The Life and Times of My 300ZX Turbo
 

I just want to share this thread I posted back in August of 2011 over at the Z33 page. I started to miss this car more than usual these past few days so I figured I'd post this here. The following shows the subtle transformation of my 1996 Sapphire Blue 300ZX Turbo 2+2.

It all started in April of 2010 when I saw these pictures on a Japanese website. It was love all over again.
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...20Z/Z32/01.jpg
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...20Z/Z32/02.jpg
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...2/P4091634.jpg

I was finally in a position to own my favorite car as a child. Fast forward a few months, and my Z32 finally arrived in Germany. It was mostly stock with 105K kilometers on the VG30DETT motor. It came equipped with Greddy BOVs, OEM wing, and Gracer front bumper with side pieces.
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...2/IMG_1263.jpg
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...2/IMG_1260.jpg

The car was in great shape, but definitely needed some attention. For starters, the tires had to be replaced to pass German inspection so I decided to use my OEM 350Z V2 Touring wheels for the moment.
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...2/IMG_1679.jpg
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...2/IMG_1681.jpg

That didn't look bad at all so I kept them mounted. However, the car definitely needed a drop (and some spacers).
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...X/IMG_2282.jpg
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...X/IMG_2281.jpg
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...X/IMG_2266.jpg
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...X/IMG_2275.jpg

It was an enjoyable car no doubt, but I intended on selling it. Let's face it, though the car received more attention than my 350Z, it wasn't exactly a Nurburgring track star. Then one sunny day in Luxembourg, a BMW 328 attempted to to reconfigure my Greddy front end. It was a sad day indeed :(.
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...Luxembourg.jpg

After weeks of deliberation, I decided to repair it, restore it back to original, and keep it for good. The left fender and countless seals and mouldings were replaced. Thanks to Concept Z, Z1 Motorsports, and Nissan Autohaus Dambach, Germany, everything was readily available. The work began very shortly, and Autohaus Dambach did an amazing job prepping the vehicle and executing the job.
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_1012.jpg
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_1011.jpg
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_1010.jpg
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_1009.jpg

The 300ZX was finally complete in April of 2011. Sure, a few other seals still have to be replaced, but all that can wait. The Z32 is now sporting the OEM bumper, Eibach springs, Tokico Blues, and 10mm Z1 spacers all around. I also removed the Gracer sides and OEM wing for a cleaner look. Finally, I purchased a Stillen lip but have yet to install it.
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_1283.jpg
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_1286.jpg
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_1275.jpg
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_1278.jpg
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_1285.jpg
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_1281.jpg

A few more pictures with my 350Z.
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_1334.jpg
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_1298.jpg

The car is currently in storage in Germany. It will remain there until I return to Europe or when it turns 25 years old, whichever comes first. Maybe I miss it more because in the back of my head, I know that the practical thing to do is to sell it. We'll see what happens.

Very nice.

Don't sell it man. Money can be made. A car like this is hard to come by

It's a difficult decision. I've been paying €80 a month in storage fees since Oct '11 and will continue to do so for another 9 years if I keep the car, unless I get stationed back in Europe.

On the other hand, it's a car with under 70K miles that I've spent over €5K just for the paint and numerous OEM seals and body pieces just to get it back to original. Factor in the purchase and shipping price, all of a sudden keeping the Z doesn't seem like a bad idea.

It was a foolish move dropping that much on it, specially since it doesn't have any real collector value. Euro prices for parts and labor are really off the chart, you should have sent the car to Poland for repair or restoration they are the China of Europe for cheap quality work.

Your basic decision is simple keep it and keep paying a fortune for it or abandon the money pit and cut your losses or have the car shipped to where you intent to live permamently and have a friend or relative store it for you.

^^ Why would any of us spend thousands on our vehicles? Are turbos, wheels really necessary? I know I won't get my money back when I decided to fix it, I intended on keeping it regardless of the fact it's not exactly in high demand. The question is my willingness to keep on paying storage fees for 9 years. Hmmm ...

I love it! Worth every penny IMO.

To this day I still miss my TT... Sold it in 98 work 45 kms....it was mint.... Wished I never sold it

beautiful

Thanks bro. The 300ZX Turbo is still in Germany and is currently for sale. I'd rather not sell it, but I already have too many cars as it is. Besides, it's a 1996 model so I won't be able to ship it anytime soon. I keep getting lowball offers, from $5K to $7K usually, so I'll probably end up keeping the car for a little while which is kinda cool. I keep finding an to tell my wife why we still owe this Z, and this seems to be the best one yet ;). I understand it's almost 20 years old, but it would be difficult for anyone to find a 300ZX in such a pristine condition such as this one. It has under 70K miles, and almost every seal was replaced, including badges, when it was repainted by Autohaus Dambach. I won't take anything under $8K. At $15K, I would just break even with all my expenses.

If it was LHD, I would give you what you're asking....Nothing here in any sort of condition/price is worth it....GL.

I'm confused.. Why don't you ship the car to where your at?? Sorry if I missed that part of the story.


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Unfortunately, a JDM car has to be 25 years old before you could legally import it to the US.

Are you F**king kidding me?? What if you import it lets say for track use?? then it will be here in your garage and not over in storage... Just a thought:ugh2:

That's an option for sure. But instead of being in a garage in Germany, it'll be parked outside here in Guam. Then again, better here than there, right? I really need to think about this. I just might go with a lower than $8K selling price, I can always get another Z32.

Very true but you gotta ask your self how much do you love that car?? It will not be the same if you just grab another z32... You got some thinking to do my friend.


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Never seen one with 350 wheels, that looks amazing. I hope I can find one of these that looks as good as yours when I have room for it in a couple years. And if it were my I wouldn't be able to sell that either, storage costs be damned.

I absolutely love it. The stock blue interior is in immaculate shape, the T-tops is just perfect for the summer and autumn, and once the boost gets going, the car just takes off. I've gotten more compliments on this car than the Z33 and Z34 combined.

Thank you. Well, I just might end up keeping it. It's currently registered under a friend who's retired military so it's still in the USAEUR system. I could transfer it to the German system as non-operational, keep it in storage until it turns 25 years old and not pay a dime until I start driving it again. My friend offered free storage as long as I need it, and since it's the same shop that worked on my cars, I can continue to send parts here and there for the next 8 years. It sounds ridiculous, I know. It's really not about the money, but I've bonded more with this car than my 370Z so it's hard to let go. The question is, how much do I really trust this German friend?

Not worth it...

96 months at 80 euros... OVER 10,000 dolars in storage fees. And when you get it again, you'll put a few grand into checking everything. Sell it, make yourself a new one

You know, I thought about that. However, a German friend offered to keep it for free at their dealership, next to his dad's beloved 1974 Alfa Romeo (which hasn't moved in the 4 years that I've known him). I mean we kicked it and all, but to sign over my car completely? Not so sure I trust him enough. Either that or I sell it between $5K and $7K. Decisions, decisions.

I saw that.
I can't believe you had it fixed there for what I think as cheap. If that can be done here or there for less... Sell it and invest your money elsewhere

Clean Z. I've never been a fan of the Z32, though so I say sell it. That's a lot in storage fees. If this was an MKIV TT Supra I would say otherwise.

Why would he require you to sign the car over to you just to store it there? Just seems kinda sketchy to me, granted I don't know how it works over there or your relationship with him.

I don't have to sign it over to him, but if the car is be registered on the German system, it has to be signed over to a local national. It's currently on the US system so I still pay insurance, registration, etc. If the car was moved over, I won't have to pay a dime until I decide to move it. Insurance isn't expensive anyways so I can keep it in the US system, but a military member can only have so many cars. The current owner already has 4, including the Z32, and he can only have 2, maybe 3, technically.

Oh ok, I guess that makes more sense now. Maybe you could create a contract of some sort? Like sign it over to him for x years, but then after that time (once the 25 years is up) ownership would revert back to you? No idea whether or not that is possible though.

Just an update, the Z32 was sold for $6K to a friend stationed in Germany. Man, I don't even want to think of how much money I spent on that car. Oh well, maybe I'll get another Z32 in the future.

:( At least it was to a friend and not a stranger. Thanks for the update!

Great pictorial, thanks for sharing. It is good to see a Nissan dealer that actually works on cars properly like the place in Germany you took yours to. I dont think your car will sell at the price you are asking, as in Germany as with most European countries used car prices are really much lower than the USA I have noticed since living here in the USA.