Page 169 - Wayne Carini's Guide to Affordable Classics
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THE BACKSTORY
A clean slate design was needed or as near to one as the company’s accountants would allow. Nissan’s design team tossed as much as they could into the dumpster, retaining only the general shape and design of the 280ZX. Importantly, they also finally discarded the 2.8-liter inline six-cylinder engine that had evolved into obsolescence in favor of a compact new 3.0-liter V6 powerplant. They also improved the aerodynamics of the basic ZX bodyshell. The resulting 300ZX became the best-selling Z-car in the history of the nameplate, which kept Nissan going in the two-seat (and 2 + 2) market while the truly remarkable second generation 300ZX was developed from the clean slate that had been denied the engineers earlier.
The VG engine family, introduced in 1983, was Nissan’s and Japan’s first mass-produced V6 engine. It was offered in both normally aspirated and turbocharged variants.
1984-1988 Z31 300ZX
Nissan unveiled the 300ZX in Japan for the 1983 model year, and first brought the car to America for 1984. The single overhead cam (SOHC) 3.0-liter V6 engine was good for 160 horsepower, adding 15 horsepower to the outgoing 280ZX model, and 174 lb ft of torque. The base 300ZX engine was paired with a standard five- speed manual transmission, or an optional four-speed overdrive automatic. The manual combination was good for a 0-60 time of 9.1 seconds on its way to a seldom-realized top speed of 138 mph.
Alongside the base 300ZX, Nissan also offered a turbocharged model using the same engine, but set for lower compression with a single Garrett turbo. This engine offered 200 horsepower and 227 lb ft of torque, paired with the same transmission options as the base models. The 300ZX Turbo was capable of a 0-60 time of 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 149 mph according to contemporary tests.
The first-year models were all T-top coupes. The base 300ZX was available in a short wheelbase, two-seat configuration or a longer wheelbase 2 + 2 style with small rear seats. Turbo models were available only in the two-seat, short wheelbase configuration. 1984 pricing was $15,799 for the base 300ZX, $16,999 for the 2 + 2, or $18,199 for the turbo.
TOP: “Fairlady Z” was the name for domestic market Z-cars; turbos are identifiable with their small hood scoop.
MIDDLE: The Z31 was offered in coupe and 2 + 2 body styles. ABOVE: The Z31 300ZX Turbo delivered 200 horsepower and a 0-60 time of 7.3 seconds.
The 300ZX was an instant hit with American buyers. The company sold 73,652 units in 1984, 67,409 in 1985, and 52,936 in 1986. Consequently, changes in those model years were mostly minor except for the addition of a low-cost, solid roof base model in 1986, which was 68 pounds lighter than the T-top models and cost $1,200 less.
Minor changes continued through 1987-88, but the big deal for the final year of production was a modest engine output boost of five horsepower for both the base and turbo models. US sales had
Nissan 300ZX
Wayne Carini Affordable Classics 167