I'm considering looking for a 1999 Fairlady Z TT with a manual. My question, for this year, which version is considered the most desirability/valuable/collectable?

For example, I like the red stitching, carbon, and Recaro seats of the Version R.... but I like the automatic climate control, S-HICAS, and cruise control of the Version S. I can't seem to find any Version S cars optioned with the red stitching, carbon, and Recaro seats. So either they are rare as hens teeth, of those 3 options were Version R only?

Anyway, far the Z community goes, which of the 2 versions will hold/increase it's value the best over time?

Thanks!!!

Personally, I'd prefer the higher-specced car. The 300zx is more a GT than a true sports car, so having more toys appeals to me more. 

As for future desirability, decent Z32s are getting more and more rare - hence good clean, fresh imports are commanding higher prices now - so any version kept in good condition will hold its value well, as a future classic.

My 94 car and soon to be 95 car are a Version S fyi but I think you're being specific to the facelift.

For desirability, you just need a clean example, manual is best and a turbo, some or no mods, a bit like Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino, no big gay spoilers ?.

 

I certainly plan on a as close to original condition, lowest kilometre, and cleanest example I can afford. I plan on getting a very pristine example of one. So that's a given.

I'm leaning towards a Version R because I really do not like the look of the Nissan seats and MUCH prefer the Recaro seats.

That said, can the automatic climate control be added? Are the harnesses the same and it's just a matter of plugging in the control on the dash? I'm sure I can get a new one from Nissan still.

I was just wondering if there is a community consensus on if a Version S or Version R would be worth more in the long run, or has the market not really decided that at this early stage of appreciation?

Thanks!

My opinion is that it'll be a long while before price differences in Version S and R become big enough that it influences what you buy now. 

Recaro seats can still be found in Japan (like rocking horse crap, but they're there) and can be fitted to a Version S. It'd be a damn sight easier than fitting digital climate to a manual climate car I would think. 

 

I have digital ac from a 95 car, it has been fully removed from this a donor vehicle.

It is going in the same age car which had the manual system.

Therefore, not just a case of a 5 minute job swapping pod switches over, ideally you need a donor or buy all the parts, our very own Jaikai did this and he has a  thread about his troubles !

Wow, alright, skip messing with anything then lol.

I don't really want to deal with sourcing Recaro seats that are to my standards either.

Thanks everyone for their input and information thus far, much appreciated.

Cheers.

How deep are your pockets? I was looking for the same thing 12 months ago and I couldn't get anything for less than £30,000. I expect prices have gone up even further since then.

I generally refrain from discussing "my budget" per se and would rather discuss market values. Suffice it to say I could go easily double and maybe triple that deep for the right color/options/condition/originality and of course, super low kilometres on the dash.

That said, based on what I see the current market values as, the average for just an ok condition car is £40,000 and no way I would settle for one in that state.

......hate that I can't edit my own post.....

I've actually found one that I've reached to for putting a deposit on. I'll see how that goes.

As long as it’s a manual TT you have the right one and if it’s a SWB then all then better. Kind of narrows your search down even further.


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Well funny enough the 99spec models never came out with digital climate control pods from what ive seen in photos. Also cruise control was not an option either.

i personally wanted a 2000spec model but they doesnt exist over here in australia. So i turned my 1989 model into a 2000 spec version r model as much as i could.

5 hours ago, Gonzo12c said:

As long as it’s a manual TT you have the right one and if it’s a SWB then all then better. Kind of narrows your search down even further.


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It is indeed a manual TT. What does SWB stand for?

2 hours ago, DJ_Party_Favor said:

Well funny enough the 99spec models never came out with digital climate control pods from what ive seen in photos.

Well one model in the 1999 range had digital climate control pods, the white one on the right of the group.

Edited May 4, 20214 yr by AndrewG

18 minutes ago, anguilla1980 said:

It is indeed a manual TT. What does SWB stand for?

SWB  Short wheel base (2 seater)

LWB  Long wheel base  (4 seater)

Just now, Gaz 300 said:

SWB  Short wheel base (2 seater)

LWB  Long wheel base  (4 seater)

Oh I see. I personally prefer the 2+2 actually so that's what I am going with at this point. That said, if I can't get a LWB after some time and a SWB comes up that's right for me in terms of everything else, then I would go with that.

6 hours ago, AndrewG said:

Well one model in the 1999 range had digital climate control pods, the white one on the right of the group.

Yup your right, obliviously a optional extra item you had to pay extra for when buying the car brand new. Ive looked at heaps of auctioned 99spec 300zx from japan during my build research  many years ago and all of the photos i could find showed only manual climate control pods on every single model but yeah.

I have yet to even come across any base model "300ZX" models in my research so I haven't seen anyway either.

Looking at that they never made a SWB Version R TT in 1999/2000, which explains why I've only found 2by2 versions in my search.

Your correct the version r was a 2+2 model only. The 99spec side skirts for example  only came out for the 2+2 model.

Imo the best model with the best all round options package avaliable at tge time was tge 1994 models which is when nissan started to add all the later model upgrades to the 300zx. Such as airbag steering wheel, eletric hicas new plenum i think the new injectors new interior etc etc.

DJ's point about the A/C got me doing a bit of research on the model family for the JDM "99" series. There were four named types -

"Version R" in 2+2 "Version S" in 2+2, "Version S" in 2+0 (Slicktop) and "300ZX" in 2+2 (all available TT or NA).

From a copy of the JDM FAST book (here) covering the VINs (chassis numbers) allocated during the '98 to 2K production for the "99"

series start (from October '98) and go up to (production ends) as follows (cross-checked in FAST):

CZ32 (2+0 TT)   Version S (Slicktop)                           560001 to 560039

GCZ32 (2+2 TT) Version R, Version S and 300ZX       570001 to 570359

GZ32 (2+2 NA)  Version R, Version S and 300ZX       060001 to 060653

Z32 (2+0 NA)     Version S (Slicktop)                          050001 to 050078

Note: there may be gaps in the VIN ranges above where a particular VIN doesn’t exist in the FAST database. So the ranges are not necessarily

the total numbers built.

It turns out that the "300ZX" was standard fitted with Auto A/C whilst the others were standard fitted with manual A/C.  The translated pages

are from a copy of the JDM "99" marketing brochure (here). The translated text quality is not perfect but you can get the drift of what is being

described (click images to enlarge).

The VIN plate model codes for the "99" series is below (translated) and shows the codes J, T and X for the Version S, R and 300ZX

types respectively.

A quick search in the Nissan FAST database shows this example of the 300ZX type (X) which usually (but not always) indicates that the
car was in fact built, in this case a 2+2 TT auto in silver metallic.

I don't know how many X's (300ZX) were built in the "99" series but it would be great to see examples of the type. The version R and S's being usually

associated with the "99" models.

 

Edited November 21, 20232 yr by AndrewG
VIN ranges for all "99" types updated

Thanks Andrew, I've found this actually really interesting! ?