Nissan 300ZX | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Nissan |
Also called | Nissan Fairlady Z |
Production | 1983–1989 (Z31) 1990–2000 (Z32) |
Assembly | Nissan Shatai, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, Japan |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Sports car/ Grand Tourer |
Layout | FR layout |
Powertrain | |
Transmission | 5-speed manual 4-speed automatic |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Nissan 280ZX |
Successor | Nissan 350Z |
Z31 | |
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Overview | |
Also called | Nissan Z31 |
Production |
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Designer | Kazumasu Takagi (1982) |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | |
Powertrain | |
Engine | |
Transmission | |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase |
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Length |
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Width | 1,725 mm (67.9 in) |
Height | 1,260 mm (49.6 in) |
Curb weight | 2,888–3,027 lb (1,310–1,373 kg) |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Nissan 280ZX |
Z32 | |
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Overview | |
Also called | Nissan 300ZX/Fairlady Z32 |
Production |
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Designer | Isao Sono & Toshio Yamashita (1987) |
Body and chassis | |
Body style |
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Powertrain | |
Engine | Twin Turbo |
Transmission | |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,450 mm (96.5 in) 2 seater 2,570 mm (101.2 in) 2+2 |
Length | 4,305 mm (169.5 in) 2 seater 4,520 mm (178.0 in) 2+2 |
Width | 1,790 mm (70.5 in) 2 seater 1,800 mm (70.9 in) 2+2 |
Height |
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Curb weight | |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Nissan 300ZX (Z31) |
The Nissan 300ZX is a sports car in the Nissan Z-car family that was produced across two similar but unique generations. As with all other versions of the Z, the 300ZX was sold within the Japanese domestic market under the name Fairlady Z.
Sold in Japan from 1983 to 2000 and in the United States from 1984 through 1996, the 300ZX name followed the numerical convention initiated with the original Z car, the Nissan 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, and signified the presence, either standard or optional, of luxury and comfort oriented features not present on previous models.
Despite the presence of that additional equipment, the first generation "Z31" variant of the 300ZX (1983-1989) continued in the tradition of the original S30 as a mid-priced model. The second generation "Z32" was driven up-market, being faster, more capable, more advanced, and much higher priced than its predecessor, with consecutive price increases each model year of availability. As such, the Z31 was the more accessible, and ultimately the more popular model, selling over 100,000 more units in total than the Z32.
Car and Driver placed the Z32 on its Ten Best list for 7 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.
The Z31 chassis designation was first introduced in 1983 as a 1984 Nissan/Datsun 300ZX (the hatch lid had both a Datsun and a Nissan badge) in the U.S. market. The 300ZX, as its predecessors, was known as a Nissan in other parts of the world. This continued in the U.S. until 1985 model year when Nissan standardized their brand name worldwide and dropped the Datsun badge. All publications for the Z31 chassis 300ZX and its predecessors were copyright Nissan North America. Designed by Kazumasu Takagi and his team of developers, the 300ZX improved aerodynamics and increased power when compared to its predecessor, the 280ZX. The newer Z-car had a drag coefficient of 0.30 and was powered by Japan's first mass-produced V6 engine instead of an inline 6. According to Nissan, the V6 engine was supposed to re-create the spirit of the original Fairlady Z.