Car Model History

Third generation · Z31 (300ZX) · 1984–1989

1987Nissan Z

The first Z fully sold under the Nissan name in the US, with a new V6 (the VG) and available turbocharging — a sharp, digital-dash 1980s GT.

Third generation · Z31 (300ZX)

1987 Nissan 300ZX (Z31) — front three-quarter view

Photo: “1987 Nissan 300ZX, Front Left, 10-22-2018” by SsmIntrigue / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.

The 1987 model year

Overview

Preserved Datsun/Nissan U.S. factory literature documents 6 1987 Z configuration rows across 2 body and powertrain combinations. This Z31 roster keeps two-seat, 2+2, naturally aspirated, turbo, and transmission applicability within their exact model-year boundaries.

Specifications

Engines
  • 3.0-liter VG30E naturally aspirated V6
  • 3.0-liter VG30ET turbocharged V6
Transmissions
5-speed manual, 4-speed automatic
Body styles
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe, Four-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

Year over year

What changed

  • The 1987 record includes only the body, engine, and transmission pairings supported by that model year's factory evidence; adjacent-year combinations and appearance packages are not inferred.

Worth knowing

Notable

  • The documented lineup exposes 6 source-backed configurations without turning standalone options into separate Z models.

Living with it

Reliability & ownership notes

  • Verify chassis code, engine, transmission, emissions equipment, and production date before ordering parts. Inspect rust and prior structural repair, cooling and fuel systems, timing-drive history where applicable, turbocharger condition on forced-induction cars, and modification quality.

Maintenance & service parts

Keep your 1987 Z on the road

Start with the service interval, then match the engine or exact version you own. Order links appear only when a catalog-backed part number is available, and every listing still needs a fitment check.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1987 Nissan Z. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
6
Scheduled topics
5
Applicability stated
6
Exact references
1

Before ordering Identify your engine, options and build date. Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

  • Engine oil and filterView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine oil and filter

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1987 · 3.0L VG30E V6 · United States · This recovered schedule is scoped to the cited naturally aspirated engine; turbocharged models and other configuration-specific requirements are not claimed.

    Published interval: 7,500 mi · Normal service.

    Source: Nissan/Datsun — 1987 300ZX V6-2960cc 3.0L SOHC MFI (VG30E) factory normal-service schedule (preserved service-manual database) · Normal Service — recurring 7,500-mile rows · checked

  • Spark plugsView intervals, applicability and sources

    Spark plugs

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1987 · 3.0L VG30E V6 · United States · This recovered schedule is scoped to the cited naturally aspirated engine; turbocharged models and other configuration-specific requirements are not claimed.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi · Normal-service replacement interval.

    Source: Nissan/Datsun — 1987 300ZX V6-2960cc 3.0L SOHC MFI (VG30E) factory normal-service schedule (preserved service-manual database) · Normal Service — 30,000-mile replacement row and repeating rows · checked

  • Engine air-filter elementView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine air-filter element

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1987 · 3.0L VG30E V6 · United States · This recovered schedule is scoped to the cited naturally aspirated engine; turbocharged models and other configuration-specific requirements are not claimed.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi · Normal-service replacement interval.

    Source: Nissan/Datsun — 1987 300ZX V6-2960cc 3.0L SOHC MFI (VG30E) factory normal-service schedule (preserved service-manual database) · Normal Service — 30,000-mile recurring replacement cadence · checked

  • Engine coolantView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine coolant

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1987 · 3.0L VG30E V6 · United States · This recovered schedule is scoped to the cited naturally aspirated engine; turbocharged models and other configuration-specific requirements are not claimed.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi · Normal-service replacement interval.

    Source: Nissan/Datsun — 1987 300ZX V6-2960cc 3.0L SOHC MFI (VG30E) factory normal-service schedule (preserved service-manual database) · Normal Service — 30,000-mile initial replacement and repeating rows · checked

  • Camshaft timing beltView intervals, applicability and sources

    Camshaft timing belt

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1987 · 3.0L VG30E V6 · United States · This recovered schedule is scoped to the cited naturally aspirated engine; turbocharged models and other configuration-specific requirements are not claimed.

    Published interval: 60,000 mi · Normal-service replacement interval for the cited engine.

    Source: Nissan/Datsun — 1987 300ZX V6-2960cc 3.0L SOHC MFI (VG30E) factory normal-service schedule (preserved service-manual database) · Normal Service — 60,000-mile timing-belt replacement row · checked

  • Engine oil, air, and fuel filters — catalog fitmentView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine oil, air, and fuel filters — catalog fitment

    Exact reference available

    Baldwin B113 / PA2121 / BF1104

    This manufacturer application record establishes replacement-filter fitment only; it does not establish service intervals or a complete maintenance schedule.

    Applies to: 1987 · VG30E, VG30ET · United States · Confirm the VG30E or VG30ET engine and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Source: Baldwin Filters — Automotive Applications catalog (2017) · Printed catalog page 458, Nissan 1987 300ZX VG30E/VG30ET rows · checked

    Verified ordering references

Collect

Bring this model year home

Find a scale model using the exact year, make, and model—not a generic generation search.

Famous variants this year

Sources

  1. Nissan Motor Co. — preserved factory service manuals and model-variation tables
  2. Datsun/Nissan — preserved U.S. factory sales-brochure collection

Other Third generation years

Explore the Z31 (300ZX) generation →All Third generation · Z31 (300ZX) years →

Documented lineup

Find your exact 1987 Z

Start with a family, body style, or engine. Every card opens the facts and maintenance information for that factory version.

6factory configurations
Exact factory pairings documentedHow this lineup was verified

These source-backed records identify published body, engine, and transmission combinations. Exact pairings do not by themselves assert that every factory option or special edition is represented.

6versions shown
Browse 6 documented records — use the filters above to narrow the list
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

300ZX Manual

Body
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
3.0-liter VG30E naturally aspirated V6
Gearbox
5-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

300ZX Automatic

Body
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
3.0-liter VG30E naturally aspirated V6
Gearbox
4-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Four-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

300ZX 2+2 Manual

Body
Four-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
3.0-liter VG30E naturally aspirated V6
Gearbox
5-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Four-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

300ZX 2+2 Automatic

Body
Four-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
3.0-liter VG30E naturally aspirated V6
Gearbox
4-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

300ZX Turbo Manual

Body
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
3.0-liter VG30ET turbocharged V6
Gearbox
5-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

300ZX Turbo Automatic

Body
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
3.0-liter VG30ET turbocharged V6
Gearbox
4-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

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