Nissan threw a big party in Tokyo today to mark the 50th birthday of the Skyline, one of the true legends of Japanese automotive industry.
Evolving through 12 generations over those five decades, the Skyline’s long set the benchmark for Japanese domestic sports sedans and coupes, but more recently is better known, of course, as the car that began the even more legendary Skyline GT-R.
The party in Tokyo Midtown, Tokyo’s toniest new development, was staged exactly 50 years to the day - April 24, 2007 - from the launch of the very first US-styled 1.5-liter Prince Skyline sedan, and saw a rare public appearance on stage of its 78-year old development chief, Shinichiro
Sakurai, who’s a racing and sports car legend in Japan all by himself.
The anniversary bash also brought out the first public showing of the sexy new V36 Skyline coupe (Japan’s version of the 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe).
Actor Ken Watanabe, star of Letters from Iwo Jima and The Last Samurai (who drives a Skyline and has been doing some promo work for Nissan for the new V36) was on hand for the festivities too.
Baseball star Ichiro Suzuki sent over a videotaped message.
And it doesn’t end there. Nissan’s setting up a whole range of marketing tie-ins for the new V36 Skyline, which is selling up a storm right now in Japan. We even have a new Skyline song (”I Will Be”) written by musician Joe Hisaishi, which features in the new Skyline TV commercial.
Also, a fashion show, the "Skyline GT Collection", in which 12 of Japan’s young fashion models dressed up in gear inspired by each Skyline generation.
So, to give you an idea, this was the cue for flower power and The Doors (for the second generation 1963-68 Skyline) and black miniskirts and Madonna (for the eighth generation 1989-1993 Skyline). Ah, if only all car launches were as fun as this one…
