1994 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo

Firstly, let us state that this is a genuine UK supplied car and likely to be one of the very last officially sold here.

The car was in the hands of a long-term owner until July of last year when it was acquired by our seller. The car was taken off the road in 2006, with a blocked drain from one of the Targa panels. This had caused the OSR sill section to corrode in front of the wheel arch, so an MoT pass would not be possible.

It was put away into safe storage and largely forgotten about.

Our seller had previously owned a 300ZX which had served him well as a daily driver when he took early retirement from his demanding day job. It was exceptionally reliable. When a new venture saw an increase in mileage he sold it, the replacement German barge proving to be anything but!

So, when offered the chance to once again own a 300ZX, he jumped at the chance.

He set about a full recommissioning programme as the car was intended to be a keeper. The sunroof and body issue were immediately addressed, and Powerzed of Bristol were charged with the mechanicals. Their brief was to do whatever was necessary, no expense spared, and to use original parts and to ensure that nothing was missed.

The 300ZX is as close to original as possible we believe and has wanted for nothing during our seller’s ownership. The only reason it is being offered for sale is to fund the purchase of a new daily driver, which is being delivered and must be paid for rather sooner than expected.

Is it the best 300ZX in the UK today? It quite possibly is, as any inspection is likely to confirm.

First on our seller’s list was to sort out the minor bodywork issue. The corrosion to the sill was cut out entirely and new sections welded in. There was then a discussion as to the condition of the rest of the paintwork, which had become somewhat flat in places. Established body shop ID Autos in Swansea were charged with the work.

They decided that nothing less than a full respray would do this lovely and original car justice and so that is what they did. Their work appears to be of the highest quality, the red paintwork now gleaming.

At the same time a new rear spoiler was fitted, identical to the original but made from fibreglass not foam. Far more durable.

The alloy wheels were refurbished, and brand-new period correct Yokohama tyres fitted all round. The car deserved no less and bearing in mind this is a performance car, premium rubber is essential to both handling and ride.

The roof panels lift out for that wind-in-the-hair feeling, a delight on a warm summer’s day and there shouldn’t be that annoying back draft that afflicts full convertibles. Oh, and of course the blocked drain was cleared out, an easy job.

We do think that red shows off the lines of the 300ZX to best effect and this is certainly a car that will attract attention wherever it goes. It’s such a rare beast after all.

The black leather interior is original and is in lovely condition. The front seats are supremely comfortable and adjust electrically for that perfect driving position. There is a little cracking to the offside seat bolster on the driver’s side.

There are of course rear seats, but these are best suited to children or for use as an overflow for excess luggage.

The stereo was found not to work and was sent off to a specialist for repair. The cassette player still does not work as the sound chip has failed and is no longer available. Never fear as the CD player works as it should and new correct size speakers were fitted front and rear.

The Clifford Alarm didn’t do its job, remaining silent when called into action. A new sounder module fixed that.

Keeping the cabin cool is the air conditioning system and amongst the work completed on this car was the fitment of a new AC compressor.

We have been assured that the Targa roof panels do not leak, but we have not tested this.

Boot space is reasonable for this type of car, making the 300ZX an ideal car for a touring holiday. You will also find within protective bags for storing the roof panels when removed. The tool kit is present and correct and a space saver spare lurks under the boot floor.

We have noticed a mark or two on the steering wheel, but all told, the interior of the car really does defy its years.

This is a quick car and the enthusiast might bemoan the lack of a manual gearbox. Well, our seller’s previous 300ZX was a three pedal car and he recalls that the clutch was super heavy, making driving in traffic very hard work. The automatic is a smooth operator and makes extracting all that lovely performance all the easier.

After recommissioning, shake down testing was carried out and any minor adjustments made as necessary.

We always include plenty of photographs of the underside of any car we sell and that is the case here. Prepare to be impressed. We can see nothing of any concern and have been informed by our seller that plenty of Dinitrol has been used to ensure long-lasting protection.

The original exhaust was in poor shape, so our seller had a new stainless-steel system by Mongoose fitted. It is as close to the original as was possible.

As one would expect, the engine bay presents well and as will be outlined in the next section, plenty of work has been carried out to ensure tiptop performance.

The engine was tested and declared to be ‘as tight as a drum’. Of interest, when the old oils were removed, they were found to be golden in colour – a good sign.

Jim from Powerzed, an undoubted expert in the marque, declared the car to be ‘one of the best driving zeds he had the pleasure of using and that it drove like it had just left the factory.’ Praise indeed.

Accompanying the car is an array of old MoT certificates which corroborate the modest 64,000 or so miles covered. The online history shows a test in 2006, the mileage then being 58,260.

After the extended period resting, the ZX was tested in December 2021, passing with no advisories.

The owner’s manual is present and correct and all keys, including the titanium unit are present too.

There are receipts for servicing and maintenance from the car’s early life which is always nice to see.

Of more interest of course will be the three invoices from Powerzed, which can be seen towards the end of the picture gallery. The princely sum of £3,798.78 was spent with them recommissioning the car.

All fluids were changed and all belts renewed including the expensive cam belt, water pump, tensioners and pulleys.

Both Lambda sensors were replaced along with brake pads and discs. The callipers were reconditioned.

New rear shock absorbers should ensure the ride and handling are up to scratch. The petrol tank was replaced too.

Our knowledgeable seller states that this 300ZX is incredibly original, unmolested and complete. Other than the exhaust this is as close to an ex-factory car as possible. We are sure he is right!

This car was bought for our seller to use for many years and as such the attention to detail is impressive. It is now in the sort of condition whereby it can be enjoyed by its lucky new owner for many years to come.

And what joy there will be with this powerful, eye-catching, performance Japanese car. Use it every day, or for special occasions, we are sure it will delight its new lucky owner.

If that person is you, we would encourage you to pay us a visit and see the car in the metal. It is unlikely to disappoint.

As for the sale price, we confidently predict a figure of between £14,000 and £19,000 will be achieved.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.