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Survivor Turbo: 1986 Nissan 300ZX

This 1986 Nissan 300ZX is the desirable turbocharged example, fitted with a 3.0L inline-six with a single turbocharger generating 200 b.h.p. It is equipped with an automatic transmission, a typical option for a grand tourer such as this. The seller notes it remains in very good condition with just some minor blemishes throughout. Find it here on eBay with bidding at $8,175 and the reserve unmet.

More than any other import, I’ve seen an astonishing number of Z31-chassis cars in fine shape being driven by baby boomer-aged drivers. I can’t figure out why, other than perhaps the cost of entry for a 1980s Z car is well below what a comparable muscle car from the previous era can sell for, or maybe these individuals lusted after the one their boss drove years ago.

Hope you like blue, because it is everywhere. The interior features blue leather bucket seats with the word “Turbo” embroidered into the seat back. The blue theme extends to the armrest, door panels, and carpets, so get ready for an explosion of Smurfs when you open the door. A smart upgrade would be to find a set of Recaro seats from a Shiro Special and swap those in.

The turbocharged mill makes a real difference here in terms of the car’s desirability among bidders. The higher horsepower rating helps nudge the 300ZX from being solely a grand tourer to a coupe with sporting potential, even if it’s still not going to be hustled. The Z31 has been cheap for ages; maybe the local resurgence I’m seeing is an indictor of things to come.

Comments

  1. nycbjr Member

    Ewww slush box.. hard pass!

    Like 2
  2. Fiete T.

    Cheap retro GT cruiser if that is what somebody is looking for

    Like 0
  3. George Mattar

    A new Honda Civic will pass this car on the interstate.

    Like 0
  4. Tripp

    Ewwww, it’s not a manual! Ewwww, it’s slow by contemporary standards! Ewwww, it’s so retro. It’s a plenty fast-enough, different looking, slice of a time on four wheels. Worth $10k.

    Like 7
  5. racer417

    Lots of performance upgrade potential here to keep the Civics at bay. Wouldn’t change out the seats. The bolsters on the stock seats do a good job. Too original to start playing around cosmetically inside or out IMHO. But it’s still an auto…

    Like 1
  6. racer417

    Also, the eBay text says this is a red car with an inline 6. I see a blue car with a V6….

    Like 2
  7. M.Balmer Member

    You must be color blind, Racer,cause nobody would misrepresent a car they were selling, LMAO 🤪

    Like 4
  8. jwzg

    Not an inline six. 3.0L, 60 deg. V-6.

    Like 1
  9. Bob McK

    Too bad it has an automatic.

    Like 1
  10. PRA4SNW

    Sold for $10,100.

    Like 0

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