For a company that has produced so many sports cars of note and once led the electrification charge, Nissan seems to have lost its way a little of late. The Leaf is no longer the groundbreaker it once was, the Ariya doesn’t really bring much new to the EV SUV class, and even in the markets it’s been made available the new Z hasn’t blown anybody away. The GT-R somehow soldiers on with endless very minor updates; what a shot in the arm confirmation of a proper replacement for that could be. Or anything exciting, really. We’d almost take a new NISMO Juke at this rate.
So while the world and its many Nissan fans await better-sounding news, it’s all too easy to reminisce about the old icons. Typically that’ll be something Skyline-shaped, a beautifully restored 240Z or a beautifully preserved 350Z from the early 2000s, but here’s 15 minutes of fame for the forgotten Nissan Z car: the 300ZX.
Because it’s a contemporary of the R32 Skyline GT-R, it’s easy to think that the ZX wasn’t very good because it didn’t turn touring car racing on its head or make an entire generation love Japanese cars. On the contrary, reports from the early '90s praised the 300 for being a proper return to form for the Nissan Z-car; the Z31 era from 1986 to 1990 hinted at some potential after the lacklustre 280ZX, but this Z32 generation is where things started to get really good. The combination of power (from a twin-turbo V6), luxury, technology (including Super HICAS four-wheel steer) and style finally hit the spot.
Officially the 300ZX was the first car to be sold under the 280hp gentleman’s agreement from the Japanese manufacturers, though in reality this was always a 300hp car. “Drive Japan’s latest wondercar and you’re immediately hooked, seduced by its scorching performance and brilliant handling”, reckoned Car magazine. This was the time that the Japanese makers set about redefining what we could expect, from Honda NSX to Lexus LS400, and Nissan was more than keen to join the party. “The 300ZX really is like a Porsche 944 Turbo and 928S4 rolled into one. Porsche now has a serious rival that it cannot begin to match on price”, concluded the Car test drive.
In the UK, however, not many ZXs sold. £35,000 was a lot of money back then, and the economic downturn of the early '90s put sports cars - especially those with badges that had only been in the UK for a decade - a long way down the list of priorities. A shame given how favourably the Zed has been received. UK sales ran for just four years from 1990-1994.
This Z32 is one of those UK-supplied cars, a wonderfully preserved example that’s been with its current owner for a decade and has covered a mere 42,000 miles. Its care has extended far beyond the usual servicing and maintenance, too, with a whole host of preventative work and purchases undertaken to keep the 300 going strong for a good while yet. That included fresh dampers from Nissan before they were taken off sale, a reconditioning of the engine at 40,000 miles plus a fresh application of underseal last year. It’s seemingly wanted for nothing, and the condition reflects that. The interior is the most perfect '90s time machine you could ever possibly imagine.
Everywhere you look there’s more to marvel at with this old Nissan, from the unused original spacesaver to the factory-fit stereo. It’s heartening to see so much love and attention lavished on a sports car that’s never had the largest following over here. Perhaps now, with all the other Nissans having reached unprecedented heights of popularity, the ZX can be appreciated more fondly. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen, but given where values currently sit for the aforementioned Porsches and better-known Nissans, £30k for a 300 this good doesn’t look crazy money at all.
SPECIFICATION | NISSAN 300ZX
Engine: 2,960cc, V6, twin-turbo
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 300@6,400rpm
Torque (lb ft): 274@3,600rpm
MPG: c. 25
CO2: N/A
Recorded mileage: 42,423
First registered: 1992
Price new: c. £35k
Yours for: £29,995
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