What is the difference between a fairlady z and a 300zx

The original Z-car suspension was simple but exceptionally effective. Just a pair of MacPherson struts up front and the similarly structured Chapman struts in the back. But emission controls sucked output of the engine down to horsepower.

The addition of mandatory 5-mph bumpers also increased weight, to pounds. But the bigger literally news was the new two-plus-two model that stretched the wheelbase The Z-car was becoming more GT than sports car. With the six now at 2. But even icons age, and the first-generation Z-car left production after The late s were all about the personal luxury car. It was flabbier than the Z and embellished with the complete lack of restraint typical of the era.

Think velour upholstery, digital dashboards, and marshmallow suspension. And, oh yeah, T-tops on either the two-seat or two-plus-two versions. While the ZX superficially resembled the Z, it was 2. About the only components that carried over intact from the Z were the 2. Of course, since the new car was heavier and the engine was strangled down to horses, the ZX was a slug. Think more than After an almost carryover year in there was a 10th Anniversary Edition painted black and gold and wearing Goodyear Wingfoot tires , some semblance of performance returned with the new ZX Turbo for Thanks to a Garrett turbo heaving about 7.

The Turbo was initially available only as a two-seater with a five-speed manual transmission. But with acceleration from zero to 60 mph now taking only a few tenths more than 7. By , the ZX Turbo was also available as a two-plus-two and with a stupidly mismatched three-speed automatic transmission. After the model year, the ZX died a deserved death. And so did the Datsun name after After all, during the model year, Nissan sold 57, of them in the United States. With Newman driving, the team took its first victory in a ZX at Brainerd in The styling was so square as to be virtually featureless, the sometimes engaging straight-six was swapped out in favor of a more powerful SOHC, hp 3.

Throw a turbo on that same engine, and output bounded up to horses. Once again, it was offered in two-seat and two-plus-two versions, and practically nothing carried over from the old ZX to the new ZX. If anything, the chassis was simultaneously better-handling and better-riding than before. But this first ZX was boring. Stripped of its heavy civilian duds, the third-gen ZX made a decent competition machine. After all, in stock form it would roar from zero to 60 mph in 7.

Nissan made T-tops standard issue on all ZXs, but the car itself was already aging in the market as new competitors emerged. This third generation of Z-cars would linger on through with a few superficial tweaks, but the market was leaving soft cruisers like this behind. In Nissan sold only of its refreshed third-generation Z in an eye-catching white metallic.

The Super Shiro had the best parts of the — ZX Turbo, and added cloth Recaro bucket seats, thicker anti-roll bars, special coil springs, and white inch wheels. The new ZX was awesome. And the ZX Twin Turbo was flat-out astonishing. Low, wide, and modern, the Z32 was mesmerizing: the first Z-car to set a new sports-car style standard. The suspension was vastly more sophisticated, with A-arms replacing the previous struts up front and an all-new multilink system in the back.

And when two turbochargers were added to the mix to create the ZX Twin Turbo, the result was horsepower. This deep into the 21st century, horses may seem tame for a sports car, but in , it was mind-boggling.

The ZX Twin Turbo knocked that down to 5. The Z32 version of the Z-car did carry one massive burden: its own mass. The sort-of-a-four-seater ZX two-plus-two returned with the fifth-generation Z-car a bit after the two-seater hit showrooms. With a Visually, the two-plus-two was virtually indistinguishable from the two-seater despite the additional length.

However, the two-plus-two was never offered with the turbocharged engine. Actually, it was usually the ZX two-plus-two, since the longer wheelbase allowed better weight distribution, including positioning the fuel tank within the wheelbase. It racked up wins throughout the early s; the pinnacle events came with GTS-class wins in both the 24 Hours of Daytona and Le Mans in , running a production-based twin-turbo V-6 that produced more than horsepower.

A convertible roadster was added to the ZX line for Along with its quick-folding manual top, an integrated roll bar added strength to the structure.

Sports cars seemed impractical, frivolous, and expensive. But there were always hints that Nissan was interested in bringing the car back, and it reappeared for the model year as the all-new Z. With 24 valves, twin-cam heads, variable valve timing, and a stout The VQ may be ordinary, but it can be entertaining when fed through a six-speed manual transmission a five-speed automatic was optional. But what was truly exciting was how balanced the new car was over its With 53 percent of its pound curb weight over the front wheels, it had quick turn-in and excellent transient responses.

It also pulled 0. The Z was strictly a two-seater as Nissan decided not to offer a two-plus-two version. But a roadster convertible did return.

The clutch takes up with indisputable authority. The steering is deliberate and trusty. The shifter glides through the well-oiled maze. Everyone likes patina, right? Well Datsun owners, especially those of the Ratsun community, own patina. I'm not just talking letting your ne. What it lacked as a streetcar, the competition version of the ZX made up for on track. Significant reductions in weight from the road car which was no real slouch meant that it could be the basis of a pretty competitive racer.

The years between and could hardly be considered the glory years of the Z car. All this made the launch of the new Z32 shape ZX all the more staggering.

The ZX set off in an entirely new design direction, the legacy shape replaced by one sleek and modern, with not a hint of retro to it. The rebirth of the Z car didn't end with the styling.

The new cars had thrilling performance to match the futuristic exterior. The suspension was beefed up with a new multilink setup at the back and an A arm set up in the front, the real party piece of the handling setup being the very sophisticated, speed sensitive rear wheel steering.

To say that the Zx handled well was an understatement, it handled spectacularly! The new ZX Turbo however was staggering at the time. The v6 gaining a pair of turbochargers raising the output to horsepower. These days you can get hp in a hatchback but in this was a supercar. If there was a negative point about the new ZX it would have to be the matter of weight.

It sure was a hefty beast, it was large but all that new technology was heavy too, the ZX came in at a pretty sturdy kg. That heft meant that despite the staggering output, the acceleration figures for the ZX were only ever a modest 6. The endurance racing version of that factory based v6 producing a heavily boosted rampaging horses! The production of ZX cars continued until but exports to the US ended in With the huge success of the ZX, and little hint of any forthcoming replacement, the demise of the Z car might have seemed like a long term thing.

Any fears were unfounded however when in Nissan unveiled its spectacular replacement. The compact and brutally powerful new Fairlady-Z. The Z as it is known outside Japan took the Z car in a new direction, much smaller than the ZX, a strict 2 seater with a beefy 3. The new engine was easily the most advanced to ever grace a Z car, with 24 valves, quad cams, variable valve timing, and high compression the all aluminium VQ35DE is a magnificent power plant.

In it was rated to hp but this soon grew to hp by the time the last z were being produced. The Z brought with it astonishing performance, was despatched in a shocking 5. The new compact shape did wonders for the handling, the mid mounted engine kept all masses close to the centre of the vehicle enabling a level of agility not previously seen in a Z car. By taking the Z back to basics, Nissan had rekindled the magic of what made the Z such a wonderful sports car.

In mid 00s competition in the small sports car category was fierce, the Z faced serious competition in the BMW Z4, Honda S and Porsche Boxter, all great cars and all drop tops, Nissan unleashed a convertible Z to take the fight out in the open.

In the Z got yet more power taking it up to its ultimate hp specification. The hi-po Z can be identified by the subtle power bulge on the hood.

Unlike any previous point in the history of the Zcar, the Z represented an incremental change but all in the right direction. It was lighter, faster, more agile, prettier outside and neater inside. Nissan had done it, they had perfected the Z car at last! The Z introduced a level of power previously unseen in a factory Z car, horsepower and lb-ft of torque propelling the new smaller and lighter frame, the performance was expectedly brilliant, 4.

F there is any room to complain about the Z it would be the convertible which is oddly proportioned with the hood up or down. Nissan claims the Z production run will end soon and no replacement is in the works. The market has changed too, with a 3. Could this be the future for the Z car too? The uncertain electric or hybrid future of the Z car? The Z34 Z is a fantastic car, fast, handles well, gorgeous to look at, everything feels solid and well put together, feels very alive, you feel the road through it, stock exhaust is too quiet, needs made more rorty.

All the poor Z31 needed was some much stiffer springs and shocks. I still think the Z32 is the worst looking Z, mired in the 90s melted plastic bubble looks.

And still the best looking and the one I'd like to drive is the first one. I dont understand the hate on z31, i think they are great and look better than z32 imo. Tim Rodie. Matt Hall.

Mike Ginsca. Thomas Kim. Ben Welham. Carzin Lightz. Doug F. JDM Fans. Matthew George posted in Z Tribe. Lumps and Legends Anyone looking at a Micra , a Pulsar or god forbid a Joke - Juke would be forgiven for thinking that Nissan are just a bit lame.