Tamiya Nissan 300ZX Turbo 1/24 Scale

The Z31 chassis designation was first introduced in 1983 as a 1984 model and the third-generation Datsun/Nissan Z-car. The car was designated as a Datsun/Nissan 300ZX in its 1984 premiere, but the Datsun badge was dropped in 1985 when Nissan standardised their brand name worldwide. The car was designed by Kazumasu Takagi and his team of developers, and featured a new, more aerodynamic body than its 280ZX predecessor.

It also had a more powerful line-up of V6 engines instead of the old I6 used in the 280ZX. According to Nissan, "the V6 engine was supposed to re-create the spirit of the original Fairlady Z." (Datsun 280 Nissan 300ZX, p.65) This new V6 (2960 cc) SOHC engine was available as a naturally-aspirated VG30E or a turbocharged VG30ET producing 160 and 200 horsepower respectively. The VG30E(T) engine was either a type A or type B sub-designation from 1984- 4/1987: models from 5/87-1989 had a W-subdesignation.

The W series featured redesigned water jackets for additional cooling, as well as fully floating piston wrist pins. W motors were rated at 165 (non turbo) and 205 (turbo) horsepower. 1984-1987 turbo models featured a Garrett T3 turbocharger with a 7.8:1 compression motor, whereas 1988-1989 models featured a low inertia T25 turbocharger, and increased compression (8.3:1) to produce the 5 extra horsepower. Finally, these motors were equipped with self-adjusting hydraulic valve lifters.