Z Car Garage is sad to hear the passing of Johnnie (Ueda) Gable. A prominent figure in Nissan/Datsun heritage, Johnnie touched the hearts of many with her enthusiasm and dedication to preserving our favorite sports car.
Rob Fuller remembers Johnnie:
“Since coming to CA in the 90’s I had seen and spoken to Johnnie many times. She always had amazing stories including ones celebrating the magical times she had with Mr. K. I would say in the Datsun Legend category, she was definitely The First Lady. She was so full of energy you would never know she’d been around for so many years, like the cars we celebrate she was timeless. I really enjoyed spending time with her. As life goes on we are going to lose the people that inspired us and shared our passions. Thank you Johnnie Gable for your passion, inspiration and for being Mr. K’s right-hand lady. I hope you two are somewhere Enjoying The Ride.”
Johnnie’s energy was contagious, and we were lucky to enjoy her conversations. Here she is being interviewed at the Japanese Classic Car show in 2019:
Johnnie’s career with Nissan began in the 60’s at their headquarters in Gardena, CA. There she was offered a position as secretary to Yutaka Katayama, affectionately known as “Mr. K” and father of the Z car. Among her many achievements Johnnie helped bring the Datsun label to the US and launch the Datsun Heritage Museum. We will always admire her support for Nissan/Datsun events like ZCCA (ZCON) convention and local events. At the 2012 ZCON event, Johnnie was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award:
Photo: Joseph Keawkalaya
We remember the 2002 Z’s By The Bay Show held in Fremont, CA. Mr. K was to be in attendance and before the show started, Johnnie and a group of enthusiasts all enjoyed driving from San Diego up to Northern California along the coast. Johnnie piloted a 350z, shown with Mr. Yuykawa. (Right) Johnnie can be seen (as always) besides Mr. K’s at the show:
Our hearts go out to her son Kenny, his family and all Nissan/Datsun enthusiasts lucky to have been blessed by Johnnie’s presence. Mr. K said it best, “Love cars. Love people. Love life.”
Life is a Journey. Johnnie we will miss you.
