Datsun / Nissan history

[Pacific coast Datsun]

I saw this E mail on one of my Yahoo groups & found it interesting & wanted to share.........

I wanted to pass along information on a mystery that taken me quite a

few years to solve regarding the Lion figure used by Datsun in the

1960's.

I have asked for help on this topic from several Datsun forums

including this one, but the various answers never quite seemed fully

correct.

As we all know, Nissan/Datsun used a "rampant lion" figure on many

stock keys in the 60's and various other parts (ie. shift knobs,

embroidored patches, keychains, hats, car-mats, t-shirts etc.)

From the replies I have received, many insist this lion is actually

a "griffin". But a quick look at the various depictions, to me, in no

way resembles a griffin? A griffin is mythological figure that is part

dragon, eagle, an lion and is depicted with an eagle's beak, lion's

body, and a dragon's wings. The Datsun figure has none of these.

Furthermore, if you compare the Datsun Lion to the rampant lion on the

official flag of Scotland and to the well-known Peugeot rampant lion,

our Datsun figure is remarkably similiar (notice the same leg and arm

put forward).

There is clearly no beak or even a slight bulge to indicate wings that

had perhaps been folded!

So why would Datsun use a "lion"?

The correct answer, I found was that this lion was the symbol of the

Prince Motor Company (named to honor a popular Japanese Prince at the

time ...royalty = lion symbol). As many know, Prince Motors was

absorbed by Nissan/Datsun in the 1960's and subsequently, the lion

symbol temporarily came with it!

Here is a link that has a nice display of one of the earlier "logo

mergers": http://www.cartype.com/page.cfm?id=456&alph=K

Hope someone finds this interesting as it sure drove me crazy for

awhile :-)

Dave

'66 PL411

Heres the link incase it didnt work....

http://www.cartype.com/page.cfm?id=456&alph=K

I love this logo / emblem.............

[datsun dreamer]

That's cool mark, I remember way back in the mid 80's when my brother and his friiends had 620's they were talking about that symbol/logo but didn't know much about it, It's always good to know a little bit of history on these cool trucks we drive!!!

[blownb310]

Pretty neat, thanks Dave. :)

[hang_510]

i have a datsun patch w/lions on it (not a griffin or a liger)