While it’s easy to dunk on people who bought supposed limited-production “pace cars” and other tribute models solely for the purpose of putting them in mothballs and hoping for major ROI, it’s not a behavior limited to Monte Carlo and C3 Corvette owners. Any number of vehicles gussied up for the purpose of moving inventory have convinced buyers that they should drive them incredibly sparingly in hopes of honest returns later in life, and the Nissan 300ZX 50th Anniversary Model is one of them. Though the Z31-chassis Z car was turbocharged and loaded up with features, they remain fairly attainable today. Find this 1-owner 1984 Nissan 300ZX anniversary car here on craigslist with just over 22,000 original miles.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader T.J. for the find. I was recently watching an episode of the Switchcars podcast on YouTube where the host described how bad of an investment cars tend to be, especially when accounting for inflation. I’ve run this math for a few years now, because everyone loses their minds when a car sells for far more than it cost new without ever accounting for the literal value of money 10 or 20 years prior. When you factor that in, most cars sold in a low-mileage state really didn’t net the owner that much, if any, profit compared to sticking it in the market. However, I can see why you’d take a gamble on a car like this: meaty fender flares, “turbo fan” alloy wheels, and an electronically-controlled suspension were among its notable features.
The anniversary cars got you some leather seats with special badges, and the exterior was graced with aggressive side skirts and “Turbo” script that always reminded me of the badge on the back of the Porsche 930. Clearly, the 80s were a big era for touting your turbocharged technology. The seller’s car is equipped with the optional automatic transmission, which was fairly common practice for the 300ZX as it was always a balancing act between being a sports car or being a grand tourer. Regardless, since it was a decent driver when equipped with three pedals, the lack of a manual is a bummer in this case. It does, however, leave your hands free to play with the graphic equalizer.
The 300ZX was a bit of a home run for Nissan in the 80s, and it was often the best-selling sports car in the U.S. The turbocharged V6 generated 200 b.h.p. and around 227 lb.-ft. of torque when new. Certainly not mind-blowing numbers but enough to move out with some authority, especially if equipped with a manual transmission. The Z31 remains an accessible car for most budgets, but that’s also partially due to the somewhat small fan base here in the states. The car may have been a best seller, but the aftermarket doesn’t support it as much as it should. Do you think a low-mileage Z31 like this could be a smart buy at $33,500?
Wow that interior looks inviting.
Lavery calls it, a comfortable Grand Touring model with the punchy 6 Turbo and automatic.
IMHO the Z stopped being a Z when they went to the V6. And the new ZX was over-complicated and overweight, nothing like the sprightly Z-cars that we loved.
Am also not a proponent of the V6, I6 or H6 are (arguably) better designs, but V6s are in a lot of places now. For GT, Maserati MC20, 370Z all come to mind immediately.
It’s interesting, to me, that this car was popular, I was certain that this was considered one of Nissan’s least popular Z-cars.
The buyers at the time disagreed. The Z31 300ZX was a massive sales success. The Z cars that came after have never gotten anywhere close to it.
Thanks Jeff. Interesting discussion point again. I’d suspect that there are really very few models of car that would truly prove to be lucrative investments, and picking one that is going to come good is a gamble. As you note, you have to take into account, storage space/cost, inflation and the lost investment opportunity on the original capital… I think in most cases a buyer would have been better just taking the original purchase funds and sticking them in a good investment fund…though the enjoyment factor of looking at your classic car gem in the climate-controlled garage and showing it off to your friends, more fun that checking your investment fund statements?
Wasn’t there a rush to buy and stash away the “final year of convertibles ever” Cadillacs (1976?) then GM changed their mind and started making convertibles again a few years later.
Nice car, stratospherical price. That slushbox is such a buzzkill.
Not really. There are plenty of comp auction sales to substantiate it.
The polyester leisure suit of the automotive world.
Seriously? Seems like there were better contenders for that title in the mid-80s. But, if that’s how you see things..
Such a tired, ill-informed cliche.
How is it a 50th Anniversary ?!?!?!
The Lexus LFA is about as sure of thing in terms of a car that will keep pace with inflation, the cost of it’s own maintenance and insurance. It’s initial $340,000 buy-in was laughed at in 2010… and laughed at again in 2020 at $700,000… and again, now in 2025 ($900,000)…
Duck didn’t the Acura NSXs hold up nicely? to mention another one..
Yea, the NSX is a good candidate!… I think. Wait… let’s do some math…
1991 Acura NSX was $58,000 when new according to Car and Driver.
35 years of auto insurance @ an average of, oh, let’s say $1000 a year = $35,000.
Registration on that car (here in Oregon) averages about $45 per year. (California is averages closer to $300 per year) That’s $1575 to $10,500 depending upon the two random states I’ve chosen.
Maintenance… Oil changes, timing belt, tires, brake service… Probably $2500 – $4000 for these historically trouble free cars.
That adds up to $39,075 – $49,500 on top of the $58,000 original purchase price for a grand total invested of between $97,075 – $107,500.
Currently, low mileage NSX’s change hands between $70k and $90k. That means they ALMOST cover their cost of ownership, which is really all you could ask of a car! I have a Renault R5 Turbo and a Lancia Stratos which do cover their cost of ownership partly because of favorable collector car insurance rates and solid appreciation curves. But I do not own them for this reason. It’s just a side benefit.
The Lexus LFA is as close to a “sure thing” in terms of a car that will keep pace with inflation, the cost of it’s own maintenance and insurance. It’s initial $340,000 buy-in was laughed at in 2010… and laughed at again in 2020 at $700,000… and again, now in 2025 ($900,000)…
Who knows? I think it would lose a lot of value if you drove it. I tend to shy away from super low mileage cream puffs for that reason, and others like old tires and so on. But the general rule is cars are not good investments. Buy it because you like it, not because you think you’re going to have a big payday.
Agree with you 100%. Cars really are rarely a good “investment”.
Big fan of these cars as their was no Porsche or Ferrari’s running around my area when I was a kid. Lots of tech in this car for back in the day. Like the digital dash, adjustable ride and power everything. My friends mom had one brand new and the payment was $500 a month!! That was a lot of coin and a house payment back then. I like the styling and tech the auto is ok for people who just wanted to cruise.
Great car with the wrong transmission.
The only investment I value is the fun I get from a car.
You’re right, all things considered cars are seldom if ever a good investment in the long run. But, as a fellow car guy once said, “you can’t drive your mutual fund on a sunny day with the top down”.
I had an’84 Turbo with digital dash, 5-speed manual, leather seats and suspension adjustable with a small toggle on the center console. Metallic maroon with matching interior. Hit 130 MPH a few times and was stable.
Fondest memory is the seat belt and door ajar audible warning…the sexiest female voice softly letting me know the issue. Wish I could have transferred that feature to my ‘88 Shiro Special!
We have alot in common. Had a 84 silver anniversary edition. With real transmission ,5 speed,.I loved that car except I had the radio out every few years,it seems they used low grade solder on the circuit boards. I sold it I have a 88 shiro.it’s a hanger queen .