When Nissan first brought back the Z, the execs in Japan HATED the first draft redesign (they thought it looked too much like the old 240) and ordered a complete re-redesign. Supposedly, they secretly brought in Kazunori Yamauchi (the producer of Sony's Gran Turismo) to help with the new redesign and much of what the present Z33 looks like is owed to him.

As a result, Nissan took the very first three Z33s that came off the factory line, numbered them, and this is what they did with them:

-the first one was sent to the Nissan museum
-the second was given to Carlos Ghosn, the CEO of Nissan
-the third was given to Kazunori Yamauchi, again, the Gran Turismo guy

That's amazing to me that the third Z33 EVER MADE was given to a video game director. I don't know whether this really happened or not but considering that Subaru and Mitsubishi admitted that they wouldn't have brought the STi or the Evo to the U.S. if it wasn't for Gran Turismo shows what kind of influence that game (and by extension, Yamauchi himself) has on the Japanese car industry.

 

Not certain if this is factual or not. But still pretty cool.

I wonder if the 350Z belonging to Carlos Ghosn has tire feathering problems.

 

Not questioning any of it, but the guy who designed the 350Z is a brit called Ajay Panchal

 

I was under the impression that Yamauchi helped design the nismo body kit

 

i thought that the Z33 was designed here in cali

 

.

 

I thought the Z33 was designed by space aliens in the likeness of their space ships.

Chris

 

That's the same story I heard.

 

+1

 

Yeah, and I thoght there were only 9 planets in the solar system.

 

That's what I read somewhere, that it was designed in California. It may have been the first design that the Nissan execs hated.

 

If you watch the Top Gear episode on the Z (screw you Jeremy Clarkson btw), he said the car was designed in California, by an Indian guy (my people!!!) from England.

 

It may have been designed by more than one individual.

 

The first Z was auctioned off on Ebay for like $79k I beleive... Its was done by Nissan PR department to get attention for the new Z

I think your story was made up by guys who play GT3 to much ... Although the part about Nissan not liking the first design was true...

 

I have the book "Z: 35 years of Nissan's Sports Car" and although it talks a lot about the Z33, not mention is made of the 3rd one being given to Yamuchi. Not that the book couldn't leave anything out, but that just seems a bit over the top.

Yes, the Z33 was designed by Ajay Panchal at Nissan's design studios in California. Actually, several Nissan designers had submitted their designs but Ajay's got selected. The Z today is, IMO, 95% the same as in his winning design. Ajay said that when the car first hit the streets, he used to follow any 350Z he saw on the road, just to see how different colors showcase the car's lines under different lighting from various angles.

Yes, the first protype built was kinda hideous, IMO. You will find it all over the Net if you look for it. It was even posted here some months ago by someone who thought it was a rendering of the upcoming Z34.

 

Ajay Panchal Behind Dramatic New Nissan Z-Car Design


With great design being fundamental to the success of any automobile manufacturer, Ajay Panchal, Exploratory Designer, Nissan Design America, Inc. (NDA) is making waves in the auto industry. He’s the designer behind the original sketch for Japanese automaker Nissan’s latest Z-Car, the 350Z, after Nissan’s three major design studios in Europe, Japan and the U.S. were invited to determine the new Z-Car’s loo.

A British designer of Indian origin, at NDA 28-year old Panchal is responsible for coordinating design projects and creating advanced research and design ideas. He has also worked on the 2001 Frontier truck and 2003 350Z‘ design and was instrumental in the formation of the Exploratory Design Group at NDA. This group involves Design Context Lab activities and school projects, as well as establishing and directing Nissan programs with consultant design teams. Working in the interior studio at NDA, Panchal participated in advanced phase programs for the upcoming Altima and Quest designs.

Before joining Nissan, Panchal, who holds a bachelor’s degree in transport design from Coventry University and a master’s degree from the prestigious Royal College of Art in London, interned at Ford Motor Co. Design Studio in Dunton, England and Renfrew Associates Product Design Studio, where he worked on motorcycles and a virtual reality headset. He has been the recipient of numerous awards for his design work, including the Society of the Coachmakers runner-up prize, IVECO Ford Truck Design Awards runner-up honor and an award from the Royal Society of Arts for his design of a minivan interior.

Nissan is staging a comeback in the American car market riding this new angular Z car, which was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show this year. A roadster version is being launched in the U.S. later this year.

 

So it wasn't based on alien spacecraft???

 

Someone plays too many video games.

 

i thought honda created the Z concept and traded it for the nissan ridgeline design

 

yep.