I Once Owned a Z31 300ZX

Kinja'd!!! "Nauraushaun" (nauraushaun12)
10/31/2016 at 20:12 • Filed to: Z31

Kinja'd!!!6 Kinja'd!!! 12

In 2012 I bought a Z31. This is my story.

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After I !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , I needed something to get me around. In true Oppo spirit I wouldn’t have just any old econobox, and started looking at Z32s again. I couldn’t find a good one (thanks, Fast and the Furious), and though I never set out for a Z31 this one landed in my lap. The 80s glamour stole my heart.

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This was the first time I took the roof off

It was a very early (‘84) non-turbo 2+2 targa, Australian delivered. No digital dash, but it did have the Z spirit. Little touches like the horizontal tail-lights and 3 tunnel gauges central to the dash (a motif that died with the Z31) kept it in line with its history, though they’d traded a curvy shape from the older cars for an angular one. It was in fine condition for its age and everything worked including air-con, cruise control, powered mirrors/windows...features missing on my girlfriend-at-the-time’s 2001 Mirage - 27 years its junior. Such is the nature of old luxury cars.

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On a jaunt through the country

It was so similar yet so different to the Z32. It didn’t have the same kick or the same noise, but it hustled along well and made a different noise that was no less pleasing. Something about the way it sounded as it dropped revs when you’d taken it north of 4000RPM then clutched in for a shift stays with me even now.

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I only owned it for less than a year. I never loved it like I should have. I was grumpy over the death of my Z32, I probably drove this car harder to fill the void. But I also started taking the roof off more for the same reason, I joined my first Z cruise with this car and I begun working on cars at home - it opened up new doors for me.

And of course, now I miss it.

A few more pics to follow...

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Very 80s. That brown carpet was *thick* and lush

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Just after I picked it up

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DISCUSSION (12)


Kinja'd!!! CaptDale - is secretly British > Nauraushaun
10/31/2016 at 20:24

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Cool. Never been much of a fan of that body style, but I bet they are fun.


Kinja'd!!! interstate366, now In The Industry > Nauraushaun
10/31/2016 at 20:26

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Always liked these. How cramped is the engine bay compared to the Z32?


Kinja'd!!! HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Nauraushaun
10/31/2016 at 22:15

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I’ve always like Z31s the 2+2 is about off looking though, but that’s true for every Z car with a four seater option.


Kinja'd!!! Nauraushaun > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/01/2016 at 00:30

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I disagree! Australia only ever gets the 2+2, never the 2-seater except grey imports. So I guess I’m used to them. But I think both variants look nice for all models.


Kinja'd!!! Nauraushaun > interstate366, now In The Industry
11/01/2016 at 00:31

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I’d say not as cramped, but I didn’t spend too much time in there. And neither were turbos which are of course more cramped


Kinja'd!!! realikesea > Nauraushaun
11/01/2016 at 08:37

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I like that they updated their look with the times. Angular was more on trend, but they kept the other styling choices that reflect the history of the car. Like the longer front and inset headlights.


Kinja'd!!! Nauraushaun > realikesea
11/01/2016 at 21:30

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And the horizontal tail lights ;)


Kinja'd!!! Rufant > Nauraushaun
11/07/2016 at 04:50

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I read it like this.

‘air-con, cruise control, powered mirrors/windows...features missing on my girlfriend-at-the-time’

I’m leaving it like that.


Kinja'd!!! Nauraushaun > CaptDale - is secretly British
11/11/2016 at 05:48

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Super late reply, but here it is:

They are fun! They’re so of their time and they aged so quickly and poorly, you’re very aware that you’re in an 80s car. But at the same time it’s quick enough to have some fun, relatively light, spacious, power everything and the roof comes off! I’m sure you can see the appeal :)


Kinja'd!!! CaptDale - is secretly British > Nauraushaun
11/11/2016 at 11:40

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I can see the appeal. I loved that about my Fiero. Except the GTs at least have aged pretty well from the exterior. The interior is SOOO 80s. It was a perfect car though. I wish I had it still sometimes.

Damn now I want an 80's car again. No, I need older. 60s or 70s would be perfect.


Kinja'd!!! Nauraushaun > CaptDale - is secretly British
11/11/2016 at 19:33

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I miss my 80s car too :(


Kinja'd!!! CaptDale - is secretly British > Nauraushaun
11/11/2016 at 19:44

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No more 80s cars for you?