Nissan 300ZX

Nissan 300ZX
Production period:	1983-2000
Class :	Sports car
Body versions :	Kombicoupé , convertible
Previous model:	Datsun 280ZX
Successor:	Nissan 350Z

The Nissan 300ZX is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive sports car from the Nissan brand , which was built from late 1983 to mid-2000 as the successor to the successful 280ZX . It was available in Europe until late summer 1995, while in the US it was sold until late 1996.

300ZX (Z31, 1983-1989)

1st generation
Datsun 300ZX (1983–1985)
Production period:	1983-1989
Body versions :	Combi coupe
Engines:	Petrol engines : 2.0-3.0 liters (119-160 kW)
Length:	4412-4605 mm
Width:	1725 mm
Height:	1310 mm
Wheelbase :	2320-2520 mm
Empty weight :	1210-1433 kg

The third generation Z came on the market in early 1984 and was initially called the Datsun 300ZX . From the end of 1985, the plant then used the Nissan brand name for all vehicles worldwide.

The more streamlined body compared to its predecessor was a design by Kazumasi Takagi and his team.

Instead of the previous six-cylinder in-line engine, V6 engines were used for the first time in the 300ZX. The new three-liter with an overhead camshaft was available in Europe as a naturally aspirated version (type VG30E) with 125 kW (170 hp) or as a turbocharged version (type VG30ET) with 168 kW (228 hp). From July 1987, the turbo's output was reduced to 149 kW (203 hp) through the use of a regulated 3-way catalytic converter. The engine output of the naturally aspirated version for the USA is given as 200 SAE PS.

In Japan, where the car was called Nissan Fairlady, there were also the Z, ZG, ZR and ZR II spec models with two-liter, six-cylinder engines. Initially, a V6 turbo with 126 kW (172 hp) was used, later a six-cylinder in-line turbo engine with 160 kW (218 hp). With this, Nissan also offered powerful sports cars in the tax-privileged class under two liters.

The chassis was similar to that of the 280ZX and had a front strut axle and rear trailing arms. All turbo models were equipped with electronically controlled shock absorbers with three-way adjustment.

A 2 + 2-seater variant with a longer wheelbase and the shorter pure two-seater (the latter not in Germany) were offered.

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  Nissan 300ZX 50th Anniversary Edition (1984)

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  Rear view

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  300 ZX Turbo front view

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  300 ZX Turbo rear view

Facelift

In the fall of 1985 the 300ZX received a facelift . The rubber rear spoiler gave way to a specimen made of glass fiber reinforced plastic with an integrated third brake light.

In July 1987, the body was subjected to another facelift, in which the scoop on the bonnet was omitted and side sill aprons were added. The bumpers were aerodynamically more favorable, fog lights were integrated into the front spoiler and the reflective tape with 300ZX lettering at the rear made way for wider taillights that ran across the entire width of the car. The third brake light went to the top of the tailgate.

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  Nissan 300ZX (1987-1989)

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  Rear view

In terms of numbers, the 300ZX was the most successful representative of the Z series to date, as over 70,000 units were sold in 1985 alone.

In late autumn 1989 the Z31 was replaced by the 300ZX from the Z32 series.

300ZX (Z32, 1989-2000)

2nd generation
Nissan 300ZX Coupé (1989-2000)
Production period:	1989-2000
Body versions :	Kombicoupé , convertible
Engines:	Petrol engines : 3.0 liters (165–208 kW)
Length:	4305-4521 mm
Width:	1791 mm
Height:	1229 mm
Wheelbase :	2450-2570 mm
Empty weight :	1450-1680 kg

At the end of 1989 the 300ZX (code: Z32) came onto the domestic market. At first there was only the 300ZX Twin Turbo , via a twin-turbo V6 engine with three liters and an output of 208 kW (283 hp disposal (with automatic: 268 PS)), made it possible to electronically limited 250 km / h. The naturally aspirated version of the same engine had 165 kW (225 hp), but was not offered in Europe. The 300ZX was sold in Germany from May 1990 to September 1995.

The vehicle was offered in three versions: as a purely two-seater coupé , as a 2 + 2-seater coupé and, from spring 1993, also as a two-seater convertible . The latter was only available with the naturally aspirated engine. The two coupé versions are equipped with a two-part T-bar glass roof that can also be removed if necessary. The convertible was sold in large numbers mainly in the USA . Its production was stopped at the end of 1996.

The equipment was extensive for the standard of the time in all models. In addition to standard electric window lifters, a fully-fledged sound system, which from 1994 could also be factory-coupled with a CD radio, and the T-bar roof (on the Coupé), there was also Nissan's self-developed HICAS all-wheel steering .

Production of the 300ZX ended in summer 2000, initially without a successor. A successor, the 350Z, was only launched on the market in mid-2002 .

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  Rear view

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  Nissan 300ZX Cabriolet (1993-1996)

Technical specifications

Technical data Nissan 300ZX (Z32, 1995)
Nissan 300ZX	3.0	3.0 twin turbo
Engine:	6-cylinder V-engine (four-stroke) fork angle 60 °
Engine type:	VG30DE	VG30DETT
Displacement:	2960 cc
Bore × stroke:	87 × 83 mm
Performance at 1 / min:	169 kW (230 JIS -PS) at 6400	208 kW (283 hp) at 6400
Max. Torque at 1 / min:	273 Nm at 4800	388 Nm at 3600
Compression:	10.5: 1	8.5: 1
Mixture preparation:	Electronic injection	Electric injection, 2 Garrett T-25 turbochargers, intercooler
Valve control:	2 × DOHC , toothed belt, 4 valves per cylinder
Cooling:	Water cooling
Transmission:	Five- speed manual four- speed automatic
Front suspension:	Wishbone with tension strut below, oblique wishbone with joint above, coil springs
Rear suspension:	Lower wishbone with axial strut, lower wishbone with diagonal strut, coil springs
Brakes:	Internally ventilated disc brakes all around (diameter front / rear 28.0 / 29.7 cm), brake booster, ABS
Steering:	Rack and pinion steering, servo-assisted, biturbo with hydraulic four-wheel steering Super Hicas
Body:	Sheet steel, self-supporting
Track width front / rear:	1495/1535 mm
Wheelbase:	Two-seater / convertible: 2450 mm 2 + 2: 2570 mm
Dimensions:	Two-seater / convertible: 4310 × 1790 × 1250 mm 2 + 2: 4525 × 1800 × 1250 mm
Empty weight:	1460 kg 2 + 2: 1500 kg Cabrio: 1520 kg	1510 kg 2 + 2: from 1510 kg, Europe 1600–1660 kg
Top speed:	235 km / h	250 km / h
0-100 km / h:	7.0 s	6.0 s
Consumption (liters / 100 kilometers):	approx. 9–15 S (estimate)	14.5–14.9 S ECE standard, city traffic
Price (1995):	DM - SFr - (convertible)	DM 100,245 SFr 89,580 US- $ 41,409

swell

• Automobil Revue , catalog number 1995, p. 425 (dates and prices)
• Mike Covello: Standard Catalog of Imported Cars 1946-2002 . Krause Publications, Iola (USA) 2002, ISBN 0-87341-605-8 , p. 226 (prices)

Web links

Commons : Nissan 300ZX  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• 300ZX Owners Club Switzerland
• Fairlady Z specifications

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Super user: www.300zx.ch - 300ZX. Accessed April 12, 2018 (German).