| Nissan 300ZX | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Nissan |
| Also called | Nissan Fairlady Z |
| Production | 1983–2000 (Imports to North America ceased in 1996) |
| Predecessor | Nissan 280ZX |
| Successor | Nissan 350Z |
| Class | Sports car/ Grand Tourer |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Transmission(s) | 5-speed manual 4-speed automatic |
The Nissan 300ZX, also known as the Nissan Fairlady Z, is a sports car that was produced by Nissan. The automotive industry is the industry involved in the design development manufacture marketing and sale of Motor vehicles In 2007 more than 73 million motor vehicles The Nissan 280ZX (also known as the Datsun 280ZX) was a sports Coupe produced from 1978 to 1983 The Nissan 350Z is a two seat Sports car manufactured by Nissan Motor Co LTD. Car classification is subjective since many vehicles fall into multiple categories or do not fit well into any A sports car is a term used to describe a class of Automobile. In Automotive design layout specifies where on the car the Engine and Drive wheels are found A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift or just 'stick' 'straight drive' or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in An automatic transmission (commonly "AT" or "Auto" is an Automobile Gearbox that can change Gear ratios automatically as the vehicle A sports car is a term used to describe a class of Automobile. It comprises the third and fourth generations of the Z-car line-up, respectively given the chassis designations Z31 and Z32. [1]
The 300ZX name followed the numerical convention initiated with the 240Z, put forth by Yutaka Katayama, the one time president of Nissan Motors USA. The S30 Nissan/Datsun (known in Japan as the Fairlady Z and in other markets as the 240Z and later as the 260Z and 280Z Yutaka Katayama (片山豊 ( 15 September 1909) also known as Mr K, was a Japanese automotive executive who was employed by Nissan The "X" was added to the model name by its predecessor signifying "luxury". The name was used in most markets with the exception of a few including the Japanese home market, there the car like all previous Z cars was sold as a "Fairlady Z".
The Z31 and Z32 feature a 3. 0 litre, V6 naturally-aspirated or turbocharged engine. A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders A naturally-aspirated engine or normally-aspirated engine (or "N/A" - Aspiration meaning breathing refers to an Internal combustion engine A turbocharger, or turbo, is an air Compressor used for forced-induction of an Internal combustion engine. Although both motors are from the same VG series and have the same displacement, the output of the Z32 is greater than the Z31. The VG engine family consists of V6 Piston engines designed and produced by Nissan for several vehicles in the Nissan lineup The naturally-aspirated Z32 has 222 hp (166 kW) and 198 lb·ft (268 N·m) of torque versus the Z31 with 160-165 hp and 174 lb·ft (236 N·m) of torque. Similarly, the twin-turbo Z32s have 300 hp (220 kW) and 283 lb·ft (384 N·m) torque versus the single turbo Z31, which has 200-205 hp and 227 lb·ft (308 N·m) of torque. The main difference in the newer motor is the addition of dual overhead camshafts, and for the turbocharged version, dual intercoolers and variable valve timing. Variable valve timing, or VVT, is a generic term for an Automobile Piston engine technology [1]
The Z31 chassis was designed after the previous Z-car, the Nissan 280ZX, and had two special editions based on it. The Nissan 280ZX (also known as the Datsun 280ZX) was a sports Coupe produced from 1978 to 1983 The 50th Anniversary Edition focused on luxury to celebrate the company's semi-centennial in 1984, while the Shiro Special, released 4 years later, boasted performance-oriented upgrades. [2][3] Styling would be completely redesigned with the release of the Z32, tending toward finer curves and more efficient aerodynamics. The newer chassis also featured hydraulic 4 wheel steering called HICAS (in 1994 changed to an electric actuator called SuperHICAS), in its top-of-the-line models. Although it was not a special edition, in 1996 Nissan designated the final 300 American units the Commemorative Edition. Production of the Z32 ceased outside of the home market and continued in Japan until August of 2000. [4]
True to its heritage, the race-only 300ZX cars had several notable victories, including the 1986 Trans Am series and the 1994 24 Hours of Daytona. The Rolex 24 at Daytona (frequently referred to by its historical title the 24 Hours of Daytona) is a 24-hour sports car Endurance race held annually at However, auto sports politics and a controversial GTS-1 class win at the 24 Hours of LeMans that same year[5] prompted the International Motor Sports Association to declare the twin turbo engine illegal for future competition. The 24 Hours of Le Mans ( 24 Heures du Mans) is a sports car endurance race held annually since near the town of Le Mans, Sarthe, The International Motor Sports Association (generally referred to as IMSA) is an American Auto racing sanctioning body based in Braselton Georgia [6] The 300ZX also holds the E/BMS land speed record of 419. The land speed record is the fastest speed achieved by any wheeled vehicle on land as opposed to one on water or in the air or on rails. 84 km/h (260. 87 mph) from the 1991 Bonneville Speed Trial. Bonneville Speedway is an area of the Bonneville Salt Flats near Wendover Utah, that is marked out for [7]
Throughout its life, the 300ZX has been praised by critics. Car and Driver placed the car on its Ten Best list for 7 consecutive years and Motor Trend awarded it as the 1990 Import Car of the Year. Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast Magazine. Car and Driver magazine annually nominates a list of what it considers the Ten Best cars and Five Best trucks Motor Trend is one of the oldest Automobile magazines still publishing. Car of the Year is a phrase usually considered to have been invented by Motor Trend magazine in the 1950s for their annual award for best automobile
Contents |
| Z31 | |
|---|---|
| Also called | Nissan Z31 |
| Production | 1983–1989 number produced: 329. 900 (for export: 294. 516) (for JDM: 35. 384)[8] |
| Body style(s) | 2-door coupe |
| Engine(s) | 2. Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only 0 L VG20ET V6 2. The VG engine family consists of V6 Piston engines designed and produced by Nissan for several vehicles in the Nissan lineup A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders 0 L RB20DET I6 3. The RB engine is a 20L to 30L Straight-6 four-stroke Gasoline Engine from Nissan. The straight-6 or inline-6 engine (often abbreviated I6 or L6) is a six cylinder Internal combustion engine with all six cylinders 0 L VG30E V6 3. The VG engine family consists of V6 Piston engines designed and produced by Nissan for several vehicles in the Nissan lineup A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders 0 L VG30ET V6 3. The VG engine family consists of V6 Piston engines designed and produced by Nissan for several vehicles in the Nissan lineup A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders 0 L VG30DE V6 |
| Wheelbase | 2320 mm (91. The VG engine family consists of V6 Piston engines designed and produced by Nissan for several vehicles in the Nissan lineup A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders In both road and rail Vehicles the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels 3 in) (SWB) 2520 mm (99. 2 in) (LWB) |
| Length | 4410 mm (173. 7 in) (SWB) 4605 (181. 3 in) (LWB) |
| Width | 1725 mm (67. 9 in) |
| Height | 1260 mm (49. 7 in) |
| Curb weight | 1435 kg (3163 lb) |
| Designer | Kazumasu Takagi[4] |
The Z31 chassis designation was first introduced in 1983 as a 1984 Datsun/Nissan 300ZX. Curb weight is the total Weight of a Vehicle with standard equipment all necessary operating Consumables (e This continued until 1985 when Nissan standardized their brand name worldwide and dropped the Datsun badge. 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 I6. The straight-6 or inline-6 engine (often abbreviated I6 or L6) is a six cylinder Internal combustion engine with all six cylinders According to Nissan, "the V6 engine was supposed to re-create the spirit of the original Fairlady Z. "[4]
This new V6 (2960 cc) Single overhead cam engine was available as a naturally-aspirated VG30E or a turbocharged VG30ET producing 160 hp (119 kW) and 200 hp (150 kW) respectively. Overhead camshaft, commonly abbreviated to OHC, Valvetrain configurations place the engine Camshaft within the Cylinder heads above the The VG engine family consists of V6 Piston engines designed and produced by Nissan for several vehicles in the Nissan lineup The VG engine family consists of V6 Piston engines designed and produced by Nissan for several vehicles in the Nissan lineup The engine was either a type A or type B sub-designation from 1984 to April 1987, while models from May 1987 to 1989 had a W sub-designation. The W-series engines featured redesigned water jackets for additional cooling, fully floating piston wrist pins, and more power--165 hp naturally-aspirated and 205 hp (153 kW) turbocharged. The 1984 to 1987 turbo models featured a Garrett T3 turbocharger with a 7. 8:1 compression ratio, whereas 1988 to 1989 models featured a low inertia T25 turbocharger with an increased 8. 3:1 compression ratio. Finally, these engines were equipped with self-adjusting hydraulic valve lifters.
On the home market, the Z31 also came with a 2. 0 liter motor. The 200Z, 200ZG, and 200ZS used the VG20ET motor while the 200ZR had the RB20DET. Other than the 300ZX, the only other factory Z31 variant to use the VG30DE engine is the 300ZR. [9] The Japanese 300ZX Turbo was not subject to the tough emissions regulations found in the US, allowing it to produce 230 hp (172 kW), outperforming not only its North American counterpart, but the 2. 0 liter Z31s as well--their engines only made 170-180 hp. This was to "make the most of the local taxation laws. "[4]
The Z31 chassis was based on the 280ZX, but improved upon it. The Nissan 280ZX (also known as the Datsun 280ZX) was a sports Coupe produced from 1978 to 1983 Although the newer chassis had the same wheelbase and MacPherson strut/semi-trailing arm independent suspension, it handled and accelerated better than the 280ZX it replaced. The MacPherson strut is a type of car suspension system widely used in modern vehicles named after Earl S A trailing-arm suspension is an Automobile suspension design in which one or more arms (or "links" are connected between (and perpendicular to and forward Independent suspension is a broad term for any Automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same Axle to move vertically (i Turbocharged models, except for the Shiro Special edition, had an additional innovation: 3-way electronically adjustable shock absorbers.
Nissan manufactured two special Z31 models. The 1984 300ZX 50th Anniversary Edition, released to celebrate Nissan's half-century, was all fully-loaded turbocharged model with a Silver/Black color scheme. All 50th Anniversary Edition came equipped with a digital dash including MPG and compass readouts, in-car electronic adjustable shocks, Bodysonic speakers in the seats, cruise and radio controls in the steering wheel, mirrored t-tops, embroidered leather seats, embroidered floor mats, sixteen-inch aluminum wheels, rear fender flares, different front fenders, and 50th AE logo badges on the body. The only option available to the 50th Anniversary Edition was the choice between an automatic or a 5-speed manual transmission. Notably, 1984 also marks the last year of turbochargers cooled entirely by oil. 1985 turbo models are equipped with coolant passages to ensure turbo longevity. In 1988, the turbocharged Shiro Special debuted with pearl white paint, stiffer springs and matched shocks, heavy-duty anti-sway bars, a unique front air dam, paint matched wheels, Recaro seats, and a viscous, limited-slip differential. RECARO GmbH & Co KG, commonly known as Recaro, is a German company based in Kirchheim unter Teck in the vicinity of Stuttgart, known for their No other options were available for the Shiro, meaning all Shiros were identical. It was the fastest car out of Japan, capable of 153 mph (246 km/h) speeds, as tested by Motor Trend with the electronic speed limiter disabled. Motor Trend is one of the oldest Automobile magazines still publishing. [2] A total of 1002 Shiro Special Z31s were produced for the US market between January and March of 1988. [3]
The Z31 body was slightly restyled in 1986 with the addition of side skirts, fender flares, and sixteen inch wheels (all directly from the 1984 50th Anniversary Edition). Many black plastic trim pieces were also painted to match the body color, and the hood scoop was removed to provide a sleeker look. The car was given a final makeover in 1987 that included more aerodynamic bumpers, fog lamps within the front air dam, and 9004 bulb-based headlamps that replaced the outdated sealed beam headlights. The 300ZX-titled reflector in the rear was updated to a narrow set of tail lights running the entire width of the car and an LED third brake light on top of the rear hatch. The Z31 continued selling until 1989, more than any other Z-car at the time. Over 70,000 units were sold in 1985 alone.
| Z32 | |
|---|---|
| Production | 1989–2000 number produced: 164. 170 (for export: 99. 286) (for JDM: 64. 884)[8] |
| Body style(s) | 2-door convertible 2-door coupe |
| Engine(s) | 3. Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only A convertible is a type of automobile in which the vehicle's roof can retract and fold away converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle 0 L VG30DE V6 3. The VG engine family consists of V6 Piston engines designed and produced by Nissan for several vehicles in the Nissan lineup A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders 0 L VG30DETT V6 |
| Wheelbase | 2450 mm (96. The VG engine family consists of V6 Piston engines designed and produced by Nissan for several vehicles in the Nissan lineup A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders In both road and rail Vehicles the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels 5 in) 2 seater[1] 2570 mm (101. 2 in) 2+2[1] |
| Length | 4305 mm (169. 5 in) 2 seater[1] 4520 mm (178 in) 2+2[1] |
| Width | 1790 mm (70. 5 in) 2 seater[1] 1800 mm (70. 9 in) 2+2[1] |
| Height | 1245 mm (49. 0 in) 2 seater, standard)[1] 1250 mm (49. 2 in) 2 seater, T-bar roof[1] 1255 mm (49. 4 in) 2+2[1] |
| Curb weight | 1610 kg (3550 lb) 2+2 1496 kg (3300 lb) 2 seater weight varies with performance package |
In 1989 Nissan replaced the Z31 chassis with the Z32. Curb weight is the total Weight of a Vehicle with standard equipment all necessary operating Consumables (e Production of the naturally aspirated versions began in the Spring, followed by the twin-turbo in the Fall. The twin-turbo Z32 was publicly underrated at 276 horsepower so as to preserve a gentlemen's agreement among Japanese automakers. A gentlemen's agreement is an informal Agreement between two or more parties The Z32 was also titled 300ZX because engine displacement remained unchanged. However, since the engine had dual overhead cams, the engine code was revised to VG30DE. The twin-turbo model had the VG30DETT engine.
The twin-turbo 2+2 (four seat model) was never sold in North America. Buyers in North America who desired a four seat twin-turbo either had to legally import the foreign model, or convert a domestic NA 2+2 model to use a twin-turbo engine. The conversion process, which usually costs less than $10,000, can be performed by mechanics familiar with the Z32. The conversion entails switching many parts in the engine bay to the twin-turbo versions as well as making some slight engine bay alterations to fit certain parts such as the radiator. [10]
The Z32 chassis would likewise undergo several changes throughout its production run between 1989 and 1996. Among the milestone safety additions are the inclusion of standard driver and passenger-side airbags and true pillar-mount seat belts. The Z32's extended model year sales in 1990 reached 39,290 units. [11]
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In 1984 to 1985 showroom stock racing, the 300ZX captured wins on numerous occasions. The car scored its only Trans Am win in 1986 at Lime Rock by Paul Newman for Bob Sharp Racing. Lime Rock Park is a road course Auto racing facility located in Lime Rock Connecticut, United States, a hamlet in the village of Lakeville Paul Leonard Newman (January 26 1925 &ndash September 26 2008 was an Academy Award
From 1985 to 1987, the Electramotive-developed GTP ZX-Turbo was raced in the IMSA GT Championship's GTP class and also the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship, badged as a Fairlady Z, using a Lola T810 chassis and a VG30ET engine. The Nissan GTP ZX-Turbo (also known as the GTP ZX-T) was a series of Racing cars developed for Nissan Motors by Electramotive Engineering to compete in the IMSA GT was a Sports car racing series organized by International Motor Sports Association. The, abbreviated as JSPC formed by the Japanese Automobile Federation, was a domestic championship which took place in Japan for Group C and IMSA GTP Following development through 1987, the car would become dominant in IMSA GT in 1988. Additional factory endorsement, combined with a new chassis, transmission and more reliable Goodyear tyres contributed to the team's success. The SOHC VG30ET was making upwards of 1,000 hp (700 kW), with a power band that extended from 4000 to 9000 rpm on a single turbo. The power band which refers to the range of operating speeds under which the engine is able to operate efficiently [13]
From 1990 to 1995, Steve Millen drove the twin turbo 300ZX for Clayton Cunningham Racing. Steve Millen (born February 17 1953) was a New Zealand IMSA racecar driver The car dominated the IMSA in its GTO, then later GTS categories due to its newly-designed chassis and engine. Millen would rank as the #1 Factory Driver for Nissan for 7 years and earn two IMSA GTS Driving Championships and two IMSA GTS Manufacturer's Championships. Among enthusiasts and the team themselves, the biggest triumph for the race Z32 was the victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona. The Rolex 24 at Daytona (frequently referred to by its historical title the 24 Hours of Daytona) is a 24-hour sports car Endurance race held annually at In the same year at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 300ZX ranked first in the GTS-1 class and 5th overall. The 24 Hours of Le Mans ( 24 Heures du Mans) is a sports car endurance race held annually since near the town of Le Mans, Sarthe, In an attempt to level the playing field in the GTS-1 class by reducing the allowable horsepower, the IMSA declared the twin turbo VG engine ineligible. [6] The 1995 GTS 300ZX car would debut with the V8 Nissan VH engine at Daytona[14] and would place first in the GTS-1 class at the 12 Hours of Sebring and Mosehead Grand Prix in Halifax. A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other The VH series consists of 41 and 45 liter engines from the Nissan Motor Corporation. [15]
The JUN-BLITZ Bonneville Z32 holds the E/BMS class land speed record of 419. 84 km/h (260. 87 mph) set at the 1995 Bonneville Speed Trial. The vehicle was built as a partnership between JUN Auto and BLITZ. JUN, or JUN Auto, is a Japanese tuning shop for cars JUN began as the research facility of Tanaka Industrial Co This record remains unbroken. In 1990 JUN's first Z32 went 339. 2 km/h at their Yatabe test course and hit 373 km/h after some tuning at Bonneville. [7]
Even after production stopped magazines have continued to rave and award the 300ZX even years later.
"once again beautiful, so sleek and tight and shimmering that it still looks great ten years after it went away" -Automobile, 2006
From the year it was introduced, the Z32 has also won many comparison tests against similar sports cars such as the Mitsubishi 3000GT/Dodge Stealth, Mazda RX-7, Chevrolet Corvette, Toyota Supra, Dodge Viper, and the Porsche 968. The Mitsubishi GTO is a sports grand tourer built by Japanese Automaker Mitsubishi Motors between 1990 and 2001 although in most export markets it The Mazda RX-7 is a Sports car produced by the Japanese automaker Mazda from 1978 to 2002 The Chevrolet Corvette is a Sports car that has been manufactured by General Motors since 1953 Mark I (1979-1981 1979 In 1978 Toyota began production of the Mark I Supra in Japan, as the Toyota Celica XX. The Dodge Viper is a V10 -powered Sports car manufactured by the Dodge division of Chrysler LLC. The 968 was a Sports car sold by Porsche AG from 1992 to 1995, it took over the entry-level position in Porsche's lineup from the [16]
In Australia, the 1990 to 1995 Nissan 300ZX was assessed in the Used Car Safety Ratings brochure as providing "average" protection for its occupants in the event of a crash. [17] The 300ZX was also reported by the United States Department of Transportation to be safer than other popular sports cars like the RX-7, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, and the new Nissan 350Z in the event of a crash. The United States Department of Transportation ( DOT) is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with Transportation The Chevrolet Camaro is a " Pony car " made in North America by the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors. The Pontiac Firebird was a Pony car built by the Pontiac division of General Motors between 1967 and 2002 This is due mainly to the advanced placement of the seatbelt being mounted on the door instead of on the body of the car (90-93 models).