Before you read the story of this company that has a history almost as long as Ford's, and
equally as tumultuous, you have to understand a bit about the Japanese..
In the beginning of Japanese auto manufacturing, power belonged to the traditionally powerful.
Old family ties and status ruled, with a smaller emphasis on the importance of education in business.
In the first half of the century, who your family was had more to do with your success than how much
ambition you had. By the same count, it wasn't just that you went to high school or university, it
was far more important that you went to the best high school and the best University.
"From rags to riches" stories did not seem to happen in Japan.
 Facts about the early
Japanese auto maufacturing |
After the WWII, the allies in control of rebuilding the Japanese economy decided to shake things
up a bit. A lot of the old guard Japanese were purged from business for being pro-military during
the war. This made room for some of the more ambitious educated men, regardless of social status.
The other thing the Allies did was allow the formation of unions, most of which would've been viewed
of as radical by western standards......
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| The Beginnings of
the Japanese Automobile |
A steam-powered car built by Torao Yamaba in 1904, was the first
recorded Japanese automobile. This massive 10 seater was a chain driven machine designed for the
transportation of the rather large Yamaba Family. The first gasoline powered car was built in 1907
by the Automobile Trading Co., dubbed the Takuri. A dozen 2 cylinder 1.85 liter Takuri's were built
based on a design by Komanosuke Uchiyama, Japans first car designer.......
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| The Thirties
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The 1930's saw Dat grow from a marginal company to a Japanese powerhouse under its new Nissan
moniker. Nissan would play a major part in Japans imperialist war efforts, supplying the military
transport that brought victory in Japans 1931 invasion of Manchuria. The 1930's also saw the
arrival of the Toyoda family, owners of the Toyota Automatic Loom Works, and creators of the
early Toyota automobiles. The 30's also saw the expulsion of American automakers, like Ford,
who had been producing cars in Japan, but were no longer welcome in the new protectionist and
imperialist Japan. .......
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| The Post
War Era
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The Americans, under the direction of General MacArthur, took control of Japans government
and economy for several years after the end of the war. The Americans saw many of the Exec's
at Nissan as too dangerous to leave in place, so like they had with every other corner of
Japanese industry, they purged everyone they thought militant or dangerous from the company......
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| "Go Datsun and
you go American!" |
Datsuns had been sneaking into the states for years, mostly with ex-servicemen stationed in Japan,
but not in any real numbers. Datsun made its official debut at the 1958 Los Angeles Imported Car
Show. They showed a couple sedans and a pick up. Fortunately Datsun was given prime floor space
next to Mercedes.......
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| The Origins
of the Fairlady Z |
For a car that had such a distinct impression on the world of the automobile, its amazing
how long it took to be developed. The original Z is actually the Fairlady Z, an extension of
the Datsun roadster line, and has its roots in another Nissan project. ......
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"YOU CAN IN A NISSAN, BECAUSE YOU DID IN A DATSUN!"
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