![[Datsun 1200 encyclopedia]](/wiki/upload/wiki.png)
Distribution and Auto Service (DAS) in the United States was the company that prepped all new Datsuns when they came off the ships. Originally it was a separate company, but later was purchased by Nissan USA. If you're in the USA, chances are DAS prepped your Datsun 1200 before it went to the dealer. Their main office was at the Port of Los Angelesᴳ.
Contents |
[edit]
Overview
dasauto.comᴬᴿᶜᴴᴵⱽᴱ
On July 25, 1969, Distribution & Auto Service was incorporated and soon thereafter began automobile processing on 8 acres of leased land adjacent to Berth 146 at the Port of Los Angeles.
OPERATION CUTS DELIVERY TIME
New Auto Processing Datsun Facility Opens
A modern new car processing facility, which cuts dock-to-dealer delivery time by one half, is now in operation at its new 22-acre site within the Port of Los Angeles.
The facility, named Distribution and Auto Service (DAS), serves the requirements of the Nissan Motor Corp. in U.S.A. (Datsun) exclusively, and is geared to prepare approximately 400 vehicles per day for shipment to Datsun dealers in the Los Angeles region which covers a five-state area.
Used for Storage
As the largest single operation of its kind on the West Coast, DAS is responsible for receiving, processing and shipping Datsuns to the more than 310 dealers that comprise the Los Angeles region.
More than 7000 cars can be stored in the 839,000 square foot warehouse, also located at the site, and used for storage of special vehicles such as roadsters and Datsun 240-Zs.
The DAS facility, which is the first complete "auto ready" operation in the port of Los Angeles, also includes an administration building and extensive body shop for preparing cars for delivery to dealers directly from the port.
Cuts Time
"DAS allows us to greatly expedite our preparation time," commented Yutaka Katayamaᴳ, president of Nissan Motor Corp. in U.S.A. (Datsun).
"Use of the new facility also cuts down the number of times a car has to be handled and, therefore, decreases the chance of it being damaged in transport.
"A small percentage of all the Datsuns arriving in this country sustain some sort of minor damage during the ocean voyage, and again here DAS plays a part.
"Although 90% of the damage done to our cars is under $10, DAS eliminates having to send them out to be repaired," noted Katayama.
"They have a very complete and extremely extensive body and paint shop which takes care of everything just 100 yards from the water's edge."
To insure that there is always space for incoming car carrying vessels, DAS has two preferential berths, granted by the port of Los Angeles, which are always available for offloading.
The Distribution and Auto Service Co. Inc. (DAS) is a jointly owned venture with the Mabuchi Kensetsu Co ., Ltd .ᴳ, a well known construction company having & transportation subsidiary, the principal stockholder.
Share Ownership
Sharing the ownership of DAS with Mabuchi Kensetsu are the Nissan Motor Corp. in U.S.A. and the Marubeni-Iida (America) Inc.ᴳ, a subsidiary of one of Japan's largest trading houses, Marubeni-Iida Co. Ltd.
Meet Demands
"We're very pleased with the expediency of the DAS facility," said Katayama, after touring the site during grand opening Wednesday.
"It's an efficient, convenient and time saving operation which has, and will in the future, meet the rapidly growing demand for Datsun vehicles in this area,"
[images: Maru ship, Datsun 240Zs, Datsun 510s, Datsun 521s]
DOCKSIDE to dealer time is reduced through use of unique facility at Port of Los Angeles. Operation begins (upper left) as any one of fleet of six Datsun super carriers unloads at one of two berths reserved at L.A. harbor. Next step in process (upper right) is thorough inspection to determine if there is even slightest damage. If so much as scratch is found, cars are taken to body shop for repair (lower left) and further inspection before they are put back into marshalling arca. Last step before cars are loaded for shipment to Datsun dealers in region is complete de-waxing and washing (lower right) so cars arrive sparkling at dealer.
[edit]
Chicken Tax
Also see: Chicken Taxᴳ
Partially assembled 620s at the port
Pasadena Star News February 15, 1973 page B-5
In order to maintain the competitive position of the nation's number one selling small pickup, the Nissan Motor Corporation in U.S.A. has decided to partially assemble in the United States up to 50 per cent of the Datsun pickup trucks import. Assembly operations, just getting underway, will take place in the Port of Los Angeles at the Distribution and Auto Service facility which currently handles importation, warehousing and distribution of Datsun vehicles in this area.
The assembly operation, which consists of the final assembly of the pickup bed to the cab and chassis, has necessitated the building of a production line that will have a capacity of up to 150 vehicles per day. Most of the 68,000 sq. ft. building at the D.A.S. facility is utilized by the production line and storage of the pickup truck beds that have been shipped by container from Japan. The assembly operation production line has been designed with such sophistication that in order to produce the current 80 vehicles per day assembly schedule, only 10 employees are necessary. All the production personell are locally hired people.
The assembly operation consists of first removing a subframe that is on the chassis and carries the tail lights, fuel tank and other components. These components are then mounted on a truck bed which is then placed on the chassis and secured further down the production line. Once the vehicle is completed it is inspected at the end of the production line.
While currently the only assembly operation in existence for Datsun is in the Port of Los Angeles, a second facility is under study for the Pacific Northwest. Seattle is the area that has been decided upon. At this time there are no other assembly facility plans being considered.
[edit]
Seattle
May 2, 1971 the Port of Seattle announced that Seattle would be the port of entry for Nissans destined for the Midwest and Eastern USA. This would save 22 days over the previous method of taking them through the Panama Canal.
Distribution & Auto Services 2001 W Garfield St Seattle, WA 98119
[edit]
Sunroof
DAS Sunroof ad circa 1972
[edit]
Future
DAS was still in business as of 2004, having grown from one site in Long Beach, CA to eight sites nationwide. The Seattle location closed in 2002.
http://dasauto.comᴬᴿᶜᴴᴵⱽᴱ
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Lines Americas acquired DASᴳ on April 30, 2005, from Nissan North America, Inc. Annacis Auto Terminalᴳ in Delta, BC Canada was also included in the acquisition.
¤