1994-1995 Nissan 300 ZX Twin Turbo
Average asking price*: $14,200
Collector status: Buy and drive
nossan300zxtt

When we look at what is ripest for picking in the collector and petrolhead market, the lowest hanging fruit is the car that didn’t get its due when it was new, sold in low numbers because of it and suffered deep depreciation in the aftermath. Perhaps nowhere exists a better example of that than the Z32 300ZX, made between 1989 and 2000, but unable to compete in the US after 1996. It was a media darling upon its introduction, called the best Z ever. In Twin Turbo trim, it was especially dazzling with supercar performance, four-wheel steering and other technological advancements.

Criticisms were few, chief among them that it was heavy for a sports car. 1,500 kilos is indeed heavy, but only slightly more so than the Porsche 911 of its day. With 20 horsepower more, the 300ZX Twin Turbo in fact had a favorable power-to-weight ratio. Thought it often gets compared to its contemporaries, the FD RX-7, MK 4 Toyota Supra Turbo and Acura NSX, the 300ZX Twin Turbo is less of a sports car and more of what Nissan itself referred to as a dream car: sports car power and handling with civilized creature comforts, quality finish and real-world ownership costs. It was its initial cost however—approaching $50,000 in 1995 dollars—that was its ultimate doom. Its reputation tarnished by the bloated, softened, indistinct F31 it replaced—and far far removed from the original Z car—the 300ZX wasn’t able to find an appreciative audience among buyers. In 1996, Nissan discontinued the Z32 in the US, though it would trudge along elsewhere until 2000.

Depreciation set in quickly and after 10 years off the world stage, the 300ZX found itself at around 10% of its original MSRP. Since then, prices have been gradually creeping up, aided by a post-recession spike. Today, excellent examples of non-turbo 300ZXs can be found for well under $10,000 while quality Twin Turbos are in the low- to mid-teens, with a few exceptional ones approaching $20,000. That’s a good indication that other very good to excellent examples will soon be fetching the same $20,000 or more and now is a good time to buy. Furthermore, apart from some of the techie goo-gaw, they’re relatively durable drivetrains, so they can be enjoyed while they appreciate without too much degradation.