You Don't Need To Love The 80's To Like This Z31 300ZX, But It Helps

"DailyTurismo" (thedailyturismo)
03/17/2016 at 17:16 • Filed to: Daily Turismo, Blog, T-Tops, Nissan, 300ZX, Z31, eBay

The Z31 edition Nissan 300ZX isn’t quite as collectable (or as fast) as the later Z32 generation, but they are considerably cheaper and look less like a Wagyu cow being fattened for the slaughter. However, the Z31 does have an active enthusiast base and this turbo-manual trans version is the one to get.

The Z31 generation Nissan 300ZX won’t be the fastest car on the block, or the best handling, but it offers a level of vintage 80s cool that is hard to match on a dollar for dollar basis. You’d go broke trying to buy a mint condition one-owner 911 from the 80s, same with an M3; you’ll be repairing apex seals faster than you can say zoom zoom in an RX-7, and the early Celica Supras are gutless — so the Z31 is the answer. Find this 1985 Nissan 300ZX !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! bidding for $2,025 reserve-not-met with 4 days to go, located in Carson, CA.

Powering the Z31 is a 3.0 liter version of Nissan’s VG-series V6 that is turbocharged to produce 200 horsepower. It was the first time that Nissan put a mass produced V6 into any vehicle, and while not without its share of issues, the cast iron block with aluminum heads can take additional power if you upgrade from the stock Garrett T3 turbocharger and add some intercooling.

But this example is so nice and clean I’d have a hard time justifying tearing up the engine bay; it would make a great throwback cruiser

See another stock 80s classic? !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Originally posted as !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

DISCUSSION (22)

PanchoVilleneuve ST > DailyTurismo
03/17/2016 at 17:18

The 200ZR-II is the best Z31. It’s like a smaller, lighter, 2-seat Skyline GTS-X.

DrJohannVegas > DailyTurismo
03/17/2016 at 17:38

I like everything but the T-tops.

LongbowMkII > DailyTurismo
03/17/2016 at 17:53

And when your z31 breaks the gutless supra will drive on past. ;)

AfromanGTO > DailyTurismo
03/17/2016 at 18:22

I had a black 84 Datsun/Nissan 300ZX turbo with the digital dash. That one is in really nice shape. My brother had a black 85 auto na 300ZX. It was so nice, and he traded it in......

PorkchoPlissken > DailyTurismo
03/17/2016 at 18:32

I would be shocked if this doesn’t reach 5k. Your assessment of first gen z31s are so on the nose. Love mine, and though NA, still a great car for the $ right now. And I think these will also start to slowly climb in value as older Zs get more expensive. Great find.

-this space for rent- > LongbowMkII
03/17/2016 at 18:36

You’re thinking of a Z32

-this space for rent- > PorkchoPlissken
03/17/2016 at 18:37

And as all Z31s get S13'd into oblivion.

GhostZ > DailyTurismo
03/17/2016 at 18:43

Buy it now, keep it pristine and up on bags of rice, wait one presidential term and Sell it for 15 Gs son.

I’ve seen anniversary edition Z31s sell for $20k on ebay. It’s madness. This isn’t an anniversary edition, but it’s still highly undervalued.

But don’t think this thing won’t need repairs. The digital dash will probably die as soon as you look at it, and fixing that is going to cost more than what you paid for the car originally.

If this was an anniversary edition with a non-digital dash, it would already be in the $10,000s.

PorkchoPlissken > -this space for rent-
03/17/2016 at 19:18

And that’s ok, because it’s not the point.

PorkchoPlissken > DrJohannVegas
03/17/2016 at 19:19

T-tops are one of the best parts. As long as they don’t leak, but that’s fixable.

-this space for rent- > GhostZ
03/17/2016 at 19:31

There’s no anniversary edition without a digital dash. And digital dashes aren’t all that hard to fix most of the time.

DrJohannVegas > PorkchoPlissken
03/17/2016 at 19:39

De gustibus non est disputandum.

PorkchoPlissken > DrJohannVegas
03/17/2016 at 19:53

No comprende amigo

DrJohannVegas > PorkchoPlissken
03/17/2016 at 19:57

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=De+gustibus…

PorkchoPlissken > DrJohannVegas
03/17/2016 at 20:45

I’m glad you put so much effort into that at some point. That being said, I merely suggested that if leaky t-tops were of concern to you, that it’s an easy fix. And based on your godly Latin phrase that you’ve used before, I’m entitled to like t-tops, and that it should be discussed no further.

DrJohannVegas > PorkchoPlissken
03/17/2016 at 21:03

I never implied that the leakiness of the T-tops was part of my calculus. You simply rose, unbidden, to defend the point. But, for your pugnaciousness in defense of your preferences over t-tops, your adamancy on the matter of their repairability, and your knowledge of my posting history, I applaud you, sir.

PorkchoPlissken > DrJohannVegas
03/17/2016 at 21:25

Our last posts are actually pretty similar. Except your big words are absolutely terrifying

GhostZ > -this space for rent-
03/17/2016 at 22:08

My bad, you’re right about that.

But the digital dash issue is still an issue. From what I’ve seen, you don’t really repair them, you have to replace the whole unit when it breaks, and used, working dashes are very rare and expensive (~$1500+). Or do tons of labor to swap it back to analog, or aftermarket gauges, both of which hurt the collector’s value anyway.

-this space for rent- > GhostZ
03/17/2016 at 22:43

Usually just a bad connection to the power supply or cracked solder joint in power supply. I have a spare dash and power supply on the shelf either way.

Not that it matters since my Shiro is analog ;)

DailyTurismo > GhostZ
03/17/2016 at 22:51

Is that Trump pres term or a Clinton term?

GhostZ > DailyTurismo
03/18/2016 at 02:20

Definitely a trump term, since after the bombs fly and we’re all fighting over gasoline on the fury road, collector’s cars will be rarer than ever.

Nauraushaun > DailyTurismo
03/18/2016 at 08:37

That condition! I had a non-turbo ‘84 2+2 targa a couple of years ago. I loved it, but the condition was nowhere near this.