Yutaka Katayama, the father of the Nissan Z cars has passed away aged 105. Photo / AP
Yutaka Katayama (pictured), a former president of Nissan Motor's US unit who built the Z sports car into a powerful global brand in the 1970s, has died. He was 105.
Known as the "father of the Z", Katayama won international respect for the Datsun Z as an affordable sports car
at a time when Japan-made products were synonymous with slipshod quality.
Katayama, who retired from Nissan in 1977, died of heart failure at a Tokyo hospital, his son Mitsuo said.
Carlos Ghosn, who has led a turnaround at the Japanese carmaker under an alliance with Renault, resurrected Katayama's legendary status at Nissan by bringing back the Z, which had been discontinued in 1996.
Inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in the US and Japan, Katayama is revered by Z fan clubs around the world, which nicknamed him "Mr K".
