Nissan 300ZX

Nissan 300ZX
Overview
Manufacturer	Nissan
Also called	Nissan Fairlady Z
Production	1983–2000
Assembly	Japan: Hiratsuka, Kanagawa (Nissan Shatai)
Body and chassis
Class	Grand Tourer / Sports car
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Chronology
Predecessor	Nissan Fairlady Z (S130)
Successor	Nissan 350Z

The Nissan 300ZX is a sports car that was produced across two different generations. As with all other versions of the Z, the 300ZX was sold within the Japanese domestic market under the name Fairlady Z.^[1]

It was sold in Japan from 1983 to 2000 and in the United States from 1984 to 1996, the 300ZX name followed the numerical convention initiated with the original Z car, the Nissan Fairlady Z (S30), which was marketed in the U.S. as the 240Z. The addition of the "X" to the car's name was a carryover from its predecessor, the 280ZX, to signify the presence of more luxury and comfort oriented features. The first generation 300ZX known as the Z31 model was produced from 1983 through 1989 and was a sales success becoming the highest volume Z-car for Nissan.

To become even more competitive in the sports car market, the second generation 300ZX was driven up-market. It was redesigned to be faster and to feature more advanced technology, but came with a higher price than its predecessor, with consecutive price increases each model year of availability. As such, sales dwindled each year, a trend in the higher end sports car market at the time, and Nissan placed a hiatus on selling new Nissan Z-Cars to the US after the 1996 model year, though the car would continue to be sold in the Japan domestic market until 2001 in low production numbers.

Car and Driver placed the Z32 on its Ten Best list for seven consecutive years, each model year of its availability in the United States. Motor Trend awarded it as the 1990 Import Car of the Year.^[2] The Nissan 350Z, officially the Z33 generation Z-Car, succeeded the 300ZX in 2003.