The Nissan 300ZX is a sports car produced by Nissan/Datsun and sold in its home market as the Nissan Fairlady Z.
Z31
The Z31 version was first introduced in 1984 as the third-generation Nissan Z-car. It offered V6 engines for the first time: a naturally-aspirated VG30E and turbocharged VG30ET, which produced 170 and 230 horsepower (127 and 172 kW), respectively.
The chassis remained similar to the 280ZX, with the same 91.3 in (2319 mm) wheelbase and MacPherson strut/trailing arm independent suspension.
In 1984 Nissan produced the 300ZX Anniversary Edition in celebration of the company's 50th anniversary. The car was restyled somewhat in 1987, and a special edition 300ZX, dubbed the Shiro, was introduced in 1988. The Z31 was in production until 1989 and was replaced by the Z32 in 1990.
Z32
The Z32 was a complete redesign. It featured a naturally aspirated engine rated at 222 hp, and a top-of-the-line Twin-Turbo version rated at 300 hp (224 kW) at 9.5 lbf/in² (66 kPa) of boost through two intercoolers. A naturally aspirated convertible model was also introduced in 1993. Twin Turbo models were not offered as a 2+2 or convertible in the United States.
The North American twin-turbo Z32s can be spotted with a different front bumper featuring three vents for supplying air to the dual intercoolers. They also came with the requisite "Twin Turbo" badging in the rear and a subtle tail spoiler, which was enlarged and redesigned in 1994. It also featured larger 245/45-16 and 16x8.5 wheels in the back as opposed to the 225/50-16 tires in front and on the NA version.
One major difference between the VG30E/VG30ET (featured in the Z31) and the VG30DE/VG30DETT (featured in the Z32) was the variable valve timing system (which was detuned in 1996 to meet smog regulation).
The platform was new, with a longer 97-in wheelbase and sophisticated multi-link suspension front and rear. Twin Turbo models featured electronically adjustable shock absorbers, and Nissan's all-wheel-steering system SUPER HICAS (Super High Capacity Actively Controlled Suspension), which could turn the rear wheels a full two degrees at speed.
In 1991, as well as in 1995 for the Z's 25th anniversary, Steve Millen , a famous Australian race-car driver mentioned below, built a limited-edition run of 300 tuned 300ZXs, known as the SMZ, through his company Stillen . These cars featured such features as flamboyant bodywork and paint and extensive performance upgrades, resulting in 460 bhp (343 kW) 1991 edition and 365 bhp (272 kW) 1995 edition.
The Z32 was discontinued in 1996 in North America due to dwindling sales figures, heightened smog regulations, and rising production costs. The price of a Twin Turbo 300ZX rose to US $45,000 that year, too high for many consumers and far from the US $27,000 price it had started with. Production of the Z32 continued in Japan until 1999 through a major redesign in 1998, in naturally aspirated 2-seater, 2+2 seater, and "R" versions, which were 2+2 twin turbo models (as shown in picture).
Awards
The Z32 300ZX Turbo was on Car and Driver magazine's annual Ten Best list every year it was available, from 1990 through 1996. The Z32 Turbo was also Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year for 1990. It was critically acclaimed by many magazines as being a complete turnaround from the Z31, which many critics felt was a sloppy-handling GT, far from the agile, sporty 240Z of years past. From the year it was introduced, it won many comparison tests against similar Japanese sports cars such as the Mitsubishi 3000GT/Dodge Stealth and the Mazda RX-7, as well as the Chevrolet Corvette and the Porsche 968.
Racing
From 1990 to 1995, the 300ZX was championed by Steve Millen in the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and its GT and GTS classes. He was ranked as the #1 Factory Driver for Nissan for 7 years, as well as two IMSA GTS Driving Championships and two IMSA GTS Manufactures Championships.
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