2005 Nissan 350Z Gran Turismo 4

‘N12 GTF’ is a Nissan 350Z ‘Gran Turismo Four’, one of 176 built in 2005 as a tie up with the Sony PlayStation game of the same name.

The seller is a huge fan of the 350Z having owned a few over the years, but this one he has found the most difficult to finally let go since buying it in 2016.

And no wonder because the limited edition’s £2,500 premium over the standard car added an extra 20bhp to the engine bringing it up to a round 300bhp in total while also reducing the 0-62mph time to 5.7 seconds.

The GT4 sits on 18-inch alloy wheels behind which lie gold Brembo brake calipers. In addition to the Nissan’s usual high specification, the cabin also boasts a BOSE sound system and a numbered plaque.

Two colours were offered, Ultra Yellow, which even the press release described as “eye-ball wrenching”, and the more discreet Kuro Black you see here.

This example is also fitted with the desirable factory NISMO body kit, which would have cost the first owner another £2,500. Later owners have fitted a Pro Racer exhaust system and a Jim Wolf Technology air filter. It also wears a registration number that reflects both the model name and its number in the run.

Still showing only 60,000 miles on the odometer, this 350Z is likely to appeal  both to collectors and enthusiasts keen to exploit the GT4’s increased performance and undeniable presence.
 

Kuro Black might have been the more subtle choice but as we so often point out, black can be a risky colour as no hue highlights flaws and imperfections more vividly.

Note that this is an issue here as the coachwork is pretty much flawless: Tight and consistent shutlines for the ripple- and dink-free panels provide an even canvas for the Kuro Black to shine – and shine it does.

The gold-painted Brembo calipers add a discreet flash to what might otherwise be somber coachwork, and this colour is picked up in the vertical front indicators and the gold vents that sit directly below the complex (and very good) headlamps.

And just in case you’re starting to think it might still be a bit subtle for you, admire the Nismo’s deep front valance and side skirts as well as the huge rear spoiler. Fist-sized tailpipes too, courtesy of the Pro Racer exhaust system that adds style and decibels in equal measure.

There are silver door handles too, and carbonfibre on the rear wing, but apart from the rear lamps (which are still fresh and free of damage) this is a car that is capable of flying below the radar while still oozing charisma.

The five-spoke, 18-inch alloy wheels are finished in a restrained silver. Untroubled by the sort of kerbing scuffs and scrapes that betray a careless driver, they’re fitted with Hankook Ventus Prime 2 tyres on the front and Goodyear Eagle F1 on the rear axle. The valves have ‘Z’ caps on them too, which is a small thing but worth noting nonetheless.

However, the front Hankooks are showing signs of perishing due to their age, but then they are a decade old, so they could be forgiven. The rear tyres are a similar age, so perhaps now’s the time to get them all replaced so you can fully exploit that sublime chassis?

The glazing is all good too, including the windscreen which is a genuine Nissan item. The rear screen also has a wiper, which isn’t something you see very often on a coupé with the performance this one offers.

Our man crawled over it with his magnifying glass and reported back that the only issue he could find is visible silicone where it has been used to bond the nearside side skirt to the car.

Other than that, being a man of few words, he simply said it is “very tidy and presents well.” 
 

The interior maintains the 350Z’s restrained-but-purposeful character by way of sculpted and supportive seats, a stubby gearlever for the six-speed manual gearbox, a fat-rimmed and leather-covered steering wheel, alloy pedals that include a footrest, and comprehensive instrumentation that include a 180mph speedometer and a 7,000rpm redline.

The leather-covered seats are heated because the engineers at Nissan aren’t savages, and the contrasting orange stitches, which pick up the orange details used on the exterior, demonstrate style.

(The instruments are also orange, and they all work, including the multifunction dial nearest the driver.)

The seats are still firm and supportive, which is important given the 350Z’s propensity for high-G shenanigans. Comfortable too, which is equally important give the 350Z’s ability to cross continents in a single bound. They’ve also worn well, shrugging off a couple of decades and 60,000 miles with nothing more than gentle creasing.

The steering wheel is in fine order too, and even contains controls for the stereo, phone connectivity, and cruise-control; there’s no need to miss out on the goodies we’ve all come to rely on because you’ve chosen to drive a classic sportscar.

It’s got air-conditioning too, plus a sunglass holder in the roof – and speaking of the roof, the headlining is clean, taut, and free of damage, which is about all you can ask, eh?

The numbered plaque confirms this is #12 in the run, as you might have guessed from the personalised registration number that will stay with the car.

The headunit is still the Nissan Bose one it left the factory with, and the seller is even happy to throw in the Garmin Nuvi sat-nav that sits in the enormous glovebox above the radio.

The vast boot is as well-preserved and trimmed as everywhere else. It’s also home to a space-saver spare wheel, the tool kit and jack, and a netting luggage cover.

As for faults and flaws, we really can’t find anything in here for you to put right.

Sorry.  
 

The 350Z’s routine maintenance is recorded as follows:

•    31.05.2005 and 6 miles – pre-delivery inspection by Dixon Nissan
•    01.06.2006 and 5,787 miles – service by Dixon Nissan
•    28.06.2007 and 13,462 miles – service by Marshall Nissan
•    08.11.2008 and 21,795 miles – service by Marshall Nissan
•    20.03.2008 and 29,213 miles – service by Marshall Nissan
•    02.06.2009 and 36,656 miles – service by Motorline Nissan
•    23.05.2012 and 47,917 miles – service by Apollo Auto Centre
•    14.03.2016 and 53,929 miles – service by Auto-Tech
•    06.10.2020 and 59,040 miles – home service
•    22.03.2024 and 60,965 miles – home service
•    15.06.2025 and 60,996 miles – service by M Hudd Auto Specialist

As you’d expect of such a well-maintained Japanese car the 350Z starts well and idles evenly. The V6 engine shows good oil pressure at rest, and this builds nicely in line with an increase in engine speed. The voltmeter also reads as it should.

The Jim Wolf Technology air filter gives the sort of induction roar most of us had forgotten was possible, while the spine-tingling exhaust note is every bit as inspiring as you’d hope – and just when you thought it couldn’t get any better we spotted the most beautiful bluing on the tailpipes: Engineering has never looked sexier.

The engine bay is in a good condition, with nothing worse than some rusty fasteners and the odd corroded bracket marring its finish and rectifying those would be a quick and satisfying project.

The underside is nicely protected by a combination of paint and underseal. No MoT tester has ever had cause to mention structural rust or corrosion, which reinforces our opinion that it’s a good ‘un after crawling underneath it. 
 

Speaking of the MoT, the Nissan’s latest certificate is valid until June 2026 and it, like so many before, was issued with no advisories.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the history file includes the Nissan wallet and book pack, a stamped service history booklet, some old MoT certificates, and a couple of invoices.

It’s also worth noting that: “Being a 2005 350Z these GT4s were also the last of the lower road tax models before the £800+ per year of the 2006 onward models. The later cars can also suffer with engine issues such as gallery gasket failure, so if you’re looking for a 350Z this is the one to have.”
 

The Nissan 350Z was an overlooked gem when it was new, which means a lot of buyers played safe and bought German rather than Japanese.

That also means that most 350Zs were purchased by enthusiasts, and enthusiasts tend to look after their cars better than the average company car driver, so there’s a rich seam of carefully curated examples to be mined, even now.

Like this one.

As to its value, we think it will fetch between £12,000 and £16,000, which would be good value for a car that’s as rare, desirable, and well-maintained as this.

Even better, the seller is confident enough in the quality of his car to offer it with no reserve, so it’s going to sell from the very first bid.

No, it’s not Christmas yet. It just feels like it.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.