In 1969, I became the Datsun dealer on Van Ness Avenue, in a dingy little showroom.  Japanese cars were still finding their way in America.

The following year, the Datsun 240Z was introduced.  It redefined value, quality, style and reliability in the sports car field.  The MGs and Triumphs suddenly looked very old.  The 280 SL Mercedes looked slow and costly.

Buyers figured it out rapidly, and we soon had a long waiting list.  Those first 240Zs only cost $3500. 

One of my early customers was Otto Eckstein, who got one of those 1970 cars, in bright orange.  Otto, who lives in Marin County now, still has it.  The odometer has turned over many times in the 35 years he’s used the car as his everyday transport.  Otto figures he’s driven it about one million miles.  He’s changed the engine twice, but the car looks much as it did when new.  He’s driven it carefully, and made sure it never got damaged.  Today, it’s worth much more than it cost new, but it’s not for sale.

These thoughts crossed my mind while driving a new M35 the other day.  Infiniti is Nissan’s luxury car division, and the M45 is their latest weapon in the segment that includes the Mercedes-Benz E-class, Audi A6 and BMW 5-series.

In a recent comparison test of these three Germans, plus a Jaguar, a Cadillac, and the Japanese-built Infiniti, Acura and Lexus, the results were interesting to some, uncomfortable to others.

Car & Driver’s first choice was this Infiniti M45, followed by Acura and Lexus.  Then the three Germans, and finally the Cadillac and Jaguar at the bottom.  When we sold those 240Z coupes in the 1970s, they were the top of an economy car lineup.  We never dreamed about new luxury Japanese makes taking on the established luxury brands — let alone outranking them.

I drove the Infiniti M45 on a car tour in the King City, Paso Robles, Coalinga area, on some fast, remote roads.  It’s hard to imagine a more capable, comfortable car.  By any measure you can think of, this car excels.  The fit, finish and furnishings are simply spectacular.  The interior uses beautiful leather and wood in a contemporary fashion, suggesting a Danish/Japanese fine furniture theme.  The style owes nothing to traditional luxury cars.  Externally, the clean shape, precise detail and smooth finish leave a top-quality impression.

But when you drive this car, you’ll know what fine performance machinery is all about.  The track record of Nissan-built cars gives one assurance that this will be a trouble-free car (all the reliability surveys rank Japanese cars far ahead of their American and European competitors).

Back in the ’60s and ’70s, when leather and wood interiors were the hallmark of quality, the inexpensive Toyotas and Datsuns redefined the word.  They realized that quality meant freedom from defects.  They proceeded to teach the world how to build really good cars.  Now they’ve added the leather and wood component, in their own original and stylish way.  As a result, they’re moving toward dominance in the luxury car field, just as they did originally with economy and sports cars.

The Honda Accord coupe is another great example of the Japanese carmaker’s art.  This V-6, six-speed, at under $30,000, is typical Honda.  That means top quality, reliability and performance, with a style that’s almost severely plain and free of extraneous adornment.  It would be easy to overlook in a parking lot.

But from the inside out it’s a very satisfying and well-thought-out car, sure to delight its owners.