Nissan · 1983–2000

Nissan 300ZX

The Nissan 300ZX is a sports car that was produced across two different generations. As with all other versions of the Z, the 300ZX was sold within the Japanese domestic market under the name Fairlady Z. It was sold in Japan from 1983 to 2000 and in the United States from 1984 to 1996, the 300ZX name followed the numerical convention initiated with the original Z car, the Nissan Fairlady Z (S30), which was marketed in the U.S. as the 240Z. The addition of the "X" to the car's name was a carryover from its predecessor, the 280ZX, to signify the presence of more luxury and comfort oriented features. The first generation 300ZX known as the Z31 model was produced from 1983 through 1989 and was a sales success becoming the highest volume Z-car for Nissan. To become even more competitive in the sports car market, the second generation 300ZX was driven up-market. It was redesigned to be faster and to feature more advanced technology, but came with a higher price than its predecessor, with consecutive price increases each model year of availability. As such, sales dwindled each year, a trend in the higher end sports car market at the time, and Nissan placed a hiatus on selling new Nissan Z-Cars to the US after the 1996 model year, though the car would continue to be sold in the Japan domestic market until 2001 in low production numbers. Car and Driver placed the Z32 on its Ten Best list for seven consecutive years, each model year of its availability in the United States. Motor Trend awarded it as the 1990 Import Car of the Year. The Nissan 350Z, officially the Z33 generation Z-Car, succeeded the 300ZX in 2003.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Nissan S130 · Successor: Nissan 350Z

All Nissan 300ZX data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Z31

The Z31 chassis designation was first introduced in Japan on September 16, 1983, as the Fairlady Z. Designed by Kazumasu Takagi and his team of developers, the Z31 improved aerodynamics and increased power when compared to its predecessor, the 280ZX. The newer Z-car had a drag coefficient of 0.30 and many were powered by Japan's first mass-produced V6 engine instead of the inline-sixes of the previous Z-cars. According to Nissan, the new V6 engine was intended to uphold the sporty, six-cylinder spirit of the original Fairlady Z, but in a more compact and efficient package. Mechanical. All Z31s were equipped with engines that had electronic fuel injection (EFI), and all cars were rear wheel drive. There were five engine options in total: A turbocharged dual overhead cam 2.0 L straight-six (RB20DET (NICS), used in the 200ZR), a turbocharged single overhead cam 2.0 L V6 (VG20ET, found in the Japanese domestic market 200Z/ZS/ZG), a naturally aspirated single overhead cam 3.0 L V6 (VG30E, found in 300ZX), a turbocharged single overhead cam 3.0 L V6 (VG30ET, used in 300ZX Turbo) and a naturally aspirated dual overhead cam 3.0 L V6 (VG30DE, used in 300ZR). Many of the Z31s were equipped with the new VG family of V6 engines, which was Japan's first 60-degree V6, unlike its predecessors, which used L-series I6 engines. The VG engines were found in the 200Z/ZS/ZG, 300ZX and 300ZR trims, from 2.0L to 3.0L. The VG30 engine was either a type A or type B sub-designation from 1984 to March 1987, while models from April 1987 to 1989 had a W sub-designation. The W-series engines featured redesigned water jackets for additional cooling, and fully floating piston wrist pins. Finally, these engines were equipped with self-adjusting hydraulic valve lifters. Some Z31s are equipped with the t

Z32

=== Design === The Z32 was designed by Isao Sono and Toshio Yamashita, approved in final form by Nissan management on October 1, 1986. The body was wider with a rounder profile and fewer hard edges. It had a marginally increased coefficient of drag of 0.31, compared to the Z31's 0.30. Nissan utilized the Cray-2 supercomputer to design the new Z32 with a form of CAD software making it one of the first production cars to utilize this tool. Like previous generations, Nissan offered a 4-seater (2+2) model with the Z32. All Z32s initially featured T-tops as standard. A hardtop model was available in North America, only in non-turbo models, and in Japan was available along with an extremely rare Twin Turbo model (Japan-only). All "Slicktops" were 2 seaters (2+0), unlike its predecessor. In 1992, a 2-seat convertible version (produced by ASC) was introduced for the first time, in response to aftermarket conversions. The same year, ASC also presented a 300ZX Spyder Concept - a version with a retractable hardtop on a LWB (2+2) - which they only built one example of. Mechanical. The 2,960 cc (3.0 L) VG30DE V6 engine was carried over from the previous generation 300ZX (Z31), but fitted with a DOHC head and variable valve timing (N-VCT), producing 222 bhp (225 PS; 166 kW) at 6,400 rpm and 198 lb⋅ft (268 N⋅m) at 4,800 rpm in naturally aspirated (NA) form. During instrumented testing conducted by Car and Driver in 1989, the NA car recorded a time of 6.7 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h), an elapsed time of 15.0 seconds over the quarter mile with a trap speed of 93 mph (150 km/h), and a maximum speed of 143 mph (230 km/h). The high output engine (VG30DETT) was upgraded with Garrett AiResearch parallel twin-turbochargers and dual intercoolers, producing 300 bhp (304 PS

Motorsports

The 300ZX was campaigned during 1984 and 1985 in showroom stock racing. The car scored a Trans Am win in 1986 at Lime Rock by Paul Newman for Bob Sharp Racing. This would be the only Trans Am win by a 300ZX. From 1985 to 1987, the Electramotive-developed GTP ZX-Turbo was raced in the IMSA GT Championship's GTP class and also the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship, badged as a Fairlady Z, using a Lola T810 chassis and a VG30ET engine. Following development through 1987, the car would become dominant in IMSA GT in 1988. Additional factory endorsement, combined with a new chassis, transmission and more reliable Goodyear tires contributed to the team's success. The SOHC VG30ET was making upwards of 1,000 hp (700 kW), with a power band that extended from 4,000 to 9,000 rpm on a single turbo. From 1990 to 1995, Steve Millen drove the twin turbo 300ZX for Clayton Cunningham Racing. The car dominated the IMSA in its GTO, then later GTS categories due to its newly designed chassis and engine. Millen would rank as the #1 Factory Driver for Nissan for 7 years and earn two IMSA GTS Driving Championships and two IMSA GTS Manufacturer's Championships. The biggest triumph for the Z32 racecar was the victory in the 1994 24 Hours of Daytona. In the 1994 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 300ZX ranked first in the GTS-1 class and 5th overall. In an attempt to level the playing field in the GTS-1 class by reducing the allowable horsepower, the IMSA declared the twin turbo VG engine ineligible for the 1995 season. The 1995 GTS 300ZX car would debut with the V8 Nissan VH engine at Daytona and would place first in the GTS-1 class at the 12 Hours of Sebring and Moosehead Grand Prix in Halifax. The JUN-BLITZ Bonneville Z32 holds the E/BGMS class land speed record of 260.809 mph (419.73 km/h) set a

Awards and recognition

After the final year of U.S. sales (1996), the Z32 continued to win awards: 2004: Automobile lists the Z32 as one of the 100 coolest cars of all time 2006: Automobile lists the Z32 on both the "20 Greatest Cars of the Past 20 years" and the "25 Most Beautiful Cars in History" 2010: GQ Magazine lists the Z32 as one of the most stylish cars over the past 50 years From the year it was introduced, the Z32 has also won many comparison tests against similar sports cars, including the Mitsubishi 3000GT/Dodge Stealth, Mazda RX-7, Chevrolet Corvette, Toyota Supra, Dodge Viper, Porsche 944 S2, and Porsche 968.

Safety

In Australia, the 1990 to 1995 Nissan 300ZX was assessed in the Used Car Safety Ratings brochure as providing "average" protection for its occupants in the event of a crash. In the US, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 1991-1993 300ZX 3 out of 5 stars in front driver collision crash test ratings.

Trivia

Between 1999 and 2001, the Nissan 300ZX (Z32)'s headlights were also used under license on the Lamborghini Diablo, replacing its original pop-up lights.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Nissan 300ZX
Class: Grand Tourer / Sports car
Manufacturer: Nissan
Production: 1983–2000
Assembly: Japan: Hiratsuka, Kanagawa (Nissan Shatai), South Africa: Rosslyn (1992–1994, Nissan South Africa)
aka: Nissan Fairlady Z
Layout: Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Predecessor: Nissan Fairlady Z (S130)
Successor: Nissan 350Z

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13218302CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_300ZXCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1372235246 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1990_Nissan_300ZX_(Z32)_coupe_01.jpgPublic domain · Photo: OSX · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.