Car Model History

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

1989Nissan 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)

1989 Nissan 300ZX (Z31) — front three-quarter view

Photo: “1989 Nissan 300ZX Automatic pic1” by Alf van Beem / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0. Cropped to 16:9.

Start here

What do you need to know?

This page covers the whole 1989 Nissan Z model year. Choose your task first; exact trims and engines are separated where the factory offered different versions.

Documented lineup

Find your exact 1989 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
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

The 1989 model year

Overview

Preserved Datsun/Nissan U.S. factory literature documents 6 1989 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 1989 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 1989 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 1989 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
Factory intervals
5
Fitment-scoped
6
Exact references
1

Before orderingIdentify 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.

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 →

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