CarGene
Katsutoshi Shimada

Katsutoshi Shimada

NissanDevelopment team member

Timeline

  1. 1957
    Skyline 1st generation
    Skyline 1st generation

    1957–1963Development team member

    Tokyo to Himeji and Back in 33 Hours

    Right after joining the company, Katsutoshi Shimada worked on the suspension of the first-generation Skyline, and two years later, on the ALSI-2 minor-change version, he was in charge of developing the wheel brakes under his superior's guidance. Before moving on to racing-car development, Shimada and two colleagues of his own age took on a long drive from Tokyo to Himeji and back in an ALSI-2 that the company lent out in turns. Stopping only for fuel and the toilet, they covered the round trip of 1,300 km in 33 hours. The car had hardly any trouble, and they confirmed its durability to withstand long continuous driving and how little fatigue it caused. But the gasoline cost about 20,000 yen, and the accounting department threw the receipt back at them. At that point Shinichiro Sakurai took their side, saying, "If it won't go through all at once, just claim it in parts."

    Nissan

  2. 1963
    Skyline 2nd generation (S5)
    Skyline 2nd generation (S5)

    1963–1968Development team member

    Worked with

    The Dachshund-Like S54

    After its crushing defeat at the 1st Japan Grand Prix, Prince began a plan to fit the Gloria's G7 six-cylinder engine into the Skyline 1500 in order to win the 2nd Grand Prix the following year. Katsutoshi Shimada's job was the suspension. To squeeze in the long six-cylinder, the body was cut just in front of the engine-room firewall and extended by 20 cm, and the wheelbase was also lengthened by 20 cm. The S54, which people said looked "just like a dachshund," was completely out of balance when driven, and the body twisted every time the steering wheel was turned. Reinforcements were put in like sticking-plasters to secure rigidity, and torque rods were added to tame the unruly rear axle, until it finally turned properly. The plan's request-for-approval documents were reportedly marked "Race" in red pencil, and with that mark, money was released with top priority. The completed S54 was named the "Skyline GT."

Connections

  • Shinichiro Sakurai

    Shinichiro Sakurai

    Superior

    At the request of Sakurai, leader of the racing car development group, Shimada moved to chassis design and joined the development of the R380 to R383 racing cars as a designer.

Profile

From Tokyo. A chassis designer at Fuji Precision Industries, later Prince Motor Company. Soon after joining, he worked on the suspension of the first-generation Skyline. At the request of Shinichiro Sakurai, leader of the racing car development group, he took part as a designer in the development of the R380, R381, R382 and R383 for about six years. He was called Sakurai's "right-hand man" and "chief clerk".

Translated from Japanese sources.

Nissan engineers

All Nissan engineers