Hi all,

 

I've very recently come by a 'J' Reg. 300 ZX 3.00 Targa non-turbo which, I'm embarrassed to say, is a car I know nothing about apart from looking it up on Wiki. plus reading some of the threads on this forum.

 

It's been stored for at least 4/5 years but has had some work done over this time such as new leather (?) seats with the 300ZX logo on them, the rear spoiler has been replaced as per original, Cobra alarm/imobiliser installed, good tyres plus some various other bits and pieces. There's also the bags for the targa glass roof in the boot but the downside is a rusty patch on one wing. The mileage is showing just under 50,000 miles/kilometres, don't know which. I've not had the paperwork for the car yet but I'm told there's a large file of papers for it.

 

First thoughts were to sell the car 'as seen' via Ebay or similar as I've already got two other cars plus the company car but, as I'm retiring soon I then thought it may be nice to keep it - it comes with it's own garage - and maybe get it looking nice (cherished insurance is only £135 for 3K miles per annum) to use as and when.

 

I have no idea if the engine/gearbox/brakes etc., work as yet but will certainly not be 'modding' it, those days are long gone, and want it as original as possible. I'm willing to spend a bit of money if it needs new parts/engine/gearbox etc. but obviously don't want to get carried away and spend thousands on it which happened with one of my other cars. I've looked at cars for sale on.line and they vary between £1K to £6K, obviously depending on condition and modification. I've got a mechanic mate coming Friday to start it up and check it out to see what happens re. driving/stopping it so hopefully will know more then.

 

Couple of questions please.

 

How do I tell if it's a Z31 or Z32 ?

 

Is there anything specific to the car we should look out for that could make the difference between keeping it or getting rid of it ?

 

Sorry for the long post.

 

Many thanks.

 

Zeddy.

Hi Zeddy and welcome to the club. You are a lucky man to be given one of these great cars and look forward to some pics and updates

I believe you have a Z32 as its a J reg.

Welcome. Pics please.

Many thanks for your reply Gary.

 

Despite being over 20 plus years old it's still a helluva good looking car so I'm hoping it can be brought back without fortunes needed to do it.

Welcome. Pics please.

 

Away until Friday but will hopefully get some then - if not I'm home from the middle of next week so definitely then.

Hi Zeddy, welcome to the club. I am going through the getting carried away and going too far phase myself :biggrin:. Z31s are proper old school, 1980s flip up light jobbers, they look a bit like 80s corvettes.

 

With yours being a non turbo it should be more straight forward and cheaper to get it up to good condition, even if there are a few problems with it. David from up this way has a rusty but mechanically sound red NA, that alone would probably get you any replacements you may need.

 

:clover:

 

Z31 on the left, z32 on the right.

Z32 it is then. Many thanks.

Is it auto or manual?

 

Z31 on the left, z32 on the right.

 

 

That American Z32 looks bad without its undertray fitted :ohmy:

Yup pet hate for me that.

Is it auto or manual?

 

Auto.

 

Looking through the pictures on here plus Ebay, Pistonheads etc., it looks bog-standard apart from the seats plus it has 4 smaller exaust tail pipes rather than the two larger ones I've seen in other 'photos. The badge on the front bonnet has a large 'Z' rather than 'Nissan' which I've also seen on cars in other pictures I've looked at.

 

I will hopefully get to know more either the end of this week or the middle of next week when I get to go over it and get the paperwork. I'll also post some 'photos here.

The Nissan hamburger logo was standard on UK spec cars (along with EU and U.S. models), the Z badge you have is factory fit on Japanese imports.

The quad exit exhaust was a factory standard for all models, what seats do you have?

The Nissan hamburger logo was standard on UK spec cars (along with EU and U.S. models), the Z badge you have is factory fit on Japanese imports.

The quad exit exhaust was a factory standard for all models, what seats do you have?

 

Thanks for the info. The seats look to be the normal/standard ones but have been re-covered in a 'rouched' dark charcoal/black colour leather (I think) with a silver coloured '300ZX' embossed on the back of each seat. The car is silver so it looks pretty good.

 

I think the passenger seat may not be original as it doesn't have the electric adjustable seat mechanism.

If it is a JDM (Jap import) then the passenger seat will be manual. So that is standard. welcome to the club!

If it is a JDM (Jap import) then the passenger seat will be manual. So that is standard. welcome to the club!

 

Many thanks. Bit cheap of the Japs though isn't it.

 

Does anyone know where I can find/see/download a copy of the standard Jap spec. for the car so I know what to expect rather than assume what it should come with ?

It's not so much that the Jap spec is missing stuff as the the UK/Euro version came fully loaded, only the full fat 2+2 twin turbo targa was available here with uprated suspension, oil coolers everywhere(it even has diff and powersteering coolers) all the toys.

Jap spec cars can be pretty variable in thier spec year on year and what the orginal owner paid for. They paid out for the auto box so maybe they paid for more upgrades.

Hi and welcome to the club Zeddy!!

 

Richard:thumbup:

Does anyone know where I can find/see/download a copy of the standard Jap spec. for the car so I know what to expect rather than assume what it should come with ?

Good question but almost impossible to answer! Don't take the years / series as definitive but this may help:

http://www.300zx.org.uk/model_variations.htm

Welcome to the club, look forward to the pics when you manage to get some :thumbup1:

Welcome!

 

You're not too far away from me (although currently in the USA), my house is in Portishead, happy to come over and give it the eye over and a potted history of the Z32. I know quite a bit about them.

Edited October 9, 201411 yr by Funkysi