1986 Nissan 300ZX

Boise City, Idaho

$18,000

Vehicle Details

Make

Nissan

Model

300ZX

Year

1986

Drivetrain

RWD

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Engine

3.0L V6

Description

I'd be happy to help, but the original description provided is quite sparse and lacks the specific details needed to create a compelling listing. It mentions "197 made all options" but doesn't include:

- Mileage
- Engine specification (turbocharged or naturally aspirated)
- Exterior color
- Interior condition
- Mechanical condition or any restoration/service work
- Body condition
- Transmission type
- Any specific features or options equipped

To write an effective description following your rules, I'd need you to provide the complete original dealer description with these factual details included. Could you share the full listing information for this 1986 Nissan 300ZX?

Nissan 300ZX Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Emily Chen

JDM Classics

1983–1996

~3 min read

Updated Apr 2026

The Nissan 300ZX represents Japanese sports car engineering at its most ambitious — especially the Z32 generation with its twin-turbocharged VG30DETT that produced world-class supercar performance in a package assembled with Japanese precision.

This guide covers

✓ 8-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 4 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full 300ZX Buyer's Guide

Nissan 300ZX Market Overview

Based on 8 Nissan 300ZX listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$15,659

Avg. Asking Price

1984–1994

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site — Average Range

This car: $18,000

Low: $5,000 High: $36,995

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 38%

Manual 38%

Condition Distribution

Good 13%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 8 listings →

💰

What is this car worth?

Check sold prices for the 1986 Nissan 300ZX

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Nissan 300ZX Buyer's Guide

Emily Chen here. The 300ZX is the car that changed how Americans thought about Japanese performance cars. Before the Z32, the conventional wisdom was that Japanese cars were reliable and economical but couldn't match European or American sports cars for genuine performance. The 1990 300ZX Twin Turbo changed that narrative completely: 300 horsepower, 0–60 mph in under 5 seconds, handling that Car and Driver compared to the Porsche 928, and a price $20,000 lower than any European alternative.

Two generations of 300ZX exist: the Z31 (1983–1989) and the Z32 (1990–1996). Both are worth understanding, but the Z32 is where the serious collector attention concentrates. It was Nissan's technical tour de force — every system engineered to the limit of what the mid-1990s knowledge could produce.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Twin Turbo Engagement (Z32) — Test both turbos by driving to 4,000+ rpm — power delivery should be smooth and strong. A boost gauge is recommended.

✓

Vacuum Hose Condition (Z32) — Inspect all vacuum hoses in the engine bay — brittle or cracked hoses cause boost management failures.

✓

T-Top Water Leaks — Check sills and interior carpet for water staining — T-top seals deteriorate and cause structural rust.

✓

Valve Cover Gaskets — Inspect for oil leaks around both valve covers — nearly universal on high-mileage examples.

✓

Four-Wheel Steering (Z32) — Verify the 4WS indicator light functions and the rear steering feel is correct on a test drive.

✓

Crankshaft Position Sensor — Check service history for CPS replacement — failure causes no-start and is a known Z32 issue.

✓

Turbo Oil Lines (Z31) — On Z31 Turbo, inspect oil feed lines to the turbocharger for cracks and deterioration.

✓

Structural Integrity — Inspect sills for rust from T-top water damage — sill rust on the Z32 is structural and expensive.

Common Issues

Z32 secondary turbo engagement failure from deteriorated vacuum hoses and manifold — most common performance issue. T-top water leaks causing sill rust and interior damage on both generations. Z32 crankshaft position sensor failure causing no-start conditions. Valve cover gasket oil leaks (nearly universal on high-mileage Z32s). Z31 fuel injector deterioration on unrestored high-mileage examples. Four-wheel steering system failures on Z32 from age-deteriorated components.

What to Look For

On Z32 Twin Turbo cars, inspect the secondary turbo engagement system — vacuum hoses, the ceramic manifold, and the turbo plumbing are age-sensitive. Have a qualified mechanic perform a boost test to verify both turbos engage correctly. Inspect for oil leaks, especially from the valve cover gaskets and the rear main seal. On Z31 turbocharged cars, check turbo oil feed lines for cracks. Check for the T-top roof panel leaks that caused water damage in the sills and interior. Verify the four-wheel steering system on Z32 cars is functioning correctly — indicator light and road-feel verification.

Price Guide

Z31 NA (1983–1989): $5,000–$12,000. Z31 Turbo: $8,000–$18,000. Z32 NA (1990–1996): $12,000–$22,000. Z32 Twin Turbo: $18,000–$40,000. Z32 Convertible: $22,000–$45,000. Low-mileage, well-documented Z32 TT: $40,000–$70,000+. Correctly sorted and maintained examples command significant premiums over neglected cars.

Did You Know?

The Z32 was one of the first production cars to use aluminum for its front and rear suspension components — a weight-saving technology that is now standard in performance car design. Car and Driver compared the 1990 300ZX Twin Turbo to a Porsche 928 S4 and called the 300ZX the better performance value. The Japanese domestic market 300ZX produced 330 hp vs. the US market's 300 hp due to different emissions requirements — the same car, different mapping.

$18,000