Vehicle Description
Like it or not, Japanese cars are gaining lots of traction as
collectables, and early Nissan Z-cars like this 1987 300ZX are an
excellent bet. With great road manners, bulletproof reliability,
and looks that just don't seem to go out of fashion, this is a very
affordable way to own an interesting car that's still a lot of fun
to drive.
The all-new 300ZX hit the streets and started the Japanese
horsepower wars of the 1980s. This is a late production Fairlady
Z31 car, so it has all the tweaks and upgrades, and the final
makeover look on this aerodynamic 1987 'Kouki' model is still
incredibly striking in its original configuration. The bright red
paint (dubbed Hot Red by Nissan) is all-original to the car, and it
looks great with a nice shine and maintained luster that's
persevered over the last 105K actual miles. As you might expect,
there are light signs of age here and there, but the car still
attracts the right kind of attention when it's out on the road.
Sure, it's not quite as smooth to the touch as it was in 1987, and
maybe the sunlight doesn't quite bounce off of it like it did back
then, but when you consider the car is almost 35 years, you'd be
lying if you didn't say you were impressed. And if you really
wanted to kick things back up a notch, a full scale buff-and-wax
would go a long way to restoring some former Japanese glory. You
don't see these Z31s very often these days, and the sleek,
monochromatic look works very well on the tidy-looking hatch. It's
not all in-your-face Hot Red though, as the tan ground-effect
molding and rear bumperettes provide just enough contrast for a
dynamic look. Tinted windows work especially well with bright red
cars like this and the half-hidden headlights are a neat touch that
kids today seem to emulate on their late-model cars with folding
headlights. Out back there's a supercool central LED brake light -
the first of its kind in car history- and it's really nice to not
see any goofy spoilers or graphics on this one. It just looks clean
and sleek, and that kind of restrained design is exactly why the
Fairlady has remained so popular and timeless throughout the
decades.
The black-and-gray cloth interior is a nice change-up to the usual
tan or blue interiors found in typical '80s Japanese imports, and
Nissan engineers got the driver's compartment exactly right. The
deeply bolstered seats are probably overkill for anything on the
street, but they sure are comfortable and in very good shape for a
vehicle this age. A center console splits the sporty front buckets,
and it houses what is undoubtedly the most exciting part of the
cabin: the tall shifter for the 5-speed manual transmission. The
interesting 3-spoke steering wheel has a fat wrap on it to make it
feel substantial (Nissan used this style steering wheel across most
of its models for almost 20 years), and as the top-of-the-line
Nissan in 1987, everything was standard on the Z31. That means you
get cold A/C, power windows, mirrors, and locks, a rear defroster,
tilt wheel, and perhaps most importantly, a set of T-tops that even
come with velvet shades. Big analog gauges are easy to read and the
controls are all at your fingertips, as was the style in 1987 and
on. There's also an upgraded JVC AM/FM/CD/AUX head unit in the
factory slot, and the expansive dash is covered with a carpeted mat
that features 300ZX script over the glove compartment - a nice
choice for an otherwise simple piece of fabric. The back hatches
opens to a sizable storage area, so road trips are definitely on
the menu with this Kouki.
Nissan's overhead cam 3.0 liter V6 VG30E was an all-new design for
the 300ZX, a departure from the inline-6 that powered previous
Z-cars. With electronic fuel injection and rear wheel drive, it's
silky smooth and has excellent road manners, as well as a decent
hit of low-end torque that makes it feel downright fast around
town. Aside from signs of regular maintenance and upgraded plug
wire, it appears to be largely stock, and the engine bay is very
clean and ready to be shown off with great pride. That means
reliability is unaffected and with proper maintenance throughout
the years, it's obvious that this car has always been loved. With a
5-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential, anyone
can take advantage of the Z31's performance and the 4-wheel
independent suspension is the perfect blend of comfort and
performance. You also get big power-vent 4-wheel disc brakes, power
rack-and-pinion steering, a super sanitary undercarriage, and an
original exhaust system with a catalytic convertor and a California
Emission Control System that's exactly what you got on the showroom
floor in 1987. The stance is all-stock too, with factory 15-inch
'Z' alloy wheels wrapped in 215/60/15 performance rubber.
Offered with its original window sticker, owner's and service
manuals, and an original bill of sale, this 2-owner, actual mileage
beauty represents one of the finer '80s Japanese imports on the
market today. The time is now to get into the Japanese performance
car of your youth, because good ones are hard to find and their
moment in the sun is fast approaching. Call today!