Uchikura & Co., LLC

Forgotten Car Company of Japan

 

When people think about Japanese automobile manufacturers, names like Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and Mazda usually come to mind. Few people today remember Prince Motor Company, one of the most influential and innovative car companies in Japan's automotive history.

 

Prince Motor Company traces its roots to engineers and technicians who had worked in Japan's aircraft industry before and during World War II. After the war, they turned their attention to automobiles and quickly earned a reputation for advanced engineering and quality. The company was named in honor of Crown Prince Akihito, who would later become Emperor of Japan.

 

Prince produced several remarkable vehicles, including the Skyline and Gloria. These were not economy cars. They were designed to compete with the best automobiles available in Japan at the time and were known for their performance, comfort, and engineering excellence.

 

One of Prince's greatest achievements came in motorsports. The Skyline GT gained national attention during the 1964 Japanese Grand Prix, helping establish the Skyline name as a serious performance car.

 

In 1966, Prince merged with Nissan. The Prince name gradually disappeared, but its legacy lived on. The Skyline became one of Nissan's most famous models, eventually leading to the legendary GT-R. Many of Prince's engineers also played important roles in Nissan's future success.

 

Although the company itself is gone, the influence of Prince Motor Company can still be seen on roads around the world today.

 

The image is 1964 Skyline GT ... Roots of Legendary GT-R