Yutaka Katayama in the 1980s. Photos courtesy Nissan Motor Company.
In the history of the Japanese car, perhaps no one man is more closely identified with a particular automobile than Yutaka Katayama is with the Datsun Z. “Mr. K,” as he was known to his legions of fans across the globe, wasn’t a designer or engineer, but it was his understanding of both the American market and the synergy between driver and sports car that laid the groundwork for the Z’s success, and ultimately helped to establish Nissan as a significant player in the United States market. On February 19, Mr. K died at the age of 105, after a career in the industry that spanned nearly eight decades. - See more at:
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