Stand Up and Be "Count"ed: Did Goertz Design the 2000GT?

Carl Beck
Jan 28, 2009 at 4:21 am

Amazing – makes one wonder who writes such rubbish. Shame on them for taking a particle sentence completely out of context and then indicating that it is a direct quote.

The complete sentence reads:
“While it is our view that the design of the 240Z was the product of Nissan’s design staff, Nissan agrees that the personnel who designed that automobile were influenced by your fine work for Nissan and had the benefit of your designs.”

Mr. Goertz was given credit for the design of the Silvia, even though it was actually a fine tuning of a previously created design. As a Design Consultant Mr. Goertz did do some fine work for Nissan in terms of improving their design process, bringing new design tools to bare and training additional talent within Nissan.

Secondly: Mr. Goertz didn’t start in 1961 nor did he work at Nissan Motors Ltd. in 1965.
Mr. Goertz states in his own Autobiography that he visited Japan several times looking for work. After four trips there in 1962, he finally got a one year, design consulting contract with Nissan on his 5th trip to Japan in Jan. of 1963. His contract required him to visit Japan every seven to eight weeks. Mr. Goertz left Nissan’s employ at the end of 1964.

The sad truth is – Mr. Goertz’s own self published Autobiography is the best proof that he had nothing to do with the design of the Datsun 240Z. Mr. Goertz shows us all his sketches and clay models of the BMW 507 that he did design. But he can only show us pictures of the final Datsun 240-Z as produced.

On the other hand the man put in charge of Nissan’s Sports Car Styling Studio in 1965 can and does show us all his original sketches, the design alternatives considered, the building of the clay models etc.. Mr. Matsuo also tells us the story of how the car we know as the Datsun 240Z originated, was evolved and finally given approval for production.

There has also been great confusion caused because the press, and previous authors that wrote books about the Z Car, all failed to clearly differentiate between Yamaha’s internal A-550X Design Project and Nissan’s 2000GT Design Project, both of which were in development during the Joint Development Project between Yamaha and Nissan. These were two distinct efforts not one.
See: http://Zhome.com/History/Truth/A550Xvs240Z.htm

Nissan wanted Yamaha to develop a 2.0L four cylinder, twin OHC engine, and supply prototype build services for Nissan’s 2000GT Project. Yamaha in turn was hoping to benefit from a follow-on production contract for the engine, as well as advance their own prototype build and design capabilities and experience.

In my opinion, Mr. Goertz may have had much more influence on the refinement of the styling of Yamaha’s A-550X than he did on Nissan’s future plans. He was working on the Joint Project at the Yamaha facilities at the time, and did turn all the work he did on the Nissan contract over to Yamaha.

Yamaha built a working prototype based on Mr. Goertz design of the Nissan 2000GT. It was sent to Nissan after the Joint Project ended. It is pictured at the Nissan facilities in many books (although usually incorrectly identified as the A-550X). Yamaha also built a fiberglass prototype of their A-550X, to demonstrate their ability to support automotive design and prototype build capabilities for the Japanese auto industry. All pictures I’ve seen so far of Yamaha’s A-550X were taken at the Yamaha facilities.

Toyota did sign a contract with the Yamaha Design Center for design support and prototype build services. Toyota sent their design team to work at Yamaha during the design of the Toyota 2000GT. Other than the fact that the Nissan 2000GT, the Yamaha A-550X and the Toyota 2000GT were all Sports Coupes like so many others of the time, they really have nothing in common.

Nissan and Toyota both set the stage for the “Goertz Myth” by failing to clearly identify the individuals that were actually responsible for the design and development of their offerings.

Steve – your suspicions have not been confirmed, but rather fully reputed. If you look at all the Styling and Concept Development vehicles from around the world between 1967 and 1970 you will find that many of them have similar design and styling cues. Automotive Styling and Design evolve on a global basis and just because a few cars have a similar overall look – is no indication of a single designer.

For What Its Worth…
Carl Beck, President
Internet Z Car Club

HS30-H
Jan 28, 2009 at 12:49 am

Mr Steve Neil,
You are obviously not quite as “very familiar” with the S30 as you should be, and your “suspicions” are well wide of the mark. Did you actually swallow some of that snake oil that Goertz was selling?

It would be great to hear what you had to say for yourself should you ever find yourself in the same room as Satoru NOZAKI and Yoshihiko MATSUO. Especially interesting in the case of MATSUO san, as you appear to have made at least some of your living by attaching your work to his…….

Jnostalgics
Jan 27, 2009 at 11:34 pm

Um, they weren’t designed by the same person. That’s the whole problem we have with this post.

Our response:
http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/blog/2009/01/27/goertz-myths-will-never-die-part-ii/

Steve Neil
Jan 27, 2009 at 5:37 pm

This is a good read. As a body kit designer, I’m very familiar with the S30, As I’ve designed the worlds fastest street version of it.

I always knew that the 2000GT was designed by the same designer as the S30, it’s good to see my suspicions confirmed.