- 860
ToronadoThe 300 ZX didn't get 280 HP until '89, and it then had 300 HP. The Nissan 300 ZX is still a Z-car because in Japan it is known as the Fairlady Z, as is the newer 350 Z and all former Z models (280 ZX, 260 Z, 240 Z).
Actually, the "Z" car was created in the 70's as the 240z. With a 140hp, 2.4 liter inline 6. The 260z and 280z came later with the number of the car representing displacement size and so far all inline 6's (the 240z is still the fastest of the old school inline motored Z cars).
In 1984 the 300zx came to america with a 3.0 liter V-6 (VG30E) and a totally new body design (actually designed in Europe to look like a Ferrari) It came as either a 2 seater or 2+2 with 160hp N/A, or 220hp with a single turbo. My car is an '86 N/A 2 seater car.
In 1990 America got the new model of the 300zx. The N/A versions of the car got a hp increase to 220hp, and the turbo (twin) got a power increase to 315hp. The only change to the motor was the addition of two cams, making it a DOHC, and the turbo model got an extra turbo, making it a Twin Turbo. The Engine code changed to VG30DETT for the twin turbo car. These cars came horribly under rated with the N/A rated at 190hp and the TT rated at only 280hp. The dyno tells a different story.
The Z wansn't sold in America from '96-03 until the release of the new 350z. The 350 got a power decrease as America's taste changed from small, turbo engines to larger N/A engines. So Nissan made the 350z, a 3.5 liter V-6 with no turbo option. Due to timing work Nissan offers the car with a 275hp, 280lb-ft option in the convertable, a 280hp, 270lb-ft standard, or a 295hp, 265lb-ft performance option. This leads us to today.
This concludes American Z car history.