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Car Of The Day: May 25, 2008; Majorette '88 Nissan 300ZX
Topic Started: May 24 2008, 11:57 PM (968 Views)
Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
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Today's car of the day is Majorette's '88 Nissan 300ZX.

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Wikipedia
 
The Z31 chassis designation was first introduced in 1983 as a 1984 Datsun/Nissan 300ZX. This continued until 1985 when Nissan standardized their brand name worldwide and dropped the Datsun badge. Designed by Kazumasu Takagi and his team of developers, the 300ZX improved aerodynamics and increased power when compared to its predecessor, the 280ZX. The newer Z-car had a drag coefficient of 0.30 and was powered by Japan's first mass-produced V6 engine instead of an I6. According to Nissan, "the V6 engine was supposed to re-create the spirit of the original Fairlady Z."

This new V6 (2960 cc) Single overhead cam engine was available as a naturally-aspirated VG30E or a turbocharged VG30ET producing 160 hp (119 kW) and 200 hp (150 kW) respectively. The engine was either a type A or type B sub-designation from 1984 to April 1987, while models from May 1987 to 1989 had a W sub-designation. The W-series engines featured redesigned water jackets for additional cooling, fully floating piston wrist pins, and more power--165 hp naturally-aspirated and 205 hp (153 kW) turbocharged. The 1984 to 1987 turbo models featured a Garrett T3 turbocharger with a 7.8:1 compression ratio, whereas 1988 to 1989 models featured a low inertia T25 turbocharger with an increased 8.3:1 compression ratio. Finally, these engines were equipped with self-adjusting hydraulic valve lifters.


Japanese market
On the home market, the Z31 also came with a 2.0 liter motor. The 200Z, 200ZG, and 200ZS used the VG20ET motor while the 200ZR had the RB20DET. Other than the 300ZX, the only other factory Z31 variant to use the VG30DE engine is the 300ZR. The Japanese 300ZX Turbo was not subject to the tough emissions regulations found in the US, allowing it to produce 230 hp (172 kW), outperforming not only its North American counterpart, but the 2.0 liter Z31s as well--their engines only made 170-180 hp. This was to "make the most of the local taxation laws."


Chassis
The Z31 chassis was based on the 280ZX, but improved upon it. Although the newer chassis had the same wheelbase and MacPherson strut/semi-trailing arm independent suspension, it handled and accelerated better than the 280ZX it replaced. Turbocharged models, except for the Shiro Special edition, had an additional innovation: 3-way electronically adjustable shock absorbers.


Special Z31 releases
Nissan manufactured two special Z31 models. The 1984 300ZX 50th Anniversary Edition, released to celebrate Nissan's half-century, was all fully-loaded turbocharged model with a Silver/Black color scheme. All 50th Anniversary Edition came equipped with a digital dash including MPG and compass readouts, in-car electronic adjustable shocks, Bodysonic speakers in the seats, cruise and radio controls in the steering wheel, mirrored t-tops, embroidered leather seats, embroidered floor mats, sixteen-inch aluminum wheels, rear fender flares, different front fenders, and 50th AE logo badges on the body. The only option available to the 50th Anniversary Edition was the choice between an automatic or a 5-speed manual transmission. Notably, 1984 also marks the last year of turbochargers cooled entirely by oil. 1985 turbo models are equipped with coolant passages to ensure turbo longevity. In 1988, the turbocharged Shiro Special debuted with pearl white paint, stiffer springs and matched shocks, heavy-duty anti-sway bars, a unique front air dam, paint matched wheels, Recaro seats, and a viscous, limited-slip differential. No other options were available for the Shiro, meaning all Shiros were identical. It was the fastest car out of Japan, capable of 153 mph (246 km/h) speeds, as tested by Motor Trend with the electronic speed limiter disabled. A total of 1002 Shiro Special Z31s were produced for the US market between January and March of 1988.


Style and evolution
Due to its aging design, the Z31 body was slightly restyled in 1986 with the addition of side skirts, making the fenders of the 1984 50th Anniversary Edition standard, and the removal of the hood scoop for a much smoother look. The old rubber spoiler was replaced with a more durable fiberglass one, and a third brake light was incorporated within the unit to comply with US safety regulations. The car was given a final makeover in 1987 that included more aerodynamic bumpers, fog lamps within the front air dam, and 9004 bulb-based headlamps that replaced the outdated sealed beam headlights. The 300ZX-titled reflector in the rear was updated to a narrow set of tail lights running the entire width of the car and an LED third brake light on top of the rear hatch. The Z31 continued selling until 1989, more than any other Z-car at the time. Over 70,000 units were sold in 1985 alone.


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For more information and pictures of the real car please visit: Nissan 300ZX

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Two opening features on this casting! Not only do the doors open, but the headlights pop-up as well!

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The only real letdown is the yellow plastic headlight piece instead of a body matching orange (it could do with better rims as well, but considering this was a mainline release intended primarily as a toy we'll let that slide). Aside from that, this is an excellent piece.

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FiatCoupe
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Fullsize
Nice,I've got a couple of those but haven't seen that colour.
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davidj94
Out hunting for JL
The headlight feature is pretty neat. There was a little extra time spent on designing this little casting. Is there anything peculiar with the base on this Majorette casting?
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ivantt
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New casting? Quick! Take it apart!
OWWWW! MY EYES! Quick, the sunglasses....orange and yellow with red interior!! BUT the glass is clear!! :thumbup: :thumbup: I guess the interior had to be red since it shares the molding tongue for the tail lights.
DAVIDJ is right, you can see they put an extra effort into this piece, and it certainly looks well done and probably the best Majorette I've seen so far.
Are those rear bumpers the US required safety standards at the time, and they added them to the base?

Do the headlights lift together (connected by a crossbar) or individually?

Nice looking piece, SWIFTY, you must have gotten it brand new and preserved it well. :) :) :) A worthy entry for the CotW competition!
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Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
ivantt
May 25 2008, 01:12 PM
OWWWW! MY EYES! Quick, the sunglasses....orange and yellow with red interior!! BUT the glass is clear!! :thumbup: :thumbup: I guess the interior had to be red since it shares the molding tongue for the tail lights.
DAVIDJ is right, you can see they put an extra effort into this piece, and it certainly looks well done and probably the best Majorette I've seen so far.
Are those rear bumpers the US required safety standards at the time, and they added them to the base?

Do the headlights lift together (connected by a crossbar) or individually?

Nice looking piece, SWIFTY, you must have gotten it brand new and preserved it well. :) :) :) A worthy entry for the CotW competition!

The headlights lift together (connected by a bar).

And actually, I bought this one off of Jeff Koch over a year ago. Not from my childhood collection, though we will be seeing some of my childhood survivors eventually. :thumbup:
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craftymore
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Support your local demo derby.

Great looking casting from Majorette. The wheels, which can be found on the 80s Impala/Caprice, are the only letdown. I'd agree with Sean though, we can let it slide for such a nice casting. Thanks for the pics! :thumbup:

Sir Crafty
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james_autos
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Minivan
I've never seen that colour on that model either. I have the same casting in yellow, but surprisingly the pop-up lights are white?
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Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
james_autos
May 28 2008, 12:38 PM
I've never seen that colour on that model either. I have the same casting in yellow, but surprisingly the pop-up lights are white?

I have a white model with the pop-ups in white. I wonder if maybe they produced too many of the white version, resprayed them yellow, and had to go with the white pop-ups. Then phased in yellow ones, only to run into the same problem on the orange model?

Or maybe someone at Majorette just thought they should have contrasting colored pop-ups?

The world may never know.
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Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
Ten years later... and the world still doesn't know. But we have, however, determined that it takes more than three licks to get the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop. Many more.
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tksjohn
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Station Wagon
I've always loved the pop up headlights on this one :thumbup:
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juantoo3
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Classic Majo!
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Pegers
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Pony Car
FiatCoupe
May 25 2008, 03:08 AM
Nice,I've had a couple of those but haven't seen that colour.
X2.
Edited by Pegers, May 25 2018, 03:20 PM.
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pjedsel
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Muscle Car
:woot: Always liked the pop-up headlights on this Z car offering from Majorette. Think I had a white version of the car.
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corvairjim
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Fullsize
My wife is a Z-Car fan (she leans more toward the 280ZX) but I know she'd like this one. I can't figure out why they went with the contrasting headlights, though. You have the molds, cast the plastic in a color that matches the paint for heaven's sake! And maybe choose a color that doesn't clash so badly with the red gut. Okay, enough of my nit-picking. It IS a nice casting except for that rear bumper.
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Dean-o-mite
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Muscle Car
I have no factual information regarding the lights, but I wonder if Majorette intentionally used contrasting colors for the headlights to draw attention to the fact that they were additional "Action Moving Parts!"

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bison1913
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Station Wagon
Dean-o-mite
May 27 2018, 03:03 AM
I have no factual information regarding the lights, but I wonder if Majorette intentionally used contrasting colors for the headlights to draw attention to the fact that they were additional "Action Moving Parts!"

Posted Image


:toy: :toy: They just don't make them like this anymore... at least for the price. What a shame. :toy:

:fiddle: Even in today's dollar/inflation they wouldn't make them like this unless they were charging an arm and a leg. :fiddle: :fiddle:
:bowing: Those are some awesome looking pieces you have there. :bowing:
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