Which Nissan Z-Car Is Best?

AaronBalto said:

Japan offered three iconic supercar darlings during the ’90s: the Mazda RX-7, Toyota Supra and Nissan 300ZX. 

Cough, cough, NSX, cough, cough.

Ahhhh ahhhhhh aaaasuprachooo! 

Currently on my 17th zx, a mix of z31 and s130 cars. Picked up a 1980 2+2 5 speed silver blue example with 113k on it in February, it just turned 117k. It's obvious it gets driven, the car garners so many looks, smiles and comments wherever it goes. I've mainly had 2+2 cars, the z31 is a more refined driver than the s130 but both are a joy to drive. I even had an 84ae for a short time, nice turbo acceleration even with the 5 sp. My current 80 is factory rated at 132hp but I feel nissan was rating them low as American makers were doing in the 60s. It just has too much giddy up for 132 horses and the size of the car. To me it's my Japanese jaguar 2+2. I have admired each gen of the z car, although z32s are my least favorite. Was totally pleased when the 350 debuted. With my recent purchase i was looking for another z but all I looked at were junk or i just missed a deal. Was doing 80s 90s bimmers and sold my 4th e30 convertible for this z. Still have a 94 and 95 e36 sedans to satisfy my BMW jones. Loving my new ZX and enjoying the ride for the 17th time.

84 Turbo was my first experience with a Z, a friend's car. Was the first turbo car I'd ever been in to my knowledge. Was the first car I drove a manual in. Seem to remember it having an awful burgundy interior, but man... after a few years of driving a 94 Cavalier 4 door automatic, this Z31 was a rocket! A pretty cool rocket to me in my early 20's.

Then came a 73 240Z powered by a 7m Toyota Supra engine. Running water methanol on a slightly upsized stock housing turbo, this thing dyno'd 487whp... in a car weighing about 2600 lbs. It was properly bonkers, and ruined any sense of speed I might have had for a long time. I still remember the owner running down the drag strip in Las Vegas in flip flops and shorts. After about the 3rd 11 second pass, they finally told him that rookie or not, he couldn't be doing that at their track if he didn't have proper shoes and pants haha. That car was a hoot!

My mom learned to drive stick on a 280z, so I've always been partial to those since she was the one who taught me to drive! 

But, maybe it's just my age, but the 350z really is a cool car. Probably isnt really the best at anything except being a great platform to get (especially younger) auto enthusiasts into driving. It was just enough of a dream car to reach for but pretty easily attainable. For its widespread reach and role in getting people my age into cars, I'll give the nod to that one.

But any Z is a great Z :) Especially black gold

te72 said:

 

 

Then came a 73 240Z powered by a 7m Toyota Supra engine. Running water methanol on a slightly upsized stock housing turbo, this thing dyno'd 487whp... in a car weighing about 2600 lbs. It was properly bonkers, and ruined any sense of speed I might have had for a long time. I still remember the owner running down the drag strip in Las Vegas in flip flops and shorts. After about the 3rd 11 second pass, they finally told him that rookie or not, he couldn't be doing that at their track if he didn't have proper shoes and pants haha. That car was a hoot!

Wow, Almost 500 whp on a 7m with a CT26 framed turbo. I've never seen anything like that before.

crankwalk said:

te72 said:

 

 

Then came a 73 240Z powered by a 7m Toyota Supra engine. Running water methanol on a slightly upsized stock housing turbo, this thing dyno'd 487whp... in a car weighing about 2600 lbs. It was properly bonkers, and ruined any sense of speed I might have had for a long time. I still remember the owner running down the drag strip in Las Vegas in flip flops and shorts. After about the 3rd 11 second pass, they finally told him that rookie or not, he couldn't be doing that at their track if he didn't have proper shoes and pants haha. That car was a hoot!

 

Wow, Almost 500 whp on a 7m with a CT26 framed turbo. I've never seen anything like that before.

 

I had a hard time understanding it at the time, and I'll be the first to admit it sounds like BS. Supras Invade Las Vegas 2008, Andy Zimmerle was the fella in question. Far as I know the engine was internally stock, running a 57-trim CT26, with water methanol injection, something which was a bit on the fringe at the time.

Wish I had some video of that car that was clear. Pretty sure all I have is a couple cell phone pics. I can ask Andy if he has any online presence in the Z world if you'd like? It's a pretty rad car, and I don't see him having sold it.

te72 said:

crankwalk said:

te72 said:

 

 

Then came a 73 240Z powered by a 7m Toyota Supra engine. Running water methanol on a slightly upsized stock housing turbo, this thing dyno'd 487whp... in a car weighing about 2600 lbs. It was properly bonkers, and ruined any sense of speed I might have had for a long time. I still remember the owner running down the drag strip in Las Vegas in flip flops and shorts. After about the 3rd 11 second pass, they finally told him that rookie or not, he couldn't be doing that at their track if he didn't have proper shoes and pants haha. That car was a hoot!

 

Wow, Almost 500 whp on a 7m with a CT26 framed turbo. I've never seen anything like that before.

 

I had a hard time understanding it at the time, and I'll be the first to admit it sounds like BS. Supras Invade Las Vegas 2008, Andy Zimmerle was the fella in question. Far as I know the engine was internally stock, running a 57-trim CT26, with water methanol injection, something which was a bit on the fringe at the time.

 

Wish I had some video of that car that was clear. Pretty sure all I have is a couple cell phone pics. I can ask Andy if he has any online presence in the Z world if you'd like? It's a pretty rad car, and I don't see him having sold it.

No worries. I've just never seen those kinds of numbers on a 7m without being beefed up a little and a larger framed turbo.

In reply to crankwalk :

Trust me, you're not the only one. We were ALL shocked at the dyno that year. I mean, traditionally, at the time, a 57-trim CT26 was good for about 400whp, and that's all the breath it had to give. Was quite cool to see Andy knock that idea out of the water.

I do specifically recall that it would light up the tires (275 wide road race tires of some sort, perhaps Kuhmo V700's? It's been a long time.) when he would boost in fourth gear at 70mph, then, without letting off throttle, kick the clutch and throw it into 3rd. Was quite the neat trick, and would leave 11's on the highway and then pull like crazy.

If ever I thought I was gonna die in a car... it was that one.

Really good article and brings back a lot of memories. A 240Z turned heads back in the day.

The first years on carbs..

In reply to sir_mike :

Those were the days..........just needed eyes and ears, not many tools and some patience!

My Dad was the GM at a Datsun store in Sunnyvale, Ca, from 72 to 74.  I worked there on the weekends detailing cars.  Here to tell...that Z car was FUN!  weight was 50-50 front to back and side to side, so you get a WHOLE lot out of that 150hp.  Cornered like it was on rails.  Dad had the shops dress up his 73 Z Demo.   Flared wheel wells front and back with 8" wheels with whatever tires were top of the line back then, on the rear...and I don't remember what size was up front, whale tail spoiler and an after market front air dam, and it was painted red white and blue, along the lines of the cars Paul Newman would drive.  It was friggin gorgeous!!!  He picked it up from the body shop on a Friday.  Loaned it to a factory rep on Monday...you didn't say no to those guys...and by Tuesday, it was totaled.  The rep decided he was a race car driver and took it out onto Hwy 17  towards Santa Cruz.  It ended up in the trees about a mile into the drive.  The only good thing that followed was we kept the rep's car, which he brought over from Japan.  A right hand drive 240Z.  I got to drive it some.  It was a total blast, and the girls just loved it!!!