kats

Hello, Alan, are you in Sapporo? I was stayed at a hotel near New Chitose airport last night. Now I am in Matsuyama where is approximately 600 miles west of Tokyo. Here in Japan,we know the G-nose came from "Gland nose". Does it make sence? Japanese people speak a lot of "Japanese-English (English-Japanese?)"as usual.This habit is really bad for studying acuurate and correct English. We (young or old)mixed up English with Japanese.So if you study traditional beautiful Japanese launguage,sometimes you will not understand completely what they talk. But, we can understand and imagine what designer was trying to say. Of cource Alan understand it very easily,right? Here is point.Front section became longer than the original looking.To think about this,it does not need to say "Gland-nose". I think "Long-nose" is enough.It could be "Fairlady 240 LG". But this featuring made people feel something special at that time.Maybe because of it's looks,not just long, it was beautiful and made people expect aerodynamic effect. So I think Mr.MATSUO and other members wanted to put those special meanings into the name. For Japanese people,in this case,"Gland" is suitable."Long" is not enough. This is my opinion.Does this make sence for native Engilsh speaker? As Alan said, Mr.MATSUO designed this nose and even he tested it by himself in a high-way in the early 1971. From his article,soon after 240Z was produced to the public,almost same time from the test department,it was reported that poor stability in a high speed cruising.It was worse especially in a cross wind condition. He said he drove a G-nose proto type in a highway,at that time only very few car was runnnig there,he found Z's stability was much developed and the Z got a very good fuel consumption and a maximam speed.He managed over 200km/h(near160mph?). Nextime I will show you my friend's ZG which got all original equipment even beautiful original carpet and oil filter!! And another friend wanted to sell his ZG this is also very original around 2,500,000yen($20,000 U.S.) This is common price here in Japan for beautiful ZG.I think his price is favourable for it's nice condition. kats

Hi everyone, A happy new year is coming.I am sorry for this long blank. Nate, thank you very much for your words.These are what I have been looking for.I felt at ease.And I realized I was stupid. Yes,we love Z's.So many Zs were sold in the world and still are owned and loved.This is amazing and true. I did not need to ask.We love Z's. 2ManyZs,your last post is very interesting.And I agree with your comments for Mr.K. Mr.K did a great job in the U.S. According to what I saw TVs and I read books in japan,Japanese people had never known this due to Mr.ISHIHARA even NISSAN had hidden Mr.K. Though Mr.K made a great profit for NIASSAN, they thought Mr.K was a taboo for their company. When they celebrated their 50th, they issued an anniversary book.There were many NISSAN's milestone cars with a lot of explanations and photos. But Z's,there was only ONE photo.Even worse,you could see only Z's front section while 2 ladies unveiling the car cover. Another thing,NISSAN did not make any announcement when Mr.K was awarded the the prize of The hall of fame. Can you believe these cruel things? I think MR.K had been hidden by NISSAN(Mr.ISHIHARA)that is why so few Japanese people and journalists had known "true" of Z and DATSUN. I mean "true" is Z is international car.Z was aimed for international market.Most japanese people and journalists had never known this. Journalists may say they know Z's international value. But I do not think they understand it.Because they have been reported very few things about Z in the world. They always talk about "fairlady-z".I think if they want to talk about core of Z,they can not pass the story of export model. I would like to amend my recognitions about DATSUN in overseas. Many people here adviced me, thank you very much Mr Camouflage,Sean,Ben, Alan,Victor and many other friends here. I think DATSUN was well known in many countries.Just I can not say it in a word.Situations are little bit complicated. Thank you all,happy new year. kats

Good evening,everyone. Ken, I do not think I have seen it before. I will try to find it asking my friends. And I will find you and?@your Z in that TV. It is exciting for me. Alan, I agree with you. Let's start new thread for Mr. MATSUO a chief designer of S30. And your post is very interesting as usual. But I think I need to read again and again and again.I want to understand presicely. I am still not clear for my question. "Did the people in the U.S. feel sad when DATSUN was deleted?" Is this a question which I should not ask?Is it a taboo here? I want to say everyone why I am asking this. The answer is I love Z and DATSUN so much. I just want the the people in the U.S. to say "we felt sad so much!" Or if the people did not feel sad, I want the people to say "we love Z so much!" Best regards, kats

Hello everyone, I am surprised that this thread's views are well over 500!! I think this is great,over 500 views means just I am japanese and something unusual here or, everyone wanted to talk about these kind of things. Please let me write down my new findings here. I,really found out DATSUN was not well known in some nation as some of you said, in France or other nations in Europe. And in Australia neiter. Even in the U.K. DATSUN was not wellcomed,right? Now I want to make sure that in the U.S., B.Z (before the Z) DATSUN was a just another japanese car company which conjured up cheap and nothing special for the people. But A.Z (after the Z) DATSUN became a favorite car company for the people, did not it? I am still not clear about did the people in the U.S. feel sad when DATSUN was deleted? These questions are very important for me and the japanese people who watched TV and believed DATSUN should not be deleted for the people in the U.S. So please give me any comments for these especially the people from the U.S. I must be clear for these questions by reading threads so far,but I can not understand clearly.I am sorry for this. According to some of your opinion, my mind is biginig amendment. I am going to say there was no relation between NISSAN's sales decreasing and brand name changed. Alan,yes when I mention TV means NHK project X,but I want to add another one which is SUNDAY PROJECT. This TV also feartured Z and Mr,K with DATSUN.I think NHK project X is featuring development process Z's styling and engineering (I agree with Alan's opinion.There are many mistakes). But SUNDAY PROJECT mainly featuring about NISSAN's responsibility for decreasing their sales. This TV said former president ISHIHARA did wrong.He deleted DATSUN then started descending NISSAN's sales. He also hated Mr.K so much.He hated Mr.K's success in the U.S. He hated Mr.K because Mr.K was a rival for his advancing career. Now in japan many people get angry with Mr.ISHIHARA. My wife and my 5 years old daughter also get angry with him. Like this, this TV inspired many people in japan. TV program may have some fault,but this situation here in japan is true story. Nate,I also have heard from my frend here about DATSUN was used due to not to bring shame on NISSAN if it failed. And could you or anyone tell me more easily about the people in the U.S was saying about "NISSAN bought DATSUN". When the people saying this,was this good thing or bad thing for the people? Was it good meaning or bad meaning? Next time I want to say about "Poor Mr.MATSUO is a chief designer of S30 Z car" I already agree with Alan's opinion about this. Alan,please give me your help! See you. kats

Another photo of 1969 Fairlady- Z 432. Please note twin exhaust tubes and a designed magnesium wheel. These are factory standard equipments for this model. The engine is S-20 which produces 160 bhp with DOHC 2.0 litter. You can see triple MIKUNI solex carburetors. kats

Thank you, halz. It's O.K to write whatever you want to! I am so happy that so many people write for this thread. I think all of these comments are important for my questions. I need to study widespread DATSUN and NISSAN. But now let's take a short brake. I show you japanese Z.This is a 1969 Fairlady-Z 432. Please note badges "NISSAN","Fairlady Z","432". I will come back soon. kats

Hello everyone, I want to reply each of you because every little sentence is so interesting for me,but I can not do that. In fact,I need to take a little bit long time to read and understand correctly what you intend to tell me. I still got problems of translating for some sentence in this thread. So I am sorry and let me just keep talking ahead. Today,I want to ask everyone for some question. Please let me know your opinion about following. #1 Japanese TV show said Nissan's sale result started descending in late 70's (especially in the U.S.)due to brand changed from DATSUN to Nissan. #2 Also they said people in the U.S. loved and were so familiar with DATSUN,they disappointed in that change. As a result, people in the U.S. became away from Nissan gradually. #3 So,former president ISHIHARA must be accused. This is all his responsibility. What do you think of these? Now for me,I feel something is changing in my mind. I realized not every country loved DATSUN according to your presentations. I am getting clear step by step. Thank you. kats

Hi,friends I made a terrible mistake.I should write "Mrs. Thatcher" a former prime minister. I am so sorry for this. Yes I must use a dictionary. kats

Hi, Ben, Nate, Thank you very much for joyining this topic. And Alan,I really need your follow up!You probably know I can't talk here with out your co-operation,I am always expecting that you help me and you expand the topic much more interesting. Tonight I am staying at an hotel for my job,so I do not have an english-japanese dictionary(but actualy in my home,I do not use it.I know I have to use for correct english but I do not want to spend so much time for searching words). I write BAD BAD english tonight as usual. First of all,DATSUN was deleted by Mr.ISHIHARA a formar president of NISSAN motor company. This is true. Of cource the hole story was not easy, I know. People outside of NISSAN like me is just knowing by the TV showes broadcasting many times recently. But this is true.And a interesting story here.Once Mr.ISHIHARA had a chance to meet Mrs.Satcher maybe in late 70's,he intoruduced himself to her but she did not know NISSAN was a father company of DATSUN.She asked him like this,"I know DATSUN,is it related to your company?" Then Mr. ISHIHARA was SO SHOCKED for that conversation because he expected NISSAN was well known company in the world. He got a idea that changing name of brand from DATSUN to NISSAN. This is my guessing,Mr. ISHIHRA treated DATSUN as a just a small brand outside japan.he did not know how much people loved DATSUN in overseas. This seems a little bit funy for people looking this story here,does not it? I think. Because his way of thinking was quite typical japanese manager or I can say japanese people style. I have to exprain more detail and I have to show more deffernt reason. But I have to quit tonight,sorry for this. Talk soon. kats

Hello Steve and Alan, I want to discuss about the story of disapered DATSUN,but now I am staying outside so I don't have enough time to continue. Recently in japan,many TV shows talked about DATSUN and Mr. K .Even old ladies(like my mother) know the sad story about Mr.K.I want to know how many people out side japan know the true story of disapered DATSUN? Talk soon. kats

Hello Mike, I am happy that now you are clear. I think the genuine parts in japan,it is expensive. For example,I purchased a turnsiginal switch-lever assy and a light-wiper switch assy from the local NISSAN dealer last year. I was surprised that I could buy them because both of them are for LHD, and 1970 model!! The price is approximately $80 U.S. for both of them.(I forgot exactly price anyway I can check later) And Mr. NISHI stocks lots of genuine NISSAN parts,most of them are for RHD model but some part can be used for LHD Z. Best regards. kats

Hi Mike and Alan, I am sorry I made you confuse.I was trying to show Mr.NISHI's skil.Yes,Alan you are right. I am showing my dash before surgery. He stocks 4-5 used 1970 RHD dashes in his shop.He chose one dash as a donor for my LHD dash.He cut out and take out around hazard switch including a small hole which I want.Then he trimmed it completely to suite with my LHD dash.He also cut and digged in my dash for "docking"with pieces from RHD dash. He used special urethan adhesive to attach them together.And this is unbelivable,he even draw patterns on the dash surface. I can not tell the differnce between a original portion and a new portion which come from RHD dash. I know you can repair much lower cost in the U.S.A.... kats

Any question I want to have!

Another photo. kats

Hello friends, I want to show you my dash. 2 years ago my 240Z's restoration was completed,at that time my dash was new from the factory but it was 1972-1973 style as you know. I liked this new dash,but I was not satisfied very much.Because the hole avobe hazard switch was SO big and there was a cross marking dent for decal for hazard switch.I want my dash to look as earliest style for 1969-1970. I asked Mr.NISHI (Mr.Alan Thomas knows him well and sometimes Alan mentioned about him here). I want to call Mr.NISHI "DOCTOR of cosmetic surgery".Does it make sense?(MY english is bad so I am wondering) Any way he did a great job for my dash as looked exactly 1969-1970 style.I am satisfied.

Thank you very much Enrique,Alan and Rob, I am so glad recieving very kind coments from you. But I am not the nice man like that.To tell the truth. Just I did not know the switch working or not,if I knew the switch working I would say "I sell you it!" Any way,now I am very impressed for having great opportunity to talk with you even sitting on the chair in my house,I appreciate that I was bone in this generation. Thank you. kats

Hi Alan, Thank you very much for your replying.It is exciting to debate about this with you.More than that I would rather debate with japanese people I want to envolve them in this topic.I was expecting you put coment for me of this topic.I aleady know your opinion seeing in the classic Z register magazine.And I wrote about your opinion in the magazine "AUTO WORKS" you know,I stated it as a opinion of ordinaly England Z car owners. O.K,I am trying to exprain more detail what I am thinking.I may deviate route of course,please be paitiant. I agree 100% with your opinion about S30 is designed as a RHD model and there are many inconvinience of driving and maintaining mechanicaly LHD model. This is my opinion, because nissan is a japanese company! Production engineers had to reduce cost,this was primary order form the head of nissan company.I had a chance to talk with Mr.MTSUO he is a chief designer of S30,he said at that time in the company there was a syndrome of reducing cost.For example earliest hub caps is based on C30(Laurel)model and as every body knows there are too many items to list up here were used for S30 from other nissan model. As Mr.MATSUO said in his article S30 prototype was much smaller than production model.It was planed 4-cylinder engine and overal hight and length was smaller.At this moment they didn't plan to be No.1 in the export market.As I see it they just thinking about selling for mainly domestic market little bit for export. But once Mr.K saw the prototype of Mr.MATSUO's designed sports car Mr.K loved it very very much and he pushed nissan to sell this in U.S.A.Then Mr.MATSUO said he had to re-designed shape due to pass the requirement for the M.V.S.S in the U.S.A.At that time engine was decided to put 6-cylinder than 4-cylinder .Mr.MATSUO said he enlarged the length and width of front section for 6-cylinder.In his article there are some photos they checked hight of head light and turnsignal lens to meet M.V.S.S. And to think about interior size,Mr.MATSUO said he had to accept enlarge the hight of roof because american people are much taller than japanese.Mr.MATSUO wanted to design much lower roof,but production engineer pointed out his design was too low for american people. So I think S30 is based on RHD,but I want to say S30 was designed for not only for domestic market.At least S30 design process was infuruenced by the U.S.A.market.Japanese people don't realized this so much.And they don't know DATSUN was a great car brand in the world.DATSUN Z was made in japan!!Japanese people have to know about this.I can say it doesn't matter S30 is RHD or LHD.S30 was designed not only for japanese people.Japanese people have to know why S30 has 6-cylinder,why the interior is so roomy,how the dementions of length and hight and width was decided.We can't say these points without export market especialy for U.S.A market. I want to enphasize DATSUN rather than LHD model.Yes,this is my opinion. Alan,could you understand(or read is much better) my opinion? English is hard work I wish I could say in japanese. Thank you. I welcome reply from enybody. kats