I have been interested in the 300 ZX Convertible for some time (after seeing nice one near work) and I am now thinking of buying one (if I can find a good example !!). However, having owned a couple of previous cars with around 200 and 230 BHP/tonne respectively, my ideal starting point would be a twin turbo manual - no offence intended, however I think that the NA version would not be what I am looking for performance-wise. (particularly an automatic)

 

As what I know about them technically would just about cover a postage stamp, please bear with me if this a stupid question, but roughly how costly would it be to pick up a decent secondhand engine and manual box and have them fitted professionally ? I do not have the time, inclination or ability to attempt this myself. I am willing to spend a reasonable amount of cash doing this on the right car. Particularly after sinking over 7000 pounds into having my old RX 7 not despeartely well modiifed.

you can only buy the convertible in NA... officially anyway, conversions have been done.

I think you'll like this one:

 

 

http://www.z1motorsports.com/imageGallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album07

 

Russell's own from Z1 Motorsports with 1000bhp kind of shows what can be done .

If you really want a convertable 300zx then you will be looking at a SWB (short Wheel Base) NA (not turbo).

 

Most of the TT (Twin Turbo's) are targa's so you kinda get a semi convertable anyway.

 

You can get either the 2+0 (SWB) or the 2+2 (LWB) with Targa's and you can get the SWB with a slick top (i.e. no targa's).

 

Depending on your needs, you could find a convertible and get a TT engine put in it.

Or you could just buy a TT targa top 2+0 or 2+2.

I have one, yes they only come in NA versions, but, as they are lighter due being SWB and no tailgate weight they aint to bad, still not as quick as the TT which i also have, but they are 100% cruise factor believe me.

Maybe selling my one soon and its mint

I have a twin turbo manual convertible that i bought standard and changed! to buy all the parts and have them fitted you are looking at about £3000 you could source a second hand manual TT for about £1500 and then the rest would be fitting !

 

Mine will be for sale soon for about 7k after its been sprayed !

I have one, yes they only come in NA versions, but, as they are lighter due being SWB and no tailgate weight they aint to bad, still not as quick as the TT which i also have, but they are 100% cruise factor believe me.

Maybe selling my one soon and its mint

 

 

Verts are the heaviest out of the 300zx family LOL ;)

Oh are they.... lol... feel lighter then....

 

Whats in them to give them the weight then?

Oh are they.... lol... feel lighter then....

 

Whats in them to give them the weight then?

 

Feel lighter ? :eek: They feel like tanks compared to real SWB's. About 200kg heavier than a regular SWB NA. They are heavier than the TT LWB.

 

They require a lot of extra reinforcement in the chassis to try and keep them rigid.

 

Definatly cruisers rather than Sports cars.

I believe there are only 2x TT convertables in the UK - Topless and Paul@SWZ. That I know of, anyway.

Never had a SWB, feels lighter to me when driving, odd, must be just the way a SWB feels

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. A few comments from my side:

 

(i) I believe that the 300 ZX Convertible has a kerb weight of 1500 Kg ? To put that in perspective, a Porsche Carrera 997 Carrera S Cabriolet is also 1500 Kg. So is a Ferrari F430 Spider. The Lamborgini Mucielago is 1690 Kg. Even the latest Porsche Boxster is 1345 Kg - and that is light by modern car standards.

 

Does this mean that these cars aren't 'sports cars' ? I have heard that, if you are a purist, a true sports car should not weigh more than 1000 Kg kerb weight. That means even the TVR Chimaera and Griffith (around 1059 Kg miss out. In fact, the only two that sneak in are the 1999-2004 MX 5 (1000 Kg, I think) and the MR 2 (a tad under 1000 Kg).

 

My interpretation is that the 300 ZX is closer spiritually to a 997 etc. (i.e. a GT) than a MX 5 or MR2. If you uprate the engine to a turbo, then sensibly modify this with increased boost pressure etc. then I imagine that the Convertible would seriously worry some much more expensive machinary (including a normally aspirated 997). Which is exactly what I have in mind.

 

(ii) Personally, if someone gave me a 997, Murcielago etc. i would sell it as I wouldn't want the hassle of owning one, knowing how (in the UK anyway) you are an immediate target of envy and hate. I doubt that a subtly modified 300 ZX would attract anything worse than admiring glances and the odd traffic lights Grand Prix.

 

(iii) Assuming that the base vehicle is sound and not too cosmetically awful. it seems to me that spending 5000 pounds or so converting a NA Convertible to a Twin Turbo, so that the whole lot costs you around 11,000 pounds, isn't such a bad deal. What else will you get for this money ? A tired-out Porsche 944 Turbo Convertible or mega-mileage 968 one ? A bottom-of-the-price-range Chimaera or Griffith, with big question marks over longevity ?

 

OK, maybe I am am justifying a semi-made decison, but (assuming that I can find the right car and someone to do the work to a high standard without ripping me off) the 300 ZX with a TT swapped for a NA sounds pretty good to me.

Have to agree with all that :)

Firstly, welcome to the nut house buddy.

 

You have come to the right place for advice on what to or what not to do.

 

It seems you have made your mind up anyway.

 

As for the envy bit, depending on where you park/live, you may get some idiot who thinks it fine to damage your car. Do a search and you will find several threads from recent times.

 

As for out performing more expensive cars you are right. There won't be many cars out there that will beat you off the lights and cost you under 4 grand, thats if you went for a targa TT.

 

These cars have great presence on the road and do get some admiring looks. They are great fun to drive as well.

 

Have a look in the cars for sale section to get some idea as to what prices etc you can pick them up for.

 

Good luck with the hunt.

 

Darrell

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. A few comments from my side:

 

(i) I believe that the 300 ZX Convertible has a kerb weight of 1500 Kg ? To put that in perspective, a Porsche Carrera 997 Carrera S Cabriolet is also 1500 Kg. So is a Ferrari F430 Spider. The Lamborgini Mucielago is 1690 Kg. Even the latest Porsche Boxster is 1345 Kg - and that is light by modern car standards.

 

Does this mean that these cars aren't 'sports cars' ? I have heard that, if you are a purist, a true sports car should not weigh more than 1000 Kg kerb weight. That means even the TVR Chimaera and Griffith (around 1059 Kg miss out. In fact, the only two that sneak in are the 1999-2004 MX 5 (1000 Kg, I think) and the MR 2 (a tad under 1000 Kg).

 

My interpretation is that the 300 ZX is closer spiritually to a 997 etc. (i.e. a GT) than a MX 5 or MR2. If you uprate the engine to a turbo, then sensibly modify this with increased boost pressure etc. then I imagine that the Convertible would seriously worry some much more expensive machinary (including a normally aspirated 997). Which is exactly what I have in mind.

 

(ii) Personally, if someone gave me a 997, Murcielago etc. i would sell it as I wouldn't want the hassle of owning one, knowing how (in the UK anyway) you are an immediate target of envy and hate. I doubt that a subtly modified 300 ZX would attract anything worse than admiring glances and the odd traffic lights Grand Prix.

 

(iii) Assuming that the base vehicle is sound and not too cosmetically awful. it seems to me that spending 5000 pounds or so converting a NA Convertible to a Twin Turbo, so that the whole lot costs you around 11,000 pounds, isn't such a bad deal. What else will you get for this money ? A tired-out Porsche 944 Turbo Convertible or mega-mileage 968 one ? A bottom-of-the-price-range Chimaera or Griffith, with big question marks over longevity ?

 

OK, maybe I am am justifying a semi-made decison, but (assuming that I can find the right car and someone to do the work to a high standard without ripping me off) the 300 ZX with a TT swapped for a NA sounds pretty good to me.

 

The Convertable Zed has a kerb weight of just over 1600kg. But its not the weight that lets it down as a sports car, its the overall chassis rigidity. In comparison to the Targa versions it has a noticably more "wobbly" chassis and does not handle as well at all, It does'nt drive like a Targa or slicktop model. Thats not to say the Convertible is'nt a great car, I really like it, but it serves a different purpose, there is a reason Nissan only ever fitted it with the NA engine.

 

The same applies to most convertibles though.

Understood about convertibles 'generally' being wobbly.

 

However (and hopefully not to be too pig-headed) I was told by a number of reputable sources that I would 'never' get my RX 7 Cabriolet to 'handle right', particularly if I modified it, because it was much less rigid than the Coupe.

 

One set of uprated suspension parts, strut braces front and rear and a significantly uprated engine (roughly 330 bhp, so about 230 bhp/tonne) and I have to say that there wasn't anything much that I came across on the road that could live with it through a series of bends (or, very often, in a straight line). I switched from this to a 986 Boxster 3.2 (roughly 200 bhp/tonne, but a significantly lighter car - roughly 1295 kg versus roughly 1495 kg and with the advantage of being a 'true' mid-engine, as opposed to the 'engine sits way behind the front wheels' layout on an RX 7). OK, I am not that good a driver, however the Boxster wasn't that much faster around bends (proves that '80's Japanese engineering was ahead of its time !).

 

Plus, having had a series of fully open cars, I would very politely personally not regard a Targa top as a 'fully open' car (although I imagine Ferrari 246 Dino Spider owners etc. would disgaree strongly). Although I accept that a 300 ZX Targa top would be more rigid.

 

Anyway, from what I have seen so far, it looks like my biggest challenge is going to be finding a car to get modified - unless I can arrange to get one imported from Japan.

I have a twin turbo manual convertible that i bought standard and changed! to buy all the parts and have them fitted you are looking at about £3000 you could source a second hand manual TT for about £1500 and then the rest would be fitting !

 

Mine will be for sale soon for about 7k after its been sprayed !

 

Leaving the club then mate are you, or just back to a 2+2:x:

Leaving the club then mate are you, or just back to a 2+2:x:

 

He also has a Slicktop TT, SWB TT, 3x Jap 2+2's TT's and a Uk 2+2 TT :rofl:

welcome to the club