$60,000
Overview
The Nissan 300ZX Turbo is powered by a twin-turbocharged and intercooled, 24-valve 3.0-liter V-6 that produces 300 horsepower and sprints to 60 in 5 seconds flat. The ZX Turbo comes with anti-lock brakes, four-wheel steering, and a two-mode suspension that is controlled by a switch in the cockpit. Car & Driver praised the Z as “Supremely composed and responsive. The steering was superb, allowing surgically precise turns and transmitting plenty of information from the front tires. . .Such performance, refinement, and poise simply cannot be had anywhere else at anything near the price” (Car & Driver, August 1991). We drove this car, and it feels like a sports car should. Boost comes on predictably, offering more than enough power to compete with modern-day sports cars. The analogue gauges are easy to read, and the ergonomics are well thought out. Overall, the car was a blast to drive; it felt nimble and responsive, and we got a number of thumbs up while we were out shooting the car.
Ownership History
The car was originally registered in Tulsa, OK, and was moved by the first owner to Florida. In 2002, the car was acquired by the second owner, where the vehicle was garage-kept in Connecticut until being moved to Colorado in 2024. The CarFax report appears to have inaccuracies as it shows 2 owners with registration in Oklahoma, Ohio, Florida, Connecticut, and Colorado. There have been 3 owners, the most recent is the son of the second owner, who resided in Connecticut.
Media
Optional Equipment
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Unmodified and always garage stored
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16” Nissan factory spec turbo wheels
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Brand new Yokohama Advan A052 tires
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Recent service including; timing belt, water pump, belt tensioner and new fluids
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Alcantara/leather seating surfaces and headliner
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Aftermarket period correct Alpine CD player and rear speakers
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HKS turbo timer
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Power windows, door locks, mirrors and seats
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Cruise control
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Automatic climate control
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Projector headlights
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Custom fit car cover
1995 Z32 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo
Fundamentals
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VIN: JN1CZ24D0SX570489
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Year: 1995
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Transmission: 5 Speed Manual
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Engine: 3.0-liter V6, twin-turbo
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Miles: 39,900
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Exterior: LP2 Deep Purple Metallic
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Interior: Black Leather with charcoal alcantara accents
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Fully functional electronic suspension dampening
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Fully Functional Super HICAS Four Wheel Steering
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$30K+ spent on restoration and maintenance
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Title: Clean
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Consignment: Yes
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Location: Denver, Co
History & Maintenance
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Before we consigned this vehicle, the previous owner contracted ECS Performance in S. Windsor, Connecticut, to undertake a number of repair items. In November 2021, they tested engine compression and the results were:
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Cyl 1: 155 Cyl 2: 145 Cyl 3: 148 Cyl 4: 145 Cyl 5 149 Cyl 6: 145
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When evaluating motor compression numbers, the object is to see consistent readings across all cylinders – typically within a range of 10-15% of each other, and a healthy engine should generally show compression exceeding 100 psi.
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Other work performed by ECS included: installation of: PowerStop front and rear brake kit, replacement clutch and flywheel resurfacing, brake fluid flush, oil change, replacement belts and repairs to the HVAC system.
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While the car was stored in Connecticut, exposure to humidity caused a patina to develop on many of the car’s unpainted metal surfaces.
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In 2024, Cult Cars was hired to manage the process of restoring the vehicle to its original factory condition. We assigned the laborious task of removing the patina to Glass House Paint Studios of Sheridan, CO. They disassembled the entire front and rear subframe, had all the suspension components media blasted, and refinished with an all-weather coating. A plethora of brackets and screws from the engine bay were also removed and either replaced or refinished.
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When the car arrived, it had aftermarket SSR wheels and a Stillen exhaust system. Those parts were sold and replaced with original factory equipment. The car has brand new factory spec Yokohama Advan A052 tires, 245 /45 R16 and 225 /50 R16.
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In November 2024, we contracted Colorado Performance Specialists of Sheridan, CO, to complete timing belt and water pump service. At that time, additional maintenance was performed on the serpentine belts, air conditioning system, and the car was professionally detailed.
Heritage
The lineage of Z cars begins with the Nissan 240Z, which was released in 1969 with a 2.4-liter single-overhead-cam, 12-valve straight-six making 151 horsepower. The 1970s saw the arrival of the 280Z,X with a turbo variant arriving in 1981. The first generation 300ZX first appeared in Japan in 1983 and a year later in the United States. A second-generation Z known as the Z32 arrived in 1989 with a complete redesign and a turbocharged version (VG30ET) showing up for the 1990 model year. In full race trim, the Z32 was a formidable adversary, notching up GTS-class wins in both the 24 Hours of Daytona and Le Mans in 1994, running a production-based twin-turbo V-6 that produced more than 800 horsepower.
Nissan sold more than 89,000 Z32s in the United States over the course of seven years. 18,274 of those were twin-turbos, and just 131 received the fabled Midnight Purple in 1995 -- making this a very rare and very collectible car.
Interior A
The interior of this vehicle is in very good condition. There are no obvious blemishes and no odors. The only non-factory items are the period-correct HKS turbo timer and Alpine stereo.
Exterior A
The exterior of this car is in remarkable condition with only the pinstripe stripe that is loosing some of its paint.
Mechanical A
With about $30K invested in this car it runs and drives like an absolute dream. EVerything works as it should and it appears in truly excellent condition inside and out.
Photographer's notes
While photographing the car, I was also able to drive it a bit. Both on the highway and around on surrounding streets. The car is an absolute joy to drive with everything working as it should. The car is basically a time capsule and teleports you back into the 90’s. I love the interior and the control cluster around the steering wheel, so unique. Shifts are great and the turbos spool nicely. Handling is super comfy but tightens up nicely in sport mode. I got a lot of looks and nods cruising in this car, this car would be a blast to roll around in on a summer night. I love the paint color, when the light hits just right you get a deep metallic violet which almost looks black in certain types of light. I think if you’re going to have a purple car, it has to be a Nissan!
Corey Davis
Automotive Journalist