - for which they got about ...what.....$10,000,000.00 worth of free publicity.

I'd say that they made out just fine on that deal...

2)Nissan is no longer made up of "car guys".

Nissan never was made up of car guys. There were of course a few exceptions, and there were of course different times... but that seems to be the case at most large manufacturers...

No question that it would be nice if another real "car guy" was at the helm of Nissan USA agian. Just as the Toyota 2000GT revived the Sports/GT project at Nissan in 65... perhaps Toyota entering NASCAR will wake up someone at Nissan again... On second thought maybe that wouldn't be a good thing for use either..

FWIW,

Carl B.

[hls30.com]

The 240-Z sold in America held a HUGE profit margin for Nissan Motors Ltd. 70-73. The 510 sold in such numbers that it too was a huge profit center.

I believe that I read last year - that Nissan lead the automotive manufacturers in terms of Profit per Unit...{which is why Nissan stock went from $8.00 per share in 98 - to around $32.00 per share by 2006.. I'd have to go back and look at the exact numbers, but I bought in at $8.00 and sold out at $24.00}.

A couple of short years after Carlos took over - Nissan had eliminated a $20 BILLION DOLLAR debt and was running the Black again...

So I don't believe it has had much to do with profit these last few years, nor in the 70's.

As I recall, Nissan spent something like $200,000,000.00 on the entire Dream Garage ad. campaign. All to remind us that they were "DATSUN" and there was a time when Mr. K cared about the end customers here in America.

On the other hand, I'm not sure what they spent on the Vintage Z Program - let's say it was $40K per car and they resold...what was it? 38 Z's. Let's guess that they sold the Vintage Z's to the dealers for $20K each... that means that Nissan USA spent $760,000.00 on the Vintage Z Program - for which they got about ...what.....$10,000,000.00 worth of free publicity.

I'd say that they made out just fine on that deal...

Carl.

My point here was specific to current leadership and direction which has proven to be devoid of any appreciation of Nissans history.

Will

[sblake01]

....No question that it would be nice if another real "car guy" was at the helm of Nissan USA agian. Just as the Toyota 2000GT revived the Sports/GT project at Nissan in 65... perhaps Toyota entering NASCAR will wake up someone at Nissan again... On second thought maybe that wouldn't be a good thing for us either..

FWIW,

Carl B.

I don't think Nissan has any plans of entering NASCAR. If they did, they'd already be there. Remember, Toyota has been in NASCAR in the NTCS since 2004. And I think they had cars in some of the lesser series even earlier than that. They're just putting cars in the NNCS and the NBS this year.

[Carl Beck]

Hi Stephen:

You must have mistaken me for someone that follows NASCAR... -vbg-

I have no idea what NTCS, NNCS and NBS are....

Carl B.

[sblake01]

I don't much follow it much myself either but I know the major series names. They stand for Nascar Craftsman Truck Series (I typo'd NTCS should have been NCTS), Nascar Nextel Cup Series, and Nascar Busch Series.

[26th-Z]

Gnosez,

I was there for the "retrun-on-investment" speach. That guy is no longer with Nissan BTW. What surprised me most was that the ZCCA took it lying down and didn't tar-n-feather the guy and throw him out on the street. As you pointed out, the parking lot was packed with ROI. I thought the guy had a lot of gall. He also made a comment about how "race on Sunday - sell on Monday" didn't work. Excuse me? What I thought was too bad was that no one from the ZCCA challenged the guy.

[hls30.com]

As I recall, Nissan spent something like $200,000,000.00 on the entire Dream Garage ad. campaign. All to remind us that they were "DATSUN" and there was a time when Mr. K cared about the end customers here in America.

On the other hand, I'm not sure what they spent on the Vintage Z Program - let's say it was $40K per car and they resold...what was it? 38 Z's. Let's guess that they sold the Vintage Z's to the dealers for $20K each... that means that Nissan USA spent $760,000.00 on the Vintage Z Program - for which they got about ...what.....$10,000,000.00 worth of free publicity.

I'd say that they made out just fine on that deal...

Carl.

My point here was specific to current leadership and direction which has proven to be devoid of any appreciation of Nissans history.

Will

I forgot to add Carlos is interested only on the bottom line, in his eyes free advertising is worth every penny he paid for it, and there is no such thing as enough profit. If he can make a buck and save a buck part of it goes in his pocket, if he makes a buck and gives it to the ZCCA, nothing goes in his pocket. He can never have his pockets full enough, and is always hungry.

Will

[26th-Z]

I disagree. Carlos rescued Nissan from near death and there is no reason to criticize a profit orientation. Nissan is about to introduce a limited production world class sports car. The new Z has increased horse power. Nissan owns current JGTC champoinships in a Z. Their styling studios are producing cutting edge stuff. I think they are spending plenty of money. We are looking at a healthy company and hurray for that.