Nissan History Q....

[will]

just curious....

[oberkill]

My understanding is that Nissan was not sure their name would sell well in the U.S. so they marketed their vehicles as Datsun! I got that info from an old road and track so it may not be absolutly correct but sounds legit enough!!

Alan

[ca18guy]

Back then Nissan was'nt sure if they would do well in the states so they used the name Datsun so there name would'nt be associated with failure if they did badly in the states.  They sent a what they thought bad buissness man over here to head up Nissan of North America by the name Mr.K (i can't spell his real name) He in turn fought to make the fairladyZ which was renamed for the states (obviously 240Z) It sold ALOT (you could apparently buy one off the boat in Cali drive it to the east coast and sell it for more then u bought it and travel expense's) The Z was pretty much the first big name foriegn car let alone sports car and it gave credibility to all Japanese manufacture's (remember back in the 70's US car makers OWNED the market) The Z opened peoples eyes to Japanese cars which came at a good time cause the oil crisis hit in the 70's so there cars were now really needed. (which is why the 240Z is considered one of the 10 most important cars ever) Anyway come 1984 and Nissan decides that they want there name on all there cars oversea's so the switch is made. Some people say it's because the company made Engines for japanese fighter planes during WWII when they were called Datsun, but that's never been confirmed I believe and really doubt thats the reason.

cliffnote: Datsun=Nissan

[thewholefnshow]

Kinda makes you wonder why everyone needs to make different names for their luxury divisions over here... it is startling how few people know that Infinities are nissans...

[Tuck&Poke]

yea why the #### do they have all those "divisions"

[95teg]

"yea why the #### do they have all those "divisions""

its all in peoples heads if you buying a mercades you don't wanna think that its a crystler, ford make jag, nissan make infinity.  I think it cause people wanna think that those higher dollar cars are just so much better when all they are are luxurous.  I'll take one of those new infinity's if they put the skyline engine in there.

[HippoSleek]

What happened to that awesome history that someone posted that explained the how the names of the founders were the origin of the Datsun name and how is was later changed when a holding corp. (Nissan) bought out the Datsun corp?  I think there is a whole lot more to this story...

couldn't find it w/ a search?!