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Museum Quality? 1988 Nissan 300ZX

The Z31 would be Nissan’s last “classic” Z-car, at least as defined as a direct decendant with a resemblance to the original 240Z, or Fairlady Z as they were known elsewhere. This crisp and clean 1988 Nissan 300ZX is described as being almost museum quality and I would have to agree. It can be found here on eBay in Winchester, California and the current bid price is $9,300 but the reserve isn’t met yet.

Most of us recognize this shape as a classic Datsun 240Z/260Z/280Z shape. The Z31 300ZX would be the last to have this body style before Nissan moved upscale a bit with the Z32 300ZX, an incredible car that is a future collectible, in my opinion. Not that this incredible car isn’t also collectible, especially in almost like-new condition.

I recently owned a 1983 Datsun-Nissan Sentra from the year when Nissan was phasing out the Datsun name in North America. The Nissan 300ZX came here in late-1983 as a 1984 model so the Datsun name was now officially gone. This particular car does look like it’s in museum quality condition, doesn’t it? It would be a shame to park it rather than removing the t-tops and driving it as it was meant to do.

That’s a fairly complicated steering wheel for 1988. Japanese cars from this era are famous for having a sea of tiny buttons, not exactly super friendly to operate with big winter gloves on. I hope that this isn’t a car that ever gets driven in the slushy, salty winter. As everyone else is doing, I’m looking for excessive wear and other things that would take away from the museum-quality claim. That’s just a natural human trait to want to prove someone wrong, I wonder why that is?

The engine is Nissan’s new V6, a VG30E with around 165 horsepower. There was also a turbo model with around 200 horsepower and that would have been even better as far as collectibility. This car has just under 61,000 miles on it so it’s not a low-mile car but there are three owners listed and it’s amazing that it’s been kept in this condition for over 30 years. Have any of you owned a 300ZX?

Comments

  1. Avatar msheiner Member

    Nice car. I would be excited if it were the turbo but… I have an 88 Maxima with the same engine as this NA 300ZX. While is refined and a nice engine for the Maxima, it is far from exhilarating for a so-called sports car. On the other hand, my 81 280ZX turbo has some soul!

    Like 6
  2. Avatar Luke Fitzgerald

    Someone’s baby – why aren’t all used cars like this

    Like 4
  3. Avatar Bakyrdhero Member

    This one is perfect to keep waxed in the garage but also take out for a spin on the weekends.

    Like 3
  4. Avatar tom

    Where can This be found for sale.? Can’t find it anywhere

    Like 0
    • Avatar Bob McK

      Click on the ebay link above. It takes you directly to it.

      Like 0
  5. Avatar numskal Member

    Winchester is southeast of San Bernadino off the 215 freeway (east of Lake Elsinore)

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Bob McK

    The ad says it has an automatic transmission. It clearly is standard in the pictures. I hope the pictures are the car that is for sale. If it is someone really took good care of this 60,000 mile car. If it were not white, I would bid on it. Magnificent car!

    Like 0
  7. Avatar CCFisher

    I think Nissan Z-car “jumped the shark” when they added the “X” in 1979, and it didn’t recover until 1990. Seems like they were always driven by middle-aged accountants who were trying to be “cool” without going all the way. Kind of like the guys who bought their Harley-Davidson Sportster and their first leather jacket on the same day.

    That being said, this is a lovely example of a car that generally doesn’t get much love.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Scotty Gilbertson Staff

    Auction update: this one ended at $10,200 and no sale.

    Like 0

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