1986 300zx 2+2 Auto - 1 Owner - Exceptional Rust Free Garaged Ca Car - 48,700 on 2040-cars

Automatic transmission with overdrive, power steering, 4 wheel disc brakes, cruise control, power windows, power mirrors, power lumbar seat support, tilt wheel, ac, smoked glass t-tops.

I purchased this car new in 1985.  Until November 2011, it was kept in Oceanside California where it spent 20 1/2 years in storage. It has never been driven in salt and is completely rust free. It was always garaged when not being driven. The original paint is not faded at all and shines like new. Except for a couple small nicks and scratches and a small dent in the right rear fender (see photo), the car looks like it did when I bought it new in December 1985.

The interior is mint. The seats, carpet, and headliner are in like new condition with no wear, tears, stains, or fading at all.  The vinyl looks brand new with no cracks, scratches, or fading. The car has never been smoked in. Except for the FM radio and the cruise control, everything works. Nothing needs to be fixed.

The car was in storage in California for 20 1/2 years until November 2011.  Right after taking it out of storage, I replaced the battery, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, differential grease, rear brake pads, air and fuel filters, spark plugs, wires, distributor cap, rotor,  and belts. As a precaution, I also replaced the timing belt and water pump and put 4 new tires on the car.  In December 2011, Nissan replaced the fuel injectors due to a recall.  Since taking it out of storage, I’ve driven it about 1,000 miles.

The car starts, idles, and runs like new. There are no fluid leaks at all. None! Except for the cruise control and FM radio, everything works; Nothing needs to be fixed.

Although the car is a 1986 model, because of its storage, use, and maintenance history, the car's condition is more like what you’d expect to find on a well maintained, late model, California car. 

Potential buyers are welcome to come and inspect this Z. You will be amazed how fresh and clean the car is and how well it runs.  I’m sure it will exceed your expectations. 

I’m moving and will no longer have room for the car, so I have to part with it.

Please feel free to call Frank at 715-203-1430, I’ll be happy to answer any questions, provide more information, or email receipt copies and a Carfax report to verify the car’s history.

(see the following for a more detailed history)

Car History

Highway Miles, 1986 – 1991, Florida, California

I bought this car new in December 1985 after returning to the states from a 3 1/2 year middle east work assignment. I planned to take some time off to tour FL, the south, and south west and looked for a car that was fun to drive, but comfortable, and roomy enough for a couple suit cases. After test driving the Toyota Supra, Chevy Corvette, and the Porche 944, I liked the 300ZX best and put 22,000 highway miles on it in 1986, the first year I owned it.  

Over the next 4 1/2 years, I used the car only for pleasure while living in CA and drove it another 25,000 miles before putting it in storage in July 1991.  The car remained in California storage for 20 1/2 years.

Storage, 1991 – 2011, California

In July 1991, I took another overseas work assignment, so I put the car in storage with the intention of returning in 24 months. At the time, I considered selling it rather than storing it, but it looked and ran like new, and there was no other car that I liked more, so I kept it.

My plan was to return to CA after working overseas, but instead I ended up working in and eventually buying a business in WI, so to make a long story short, the Z remained in CA storage for 20 1/2  years.

Maintenance, November 2011

In October 2011, I went to Oceanside, CA planning to take the car out of storage and selling it out there. I told a mechanic that I was planning to sell the car that week, and to do whatever was necessary to start it.  He changed the oil, flushed and replaced the coolant, installed a new battery, new fuel filter, new thermostat, fresh gas, and cleaned the fuel injectors and surprisingly the car started right up and ran great.

After seeing and driving the car again, I couldn't part with it. The mechanic recommended that, if I was going to keep the car, I should, as a precaution, replace the timing belt,  because if it broke, the engine would be ruined. So I had him replace it. While he had the car apart, he also replaced the water pump, the camshaft seals, and the other 3 belts. I also put 4 new tires on the car and then had it trucked to Wisconsin. 

After the car arrived in Wisconsin, I had the transmission, power steering, and differential fluids changed. 

Fuel Injector Recall, December 2011

The mechanic that took the car out of storage in California told me that there was an open 1996 Nissan recall on the fuel injectors. So after getting the car to Wisconsin, I took it to a dealer and was surprised to learn that they were still willing to do the work at no cost.

As part of the recall, not only did the dealer replace all the fuel injectors, but they also replaced the fuel pressure regulator, all of the fuel lines, and any vacuum hoses, or water hoses that had to be removed during the repair procedure. While the car was at the dealer, I also had them replace the spark plugs, wires, distributor cap, rotor, and brake fluid.  

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