4th gen Nissan Z 1990–1996 Z32

Overview

Engines

3.0L V6, 3.0L twin turbo V6

Came as

• Two-seat coupe with T-tops
• 2+2 with T-tops
• Two-seat hardtop coupe 1991–1996
• Convertible 1993–1996

On record

6 warnings, no recalls

Sold as 300ZX

The story

Isao Sono and Toshio Yamashita drew the Z32, and Nissan approved the design in October 1986. Nissan used a Cray-2 supercomputer in its design, one of the first production cars to be shaped that way. It was launched in Japan in July 1989 and reached the US as a 1990 model, with the Twin Turbo following before the end of 1989. Nissan, Hagerty, a published reference

Nissan set out to join the Z's traditions to new ideas: a wide, low body with steeply raked headlamps, a cabin set forward and short overhangs. SlashGear, citing Jalopnik, says Yamashita himself found the small projector headlamps that let the lights fit the sloping nose. They were later used by Lamborghini on the facelifted Diablo. Nissan, SlashGear, a published reference

The press took to it. Car and Driver rated it among the most striking cars to reach the US in years, and Motor Trend made it its 1990 Import Car of the Year and ranked its handling second only to the Acura NSX. Car and Driver put it on its Ten Best list in every year it was sold in the US. Hagerty, a published reference

Its price rose each year as the yen strengthened, and sales fell. For 1996 Nissan marked its exit from North America with 300 Commemorative Editions. Hagerty says the reason most often given is that it could not meet US side-impact rules, alongside the exchange rate. In Japan it was sold until 2000. Hagerty, SlashGear, a published reference

Rare and special

• SMZ by Stillen
• Commemorative Edition
• Two-seat hardtop coupe

Specs

Badges

• 300ZX Nissan, a published reference

Engines

• 3.0L V6 VG30DE Nissan, Hagerty, a published reference

  222 hp, twin cams and variable valve timing

• 3.0L twin turbo V6 VG30DETT Nissan, Hagerty, a published reference

  300 hp with the manual, 280 hp with the automatic

Transmissions

• 5-speed manual Hagerty, a published reference
• 4-speed automatic Hagerty, a published reference

Drivetrains

• Rear-wheel drive A published reference

Body styles

• Two-seat coupe with T-tops Nissan, Hagerty, a published reference
• 2+2 with T-tops Nissan, Hagerty, a published reference
• Two-seat hardtop coupe (1991–1996) Hagerty, SlashGear, a published reference
• Convertible (1993–1996) Hagerty, a published reference

Trims

• 300ZX Hagerty, a published reference
• 300ZX Twin Turbo Hagerty, a published reference

Packages

• SMZ by Stillen (1995–1996) SlashGear, a published reference
• Commemorative Edition (1996) Hagerty, a published reference

Figures

• Built: 164,170 from February 1989 to 2000, 99,286 of them for export A published reference
• Suspension: Multi-link at all four wheels Nissan, a published reference
• Four-wheel steering: Super HICAS on the Twin Turbo, hydraulic until 1993 and electric from 1994 Hagerty, a published reference
• Brakes: Opposed four-piston calipers in aluminium at launch, iron from 1993 Nissan, a published reference
• Drag coefficient: 0.31 A published reference
• Headlamps: Fixed projector lamps, later fitted to the 1999–2001 Lamborghini Diablo under licence A published reference

Rare trims and options

• Rare

  SMZ by Stillen Package

  Developed by Steve Millen Motorsports with Nissan North America A published reference

  104 built A published reference

• Good find

  Commemorative Edition Package

  The last 300 cars for the US Hagerty, a published reference

  300 built for the US Hagerty, a published reference

  Why it is a good find: SlashGear's buying guide names it as the special edition to find for anyone who minds what the car is worth later. SlashGear

• Rare

  Two-seat hardtop coupe Body style

  Hagerty calls slicktop coupes quite rare Hagerty

Years and what changed

1. 1990

   The Z32 arrives as a T-top two-seater and 2+2, first without turbos; the Twin Turbo follows before the end of 1989. Hagerty, SlashGear

2. 1991

   A hardtop two-seater without the turbos joins in the year, a driver's airbag becomes an option and the climate control turns electronic. SlashGear, a published reference

3. 1992

   A driver's airbag is standard, the door panels turn faux suede and Twin Turbos get a power driver's seat. Hagerty, SlashGear

4. 1993

   The convertible arrives, and the brake calipers change from aluminium to iron. Hagerty, a published reference

5. 1994

   Super HICAS turns electric instead of hydraulic, a passenger airbag is standard, and a taller pedestal rear spoiler arrives. Hagerty, a published reference

6. 1995

   The lower front bumper is body colour instead of charcoal grey, and the washer reservoir moves from the hatch area under the hood. Hagerty

7. 1996

   OBD II arrives, variable cam timing is dropped, and the last 300 US cars are Commemorative Editions. Hagerty, a published reference

Watch out

Faults owners and the press report, and how to spot each one.

• Leaking HICAS lines 1990–1993

  Check: Look for a HICAS warning light on the dash and for fluid along the lines that run to the rear, and ask whether the system was ever switched off.

  The hydraulic lines run the length of the car and leak with age. Electric HICAS from 1994 does away with them. SlashGear, citing Car and Driver, says some owners disable it to save on repairs. Hagerty, SlashGear

• Leaking T-tops and blocked drains All years

  One source so far

  Check: Look for water behind the seats and in the footwells, and check the T-top seals for shrinking.

  The seals shrink with age, and the drains in the B-pillars and windscreen frame clog, so water gets in. Hagerty

• Rust in the sills and door jambs All years

  Check: Look at the sills ahead of the rear wheels, the door jambs and the seat rails. A patched outer sill can hide rot inside.

  Hagerty says deep rust is rare on the Z32 but bubbling on the rockers and door jambs happens. SlashGear, citing Autocar, says blocked roof drains rot the sills ahead of the rear arches, and that rusty seat rails point to a car left open in the rain. Hagerty, SlashGear

• Poorly repaired front end damage All years

  One source so far

  Check: Check the fit of the nose panel, hood, bumper and headlamps, and use a paint thickness meter. Before 1995 a body-colour lower bumper means it has been repainted.

  Hagerty says bad accident repairs are common. Hagerty

• Leaking turbo seals All years

  Check: Ask whether the turbos were checked or replaced, and look for blue smoke.

  SlashGear, citing Car and Driver, says the turbo seals can start to leak between 60,000 and 80,000 miles. Hagerty says the turbos can fail with age or miles. SlashGear, Hagerty

• Weak gearbox synchros All years

  One source so far

  Check: Shift through every gear on the test drive, quickly as well as gently, and feel for grinding.

  Nissan fitted stronger synchros to the Japanese cars from 1999 to cure a soft-synchro problem that had shown up on earlier Z32s. A published reference

Recalls

No recall is written up here.

Owning

What owners and buyers say

• Sought after

  Manual Twin Turbo two-seater All years

  Hagerty calls the two-seat T-top Twin Turbo the most wanted Z32, and SlashGear names the manual Twin Turbo as the one collectors want. Hagerty, SlashGear

• Avoid

  Modified cars All years

  Less sought after

  Many Z32s were modified. SlashGear advises collectors to pass on cars with big changes, since the work is hard to judge in a tight engine bay, and Hagerty says to be patient and find a clean, mostly stock car. SlashGear, Hagerty

Maintenance

• Timing belt All years

  Replace every 60,000 miles or 7 years Hagerty, SlashGear

  Ask the seller: Ask for the receipt for the last timing belt.