The Z32 Nissan 300ZX is car that I personally consider to be one of the best looking Japanese cars of the 1990s, and from a design standpoint is right up there with the original S30 at the top of the Z food chain, It’s twin turbo powerplant also makes plenty of horsepower to back up it looks. With that said, it seems Z32 has always had more of a boulevard cruiser image rather than one of a hard-edged sports car.
At the same time, as the Z32 has aged it’s lost a bit of its glory. Here in the USA at least, it’s hard to find a Z32 these days that doesn’t have a trashed interior, faded paint, or a bunch of sketchy modifications done over the years. This is why I got so excited when I saw the email from Landon Shore in the featurethis@dev.speedhunters.com inbox. Landon lives in Northern California’s wine country and he’s the owner one of the cleanest Z32s I’ve ever seen.
Not only is Landon’s Z extremely clean, he also races the car regularly – whether it’s at an autocross event or at Sears Point, his local track. There he goes negating both of the stereotypes I had about Z32s…
Landon says there are two very different sides to his approach with the car. On one hand he keeps it at clean as possible and calls the Z “embarrassingly pampered”. When he pulls the car out of the garage though, he drives it well…like a rental.
The car was originally built for time attack competition and even won its class a few years ago. The overall goal was to improve the car’s performance without sacrificing any of its drivability. The twin turbo VG30 motor has been upgraded in all the typical spots, but is still pretty stock in its overall character. The same goes for the chassis and suspension.
I’m honestly not sure if I’ve ever seen an interior that’s so functional and so clean at the same time. It’s really the best of both of worlds.
Big thanks to Landon for sharing his car with us.
I’ve attached his spec list below if you are interested in all the work done to the Z.
-Mike
Engine/Exhaust
-Jim Wolf Technologies Single Pop intake
-Z1 Sidemount Intercoolers with silicone couplers and tbolt clamps
-Unorthodox Racing Pulley
-HI Water pump overdrive pulley
-SS concepts lower hard radiator pipe with samco silicone elbows/couplers
-Koyo Polished Aluminum Radiator and Specialty Z brackets
-Nismo 555cc Injectors
-Denso Iridium 8-series plugs
-Mirror Polished Plenum and Throttle bodies
-Red powdercoated Valve covers
-Kojima Race PCV relocation into valve covers and related plumbing
-JWT ECU (Single POP, 5spd, 555cc inj, CA emissions)
-B&B Stainless steel exhaust with 4.5″ Quadovals and non-resonated x-pipe (Specialty Z X-pipe)
-Z1 split downpipes
-Z1 Test pipes
-Electronic exhaust cutoffs
Driveline:
-RPS Segmented Aluminum flywheel
-RPS Max TT clutch with street disc
-Nismo delrin differential bushings
-Woody75 Shortshifter
-SPL bronze shifter bushings
-Technafit teflon coated SS clutch line
-SPL chromoly clutch pivotball
Suspension/brakes:
-SPL coilovers
-AP Racing 6 piston calipers
-2 piece 14.25” rotors
-Kazaama tension rods
-Stillen sway bars and endlinks
-ES polyurethane steering rack bushings
-SpecialtyZ subframe spacers
-Brembo black magnesium coated slotted and vented rear rotors
-Ferodo track pads front
-Hawk HP plus pads rear
-Coz SS Teflon coated brake lines
-Custom made dual brake ducts (each side) with
-Naca-style intake ducts in front airdam
-Custom aluminum undertray or new stock undertray
-Nismo longer front wheel studs
-ARP forged longer rear wheel studs
Electronics:
-Blitz SBC-iD III Boost controller
-Blitz Powermeter
-Optima Red Top Battery
-Powertrix Grounding kit
-Apexi AFC Neo
Interior:
-Jspec Black with Red stitching shift knob
-Red stitched Black connolly leather shift and ebrake boots
-Corbeau FX1 pro seats
-Custom fabricated sidemonts
-Schroth Profi II ASM Harnesses
-Autopower 4 pt race rollbar, powder coated to match exterior
Exterior:
-J-spec rear tail lights with Jspec center panel
-3M invisibra
-HID conversion/ Slim ballast Kit
-Euro-spec smoked corners
Wheels & Tires:
-Enkei RPF1: 18×10 38mm and 18×8.5 30mm
-Hankook Z214: 275/35/18 and 245/40/18
-5Zigen FN01R-C’s: 18×9.5 all around
-BFG Traction Sports: 255/35/18
If you have a cool car or build story that you think is worthy of being featured on Speedhunters, drop us a line at featurethis@dev.speedhunters.com . Please make sure to include your name and location, as well as some basic details and specs, along with at least 5-10 photographs. Photos should be no less than 800 pixels wide.
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Love that 2nd shot! Awesome!
This is a wonderful feature. Do a Z31 Coverage!!!
Props for having a very clean, and super great looking Z32!
Props for having a very clean, and super great looking Z32!
First decent article in some time...
best z32 you guys have featured since the pentroof z.
What a great car. More Z32 articles please!!!!
I've always thought the Z32 was underappreciated. Knowing that there are still Z32s out there that are this clean makes me happy
Very nice car indeed. I've considered one before my Soarer...and still does. It will be a great classic in the near future.
I totally agree with you, definately one of the best looking cars of the 90's. Still high on my list of cars to buy. The car featured here look very tidy, good to see it hits the track regularly too.
For a car of the 90s, I think it is a bit futuristic in terms of design. Which made me like S15 more.
I'm sorry, but taping the front of an old-ass Nissan to prevent chips or whatever, is lame. I myself drive a FC which I'm cary about, and have always dreamed of, but don't pretend like it's some one-off custom car or prototype. It don't matter whether it's a Kia or a Lambo, a car is car, and nothing more. Use it, have fun, and accept that with usage come signs of usage.
Just sayin'...
One clean car, doesn't seem like a 20 year old car at all.
It's a shame there aren't more Z32's like this one running around the U.S.
Well, I'd just say that a $600 clear bra would do the same thing...
No kidding, makes me sad when I see all the messed up ones I see driving around here.
You is right... Tofuman, it don't matter...what your opinion may be when you obviously flunked English... Oh and FYI the blue tape is considered "battlle gear"...
Wow thats a real beautiful car and superb mods choices, nice to see a Z32 in perfect shape still see track duty! Big props to the owner and great pics, I'd love to have a z32 as clean as that to toss around on track.
Very nice car indeed. Perfect balance of show and go. Being a fellow Z32 owner, I can also agree that there are very few nice ones out there. But when you do find someone that really cares about the car as a brand, it's assured to be a beauty. Perhaps I'll send in mine and see if it qualifies for a feature.
wine country huh!!!!!!!?...... funny in the forth picture , i smashed the oil plan open on my first s14 about 100 yards up that road.. HA!
@Tofuman lol yup, since you don't care about keeping up your car means no one else should either.
@Tofuman by the same token, if the paint on this 20 year old car is in great shape, and you don't want to shell out annually or biannually for a nose respray, why not use the $10 worth of tape per event, and not worry about it? For the clearbra, yes, it works, but clearbra eventually breaks down too, and can leave a nasty line where dirt builds up on it's leading edges. There are no perfect solutions. To me, the tape seems a cheap and effective way to prevent costlier wear and tear. And, frankly who cares what the car looks like during a track day. It ain't a car show
@Tofuman by the same token, if the paint on this 20 year old car is in great shape, and you don't want to shell out annually or biannually for a nose respray, why not use the $10 worth of tape per event, and not worry about it? For the clearbra, yes, it works, but clearbra eventually breaks down too, and can leave a nasty line where dirt builds up on it's leading edges. There are no perfect solutions. To me, the tape seems a cheap and effective way to prevent costlier wear and tear. And, frankly who cares what the car looks like during a track day. It ain't a car show
@Tofuman by the same token, if the paint on this 20 year old car is in great shape, and you don't want to shell out annually or biannually for a nose respray, why not use the $10 worth of tape per event, and not worry about it? For the clearbra, yes, it works, but clearbra eventually breaks down too, and can leave a nasty line where dirt builds up on it's leading edges. There are no perfect solutions. To me, the tape seems a cheap and effective way to prevent costlier wear and tear. And, frankly who cares what the car looks like during a track day. It ain't a car show
@Tofuman by the same token, if the paint on this 20 year old car is in great shape, and you don't want to shell out annually or biannually for a nose respray, why not use the $10 worth of tape per event, and not worry about it? For the clearbra, yes, it works, but clearbra eventually breaks down too, and can leave a nasty line where dirt builds up on it's leading edges. There are no perfect solutions. To me, the tape seems a cheap and effective way to prevent costlier wear and tear. And, frankly who cares what the car looks like during a track day. It ain't a car show
@Tofuman by the same token, if the paint on this 20 year old car is in great shape, and you don't want to shell out annually or biannually for a nose respray, why not use the $10 worth of tape per event, and not worry about it? For the clearbra, yes, it works, but clearbra eventually breaks down too, and can leave a nasty line where dirt builds up on it's leading edges. There are no perfect solutions. To me, the tape seems a cheap and effective way to prevent costlier wear and tear. And, frankly who cares what the car looks like during a track day. It ain't a car show
big thanks to matt pool over at driven authority for all the work on this car. you guys should do a feature on him honestly at the fore front of z32 renovation and race builds !!
big thanks to matt pool over at driven authority for all the work on this car. you guys should do a feature on him honestly at the fore front of z32 renovation and race builds !!
big thanks to matt pool over at driven authority for all the work on this car. you guys should do a feature on him honestly at the fore front of z32 renovation and race builds !!
big thanks to matt pool over at driven authority for all the work on this car. you guys should do a feature on him honestly at the fore front of z32 renovation and race builds !!
big thanks to matt pool over at driven authority for all the work on this car. you guys should do a feature on him honestly at the fore front of z32 renovation and race builds !!
Exactly, $10 a year for tape or $600 for the clear stuff that ends up leaving a line on your paint. @Tofuman
Exactly, $10 a year for tape or $600 for the clear stuff that ends up leaving a line on your paint. @Tofuman
Exactly, $10 a year for tape or $600 for the clear stuff that ends up leaving a line on your paint. @Tofuman
Exactly, $10 a year for tape or $600 for the clear stuff that ends up leaving a line on your paint. @Tofuman
Exactly, $10 a year for tape or $600 for the clear stuff that ends up leaving a line on your paint. @Tofuman
Bout time there was a z32 around. Rarely find articles on the z32 being appreciated.
Bout time there was a z32 around. Rarely find articles on the z32 being appreciated.
Bout time there was a z32 around. Rarely find articles on the z32 being appreciated.
Bout time there was a z32 around. Rarely find articles on the z32 being appreciated.
Bout time there was a z32 around. Rarely find articles on the z32 being appreciated.
it still amazes me that this car is so under appreciated and disrespected. i remember when these where new and EVERYONE thought it was just about the best thing since Jesus! (at least till the Supra came out). it handled well, looked like it came from 100 years from the future. and pretty much set the tone for modern early 21s century styling and function-ability. look at it! this car came out in 1989 people! read some old magazines or look up the reviews. this thing was like a star ship back then; especially the turbo.
now the car is seen as nothing more than cheap wheels for posers and RWD performance wannabes...SMH. well i still love them. and if i come across a clean relatively unmolested one, i've made up my mind to buy it!
This is seriously almost an exact copy of my car aside from the seat replacement.
I also found what I thought was a one-of-a-kind z32. It is a 1991 Twin Turbo in Black. I bought it as a 1 owner a couple of years ago.
The owner in question is by far the most meticulous I've ever encountered. Anywhere the car went (and it was driven) the cover was put on and it was parked away from everything. It is as close to perfect as a 23 year old car can be. Original paint, perfect condition, interior, barely worn at all. It looks like a brand new 23 year old car.
Stillen High Performance Clutch
Short Shifter
JWT Single POP charger
JWT ECU
B&B Exhaust
SS Braided Brake Lines / Racing Fluid
The car puts 328hp to the rear wheels according to the dyno charts I have.
Mainly I'm just glad to see another car that's been kept up as well as mine has and tastefully modded.
' today was a good day' That's my cruiser 300Zx roll out