Yoshihiko Matsuo, lead designer of the iconic Datsun 240Z, died on July 11. He was 86 years old.
Matsuo was born on July 10, 1934 in Himeji, a city in Hyogo prefecture in southern Japan. According to Japanese nostalgic car, helped design the popular Daihatsu Midget while attending Nihon University College of Art, before graduating and working directly at Nissan. After his success at the company helping to redesign the Bluebird 410 sedan, he was placed at the head of the company’s first modeling department, where the first Fairlady Z took shape.
With just a small team of designers, Matsuo was tasked with shaping the Z’s now iconic lines, but also developing how the car would be built, determining the mechanical design, the types of materials used, and even the price.
Datsun
Of course, we all know how it turned out: the 240Z became one of the most popular sports cars in America. Impressive looks, an affordable price, and a stellar driving experience meant explosive sales figures for the brand. The 240Z solidified the Matsuo name in the history books and catapulted Datsun’s reputation from a small import brand into a leading market force.
He will be missed.
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