1989 Nissan 300ZX

This example is a JDM-specification, manual gearbox car imported into the UK in 2003. Its first registered British keeper was the owner of the company that imported it, who kept it for a short time before passing it on to owner number two. He owned it from 2003 until March 2017, at which point the vendor bought it.

The colour is KH2 Dark Grey Metallic with black leather upholstery and grey trim. It’s in fabulous condition and has appeared in two magazine features (copies of which come with the car) as an illustration of what a pristine example looks and drives like. And make no mistake; this car really is pristine.

And the reason for sale? In the owner’s own words: “Unfortunately, my work load is suddenly increasing and it is neither fair nor realistic to expect a 29-year-old car to undertake 15,000 miles a year as opposed to 6,000 miles a year. Sadly, this means that the Zed and another of our classic cars (please see our auction for his stunning Honda Prelude) have to go.”

The paintwork is in excellent condition with only very minor stonechips and the odd age-related mark. It is, it’s fair to say, better than 99.9% of cars of its age and a credit to its current and former owners and, best of all, we can’t find a single trace of rust on it at all; the vehicle has never been welded and has been extensively rustproofed using Dinitrol products in its cavities as well as the underbody.

And, the underbody itself is as clean as we’ve ever seen and is finished in a thin black coating of Dinitrol that protects the metal while still allowing its condition to be appreciated. It really has been very neatly done.

Recent work includes a brand-new Pilkington windscreen, at which time the area was extensively and comprehensively rust-proofed to guard against future problems. The ‘screen itself was then fitted with a new windscreen and scuttle trim, as well as new seals for the removeable targa top. As a result, the targa top is quiet at speed and completely free of leaks.

An OEM rear spoiler was sourced and professionally painted and installed. The lighting system has also been overhauled and modernised; the work comprises HID headlamps, LED interior, rear fog and reversing lights, 99-spec genuine Nissan rear lights, clear front indicators and clear side repeaters.

UK-specification ‘staggered’ alloy wheels were sourced and refurbished before being fitted with new Continental ContiSport tyres. The wheels are secured with a set of Evo locking wheel nuts, which are Thatcham approved.

In addition to this the car will be supplied with its original targa roof sun shades as well as the original targa roof stowage bags and a complete car cover and storage bag. The four 17-inch aftermarket alloy wheels and Toyo tyres (flat-spotted, sadly…) that the car lived on for many years will also be included in the final price. Can we offer you any more?!

The black leather interior of this long wheelbase 2+2 car is original and is in good condition but could, the owner suggests, do with localised retrimming in a couple of places to bring it up to the same high standard as the rest of the car. We think he might be being a bit picky as the wear seems to be limited to the top of the rear seat, which is a touch dry through sun damage from its time in Japan, and some minor wear to the driver’s seat.

But, please be assured that this is all cosmetic as the seats themselves – including the driver’s seat, which is electric - are very comfortable and perfectly usable as they are. The rest of the interior is excellent and we’d strongly encourage prospective bidders to see it for themselves to judge just how good it all is.

It’s pretty much standard in there too with the exception of an Alpine 9815 CD/Tuner head unit, fitted in addition to a Thatcham Cat 1 alarm and immobiliser.

And the underbonnet area is as neat and clean as the rest of the car. But then you could have guessed that, couldn’t you?

The owner summarizes the car’s mechanical condition as being “excellent throughout. It has been regularly and well-maintained by experts on the model. Consequently, it starts, stops and drives as it should do.”

In case you’re looking for further details, the list of work that has been undertaken recently is staggering. It comprises, in brief:

• Two services by marque specialists.
  
• Two new Bosch lambda sensors.
  
• A replacement ECU was originally fitted for another reason, but this also cured an elusive smoking issue that has been reported in the past.
  
• A complete new Exedy clutch assembly plus master and slave cylinders along with the flexible hose and a uprated 350Z clutch fork. The result is, according to the owner “very light pressure and sweet to drive”.
  
• A new Powerzed single piece propshaft.
  
• A new genuine Nissan rear crankshaft oil seal to supplement the gearbox oil change, which was made using Redline MT50.
  
• Fresh limited slip differential oil.
  
• Front brake discs (Blueprint – OEM spec) were fitted along with new front brake pads (Nissan). The aluminium front callipers were completely rebuilt with new seals, pistons and fixings. (The rear brakes were done by the previous owner just before purchase.)
  
• The air-conditioning was recharged, so it’s nice and cold now.
  
• The suspension is OEM and has been set up using four-wheel laser alignment equipment.
  
• Miscellaneous stuff also includes a replacement clock, new Michelin wiper blades front and rear.
  

The twin-turbo engine exhales through custom downpipes/de-cat pipes (which were made and fitted by Longlife Exhausts) and an OEM exhaust system. The only other non-standard mechanical item fitted is a Greddy Turbo Timer, which seems like a sensible investment to us.

The owner informs us that he is a “gentle driver and achieves 20mpg around town and 28-31mpg on the motorway.” He goes on to say “the fact that the car has been used so regularly has meant it is in fine fettle and drives more like a 3-year-old car rather than a 30-year-old car. Regular use really does do classic cars the power of good.”

The car will be supplied with the OEM UK-spec Sony radio cassette and CD player that was originally supplied with the car by previous owner.

While the timing belt has been replaced regularly, it is due to be changed (on the basis of time, not mileage) next year. Oh, and the car has just been serviced and inspected by Powerzed in the past few days, where it was given a clean bill of health bar a slightly loose exhaust heat shield. That’s not bad for a car of this age, is it?

The car comes with a huge history file (probably over 100 pages/invoices!) that documents the work the previous owner commissioned Zedworld to undertake, in addition to the work the current owner asked Powerzed in Bristol to carry out. (Both are acknowledged as leaders in maintaining Z32s.)

It also comes with the ‘titanium’ key, two spare Nissan keys, and two alarm fobs in addition to the original tool kit. It will also be supplied with original copies of all the car magazines it has appeared in, plus a copy of Nissan 300ZX The Enthusiasts Companion by Ray Hutton, notes on its history over the years, a mileage data log, and two original brochures from 1990.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find a huge number of invoices and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has an impressively comprehensive service history.

Incidentally, Jim Thomas, the owner of Powerzed, the renowned marque and ‘Z’ expert extraordinaire, has offered to speak to anyone who would like an independent third-party assessment of the car’s condition. Serious bidders should feel free to contact him via http://www.powerzed.com or on 0772 5886170.

PS. Keen-eyed observers will have noticed that the vehicle has a 52-plate. This is due to a DVLA registration error; they gave the vehicle a plate associated with the date it was first registered in the UK rather than its date of manufacture. One of the Patina team had a similar problem with an imported Japanese car and the DVLA was happy to change it to the correct year’s plate when presented with a manufacturer’s build certificate showing the date the car was built. (Yes, he’s a bit OCD like that…)

Cars of this quality are starting to find a ready market, but prices haven’t yet risen in step, which means that ultra-desirable, excellent condition and original examples like this are still fairly cheap. This is not a state of affairs we think can continue for much longer but it does mean that prospective owners will probably only have to find £6-8,000, which is not a lot of money for what might well be the best car of its type in the UK.

And remember, the market values originality and condition above all else, and this car has both in spades. What few modifications have been made are there for very good reasons but originality buffs would have no problem in returning it to its original condition in a weekend or so. Either way, we can think of few safer places to put a sub-five figure sum. And when was the last time you saw one – and was it hyper-tuned? Over body-kitted? All gone to the scrapheap in the sky leaving just a handful of original examples left – get it while you can. We’re tempted!

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen in Swansea; 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’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.