What's the relationship between Nissan and Datsun?

[JakeMorris]

I've heard jokes that the new(ish) Skyline GT-R and 370Z are Datsuns or something like that. What's the connection?

 

[Unregistered]

Datsun was the original name until about the 1970's when it was changed to Nissan. During 1970 Datsun made the 240 Z. so if you think about it because the very first Z was a Datsun people call or joke about all Z's being Datsun's. its really nothing that funny. Its the same with the Skyline. It was first made by Datsun before the name was changed to Nissan