Toyota Crown 1st generation (RS)

Nakamura, then deputy general manager of the body plant, was asked by Eiji Toyoda, the director in charge of engineering, to lead development of a full-fledged passenger car the company was about to develop. He asked whether the major shareholders had agreed, was told of course they had, and accepted. It was an unusual appointment of a production man as development lead. He saw it through from market research and design to preparations for the start of production, and led the first Crown to success.

The first Crown's rear-hinged coach doors came from Nakamura's view that a bride in a traditional bunkin takashimada hairstyle had to be able to get in. Early in development the doors did not close well, and subordinates including Tatsuo Hasegawa opposed them on safety grounds, but Nakamura pushed through their adoption.