page_title: Laurence Hartnett
section_title: Promotion of Nissan
hierarchical_section_title: Laurence Hartnett / Promotion of Nissan
caption_attribution_description: First generation Datsun Bluebird 1200 ( 310 series Type P311 )
context_page_description: Sir Laurence John Hartnett CBE was an engineer who made several important contributions to the Australian automotive industry, and is often called 'The Father of the Holden'.
context_section_description: Hartnett's luck changed in 1960, when he saw a new Japanese car – the Datsun Bluebird – on display at the Melbourne Motor Show. Hartnett commenced importing the Datsun to Australia, pioneering the importation of Japanese cars to Australia. This became a successful venture, and Hartnett was responsible for popularising the Nissan/Datsun brand in Australia.
  In 1966, Hartnett sought to establish local production of Nissan cars, but this was not successful. Nissan went on to assemble cars from CKD kits at the Pressed Metal Corporation plant in Sydney, followed in 1976 by assembly at the Melbourne factory where Volkswagen cars were once produced. Eventually, Nissan did commence full production of cars in Australia. This arrangement continued until 1992, when the Melbourne plant was closed in favour of importing cars direct from Japan.
caption: Datsun Bluebird
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