Vehicle Description
There was a second round of horsepower wars in the 1990s, this time
with Japanese automakers competing to build their versions of the
ultimate performance car. Rear-wheel-drive sports cars like this
1992 Nissan 300Z Turbo were putting out impressive horsepower
numbers that were matched by competent suspensions, powerful
brakes, and drop-dead gorgeous styling. Today, they're finally
getting the recognition they deserve, and the best ones that
haven't been abused are finding homes in some of the finest
collections.
Why should this one be on your short list? First of all, it's
almost completely unmodified save for a cat-back exhaust system,
which all by itself should get you reaching for the phone. It's
also beautifully finished in code GL1 Onyx paint and carries every
single option Nissan could throw at such a vehicle, including
T-tops. It has just two owners and has never been raced or abused
and still runs and drives like it did twenty years ago. The
bodywork is laser-straight, showing no signs of repairs or neglect
save for a small dent by the passenger-side headlight and the
fantastic 300Z shape has aged extremely well. Fit and finish are
typical Nissan quality, with exacting gaps, a precise feel to the
latches, and T-tops that actually seal up properly. The paint has a
shine that's appropriate for its age (yes, that's original paint!),
and anywhere you go, this car draws a crowd of enthusiasts young
and old. It's still special after all these years.
Gray cloth buckets still look comfortable and show very little wear
despite living in a car with T-tops. The ergonomics are spot-on,
with an instrument cluster full of bright, easy-to-read gauges and
a wrap-around cockpit feel that emphasizes the car's low profile.
Everything was standard, including power windows, seats, and locks,
cruise control, dual airbags, and A/C, which still blows cold. The
original 1992 Bose stereo is still in place and you might be
surprised by how good it sounds today. The stubby shifter for the
4-speed automatic overdrive transmission falls easily to hand and
all the secondary controls are at your fingertips. There's no back
seat in the Turbo, but under the hatch there's plenty of storage
and more plush carpeting that almost looks new. Pull the T-tops and
go!
The 3.0 liter DOHC V6 boasts twin turbos that boost it to a nice,
round 300 horsepower, but that's probably an understatement given
the car's performance. The list of hardware and electronic trickery
is extensive and would read almost like state-of-the-art today.
This is a factory Turbo, not a swap, and given how easy these cars
are to modify, it's truly a rare thing to find one as untouched as
this. Only the exhaust system is modified, using a great-sounding
Stillen stainless steel system that might even free up some
additional horsepower. The transmission shifts cleanly and isn't
the liability that you think, since the automatic can keep the
turbos on full boil without lifting off the throttle. Yeah, it's
fast. Fortunately, the brakes are powerful and assisted by ABS, and
the only visible modification is the chrome wheels which wear
235/45/17 front and 245/45/17 rear Bridgestone performance
radials.
A true icon, if you grew up during the Japanese supercar wars, you
know this is the one to own. Gorgeous and fast, it surely won't
last long. Call today!