early datsuns

[herculesinwyoming]

anybody know anything about this datsun? is it really a datsun.

article syas they only made 150 preproduction and then never went farther.

 

link

 

http://www.transeum.com/tag/datsun

Edited May 11, 2009 by datzenmike

[Phirus]

Yep, that would be the first.

I want one.

[datzenmike]

I knew that name sounded familiar so I looked through my 'stuff'. Couldn't link to the article so I copied most of it:

 

 

"The Flying Feather" Concept by Yutaka Katayama - Design by Ryuichi Tomiya

 

 

Pictured Below: The Flying Feather as conceved by Yutaka Katayama and designed by Ryuichi Tomiya in the late 40's. A prototype was built with a 200cc engine (built in-house by Nissan in 1951

 

 

In Brief: Mr. Katayama (aka Mr. K), had a dream from childhood to build a very light weight car (mostly out of motorcycle parts). It was to have a combination of good performance and economy, rather like a gull in flight. Thus the name, "the Flying Feather".

 

In the late 40's, Mr. K discussed this concept with Ryuichi Tomiya and a sketch was completed instantly. Ryuichi Tomiya had been in charge of body design at Nissan Motors Ltd. before WWII and he was considered to be a genius - later to be called "the Leonardo da Vinci of Japan".

 

 

Suminoe Manufacturing produced about 150 Flying Feathers between 1954 and 1955. Today there are only a couple that we know of left in existence. One is on Display at the Tokyo Museum.

 

 

Above: Air Cooled, 12.5 HP, Twin Cylinder. All that POWER mounted in the rear!

 

Below: A rare 1:43 Model by ROCO of Japan. Only 20 of these were handbuilt in resin. The wire motorcycle wheels are a real work of art.

 

[Phirus]

Looks like something from an old nazi movie.

[herculesinwyoming]

but still a cool little inner city car for the day,

[Phirus]

Early smartcar :P

I bet that thing got killer mpg

[purple]

sweet!