[Excaliber]

Datsun 510? An interesting track car and STILL respected! Four seater though,,,,,, nah, it won't cut the mustard. Not "sporty" enough I think, not "earth shaking" in the big picture of "history".

Hmmm,,,,,240Z's are a likely contender. Was it really the beginning of a "new wave" in the automotive world? Or a "copy" of what Europe had been doing for SO many years all ready? MG's, Sprites, TR's, a host of others were the inspiration for the Z car. No, the 240Z will be an "also ran", never an original. Therein lies the problem, no historic "soul".

Some cars you just KNOW are going to be historic marques the day they are offered or shortly thereafter! And I'm NOT talking about the 25th Anniversary, limited production "Yadda Yadda" mobile here (which to the masses is STILL an also ran).

I can't think of a single Japanese car that "set the automotive world on fire" on a LARGE scale that appealed to all people across the board. An original concept in design and style.

It WON'T be a later "limited edition" car that does it, it HAS to be a FIRST EDITION, like the 64 Mustang, from out of no where, BAM, we got a winner! Or the 63 split window Vette, Avanti, FIRST Jaguar XKE's, timeless in their "styling". If not "radical", beautiful in an "artistic" sometimes subtle way. Like a master piece, perhaps not appreciated for it's full beauty while the artist is living! And like "art" some historic cas leave me wondering WHAT people see in them, go figure!

You could name a bunch of European and American cars that "set the world on fire." It doesn't HAVE to be a "race car" to be extraordinary. But it does have to be unique, original, the first of it's "kind". So go ahead,,,,name ONE Japanese car like that! There must be at least ONE!

Ernie