Hi, I'm about to bid on a 300ZX which was imported from Japan a few years ago. The car is advertised as a completely original 1996 Twin Turbo but I'm a little suspicious as there is no boost pressure gauge on the speedo. The car does have the intercooler inlets on the lower front bumper and the VIN plate codes do suggest it's a turbo model.

Has anyone else encountered a turbo model that doesn't have the boost pressure gauge though? My understanding is that it was standard fit in all sales markets. The car was converted from km to mls when it was imported and all I can think is that the dashboard was replaced at that time, with this glaring oversight not noticed. Still, I'm a bit suspicious.... 

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

 

Got a picture or link ?

 

Later series 4 didn't have a boost gauge in the cluster .

 

I've owned a few series 4 zeds and they all never had boost gauges but the wiring is there to add them later if you find a newer style cluster.

57 minutes ago, Nessie said:

Hi, I'm about to bid on a 300ZX which was imported from Japan a few years ago. The car is advertised as a completely original 1996 Twin Turbo but I'm a little suspicious as there is no boost pressure gauge on the speedo. The car does have the intercooler inlets on the lower front bumper and the VIN plate codes do suggest it's a turbo model.

Has anyone else encountered a turbo model that doesn't have the boost pressure gauge though? My understanding is that it was standard fit in all sales markets. The car was converted from km to mls when it was imported and all I can think is that the dashboard was replaced at that time, with this glaring oversight not noticed. Still, I'm a bit suspicious.... 

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

 

Do you mean this one by any chance?

https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1996-nissan-fairlady-300zx-twin-turbo-8qvrPg

I have a 98 TT manual without a boost gauge

Thank you all for the replies, really appreciate your insight. I didn't realise the later cars didn't have the boost gauge. It's a 1996 car so definitely towards the end of the production run. 

@Andrew G, yes, that's the one on Car & Classic.

16 minutes ago, Nessie said:

Thank you all for the replies, really appreciate your insight. I didn't realise the later cars didn't have the boost gauge. It's a 1996 car so definitely towards the end of the production run. 

@Andrew G, yes, that's the one on Car & Classic.

Looks a very nice Zed Nessie - I reckon you will be happy with that, I know I would!

And to reiterate what my fellow enthusiasts have said above, there were one or two equipment omissions in later models. Once the Z32 was withdrawn from sale in Europe in 1994, it soldiered on a couple more years in the USA, then from around 1996/7 to 2000 it was pretty much the JDM only. And by 1994, the Z32 was a pretty expensive car in the UK/EU - especially with the spec level we had become accustomed to (leather, climate, cruise etc). So when sales in the UK/EU/USA ceased, Nissan had to find a way to keep the price competitive as the market shrank - hence a few luxuries which had previously appealed to those previous customers were deleted.

I believe you can still retro-fit some of those luxuries though; I dare say someone more knowledgeable than me will advise... ?

Good luck with your search - and hope that white car is as good as it looks!

Thanks Richard, much more confident about bidding on it now. Was worried someone had just dressed it up to look like the turbo. But yeah, it does look good. I've wanted one ever since I saw one in a Nissan showroom 30 years ago so hoping it lives up to the dream. 

Retro fitting what we call series 2 digital aircon is not an easy task by any means but someone from new has chosen that and the cruise control is not straight forward either to retro fit but doable.

To help you further it does have the correct engine, later series plenums are slightly different but that looks fine for a 96.

 

21 minutes ago, Nessie said:

Thanks Richard, much more confident about bidding on it now. Was worried someone had just dressed it up to look like the turbo. But yeah, it does look good. I've wanted one ever since I saw one in a Nissan showroom 30 years ago so hoping it lives up to the dream. 

You're welcome Nessie - it's what we're here for!

Welcome to the club, by the way ? 

1 minute ago, RichardS said:

You're welcome Nessie - it's what we're here for!

Welcome to the club, by the way ? 

Thanks Richard ?

Furthermore, the interior is lovely, very desirable that.

All the swage tape is present.

I cannot see on the key fob the remote keyless factory locking zapper, perhaps it doesn't have that which was another option but nothing to worry about.

Towing eyes present, looks factory exhaust system, electric passenger seat.

All points to it being a clean unmolested car, when all we can find wrong is a missing front fog light screw lens cover !!

8 minutes ago, phutumsch said:

Furthermore, the interior is lovely, very desirable that.

All the swage tape is present.

I cannot see on the key fob the remote keyless factory locking zapper, perhaps it doesn't have that which was another option but nothing to worry about.

Towing eyes present, looks factory exhaust system, electric passenger seat.

All points to it being a clean unmolested car, when all we can find wrong is a missing front fog light screw lens cover !!

Yup - what Andy said.... ?

And the parking aerial is apparently gone - it still has the switch near the clock, but nothing on the front bumper.... Fortunately! It's a nice gadget in principle, but actually spoils the clean lines of the car, definitely better without.....

Car looks very nice and original, good luck if you buy, welcome to the club.

Thanks again all. Hopefully be a proper member of the club soon ?

Welcome to the 300zx club Nessie and that looks like a great Z you are bidding on. Good luck.?

Nissan FAST record for the car. Good luck in your bidding.

https://nissan.epc-data.com/fairlady_z/gcz32/6035-vg30dtt/?frame_no=GCZ32-560810

43 minutes ago, AndrewG said:

Nissan FAST record for the car. Good luck in your bidding.

https://nissan.epc-data.com/fairlady_z/gcz32/6035-vg30dtt/?frame_no=GCZ32-560810

Many thanks Andrew that's great. Obviously a genuine car. ?

2 hours ago, Nessie said:

Thanks again all. Hopefully be a proper member of the club soon ?

You'll never be like us, takes years to get like this ?.

15 hours ago, RichardS said:

Looks a very nice Zed Nessie - I reckon you will be happy with that, I know I would!

And to reiterate what my fellow enthusiasts have said above, there were one or two equipment omissions in later models. Once the Z32 was withdrawn from sale in Europe in 1994, it soldiered on a couple more years in the USA, then from around 1996/7 to 2000 it was pretty much the JDM only. And by 1994, the Z32 was a pretty expensive car in the UK/EU - especially with the spec level we had become accustomed to (leather, climate, cruise etc). So when sales in the UK/EU/USA ceased, Nissan had to find a way to keep the price competitive as the market shrank - hence a few luxuries which had previously appealed to those previous customers were deleted.

I believe you can still retro-fit some of those luxuries though; I dare say someone more knowledgeable than me will advise... ?

Good luck with your search - and hope that white car is as good as it looks!

Not quite correct Richard. Europe got the Z32 until 96. ?

what i have noticed slight inner tyre wear maybe just tracking but looks like it needs new tyres.

1 hour ago, hedgehog dodger said:

what i have noticed slight inner tyre wear maybe just tracking but looks like it needs new tyres.

Always something hey? ?

Went to see it today and sadly it's nowhere near as good in the flesh as it is in the pictures. Needs a new interior and was a bit shabby in general, especially the paintwork and trim. Has the look of a car that hasn't really been cherished. 

2 hours ago, hedgehog dodger said:

what i have noticed slight inner tyre wear maybe just tracking but looks like it needs new tyres.

Not uncommon for a 300zx.....

Best to walk away good job you checked

49 minutes ago, Nessie said:

Always something hey? ?

Went to see it today and sadly it's nowhere near as good in the flesh as it is in the pictures. Needs a new interior and was a bit shabby in general, especially the paintwork and trim. Has the look of a car that hasn't really been cherished. 

That is sad to hear Nessie - it looked an otherwise tidy car, apparently needing only some minor tweaks here and there... But it's good that you went to see before committing to buy. Had it been in need of minimal work, then it might have been worth it for such a low mileage car. 

As with all classic cars, be sure to buy on condition - and if something doesn't look right, walk away.

3 minutes ago, hedgehog dodger said:

Best to walk away good job you checked

Great minds mate... ;-)

6 minutes ago, RichardS said:

That is sad to hear Nessie - it looked an otherwise tidy car, apparently needing only some minor tweaks here and there... But it's good that you went to see before committing to buy. Had it been in need of minimal work, then it might have been worth it for such a low mileage car. 

As with all classic cars, be sure to buy on condition - and if something doesn't look right, walk away.

Yeah was a bit gutted really as it looked and sounded fantastic in the sales blurb.

Would make a great little project for someone with the time and money to make it shine though and it has an exceptional documented history.