The Nissan 'Z' badge is iconic and has a very religious following for the immensely driver-centric JDM cars it has provided us with. It all started in the early-1970s when the world was introduced to the then-Datsun 240Z, which was dubbed as the first-ever Japanese Muscle Car. The drool-worthy formula of 6-cylinders and an RWD layout became the recipe for the cheap fun-to-drive cars ever since.
Before we were introduced to the Nissan 350Z, Nissan had the 300ZX, which went against the Z philosophy. The 350Z was introduced in 2003 and managed to stir about quite the interest. When launched, it was priced in the vicinity of the Mazda Miata and Toyota MR2; but had twice the power and torque figures! It was almost as powerful as the Porsche 911 of the time, and that alone was a reason to be awed.
When competitors were going on with inline-4s, Nissan slapped on a V6 in the 350Z and was RWD. This car helped revive the 'Z' badging in North America and has become very popular now. Mostly because of its insane value and high modification potential. This is the go-to drift machine, even in stock form and one of the most sought-after used sports cars today.
The Nissan 350Z helped revive the 'Z' legacy and raised the bar for cheap thrills.
We Got The Nissan 350Z Because Of A Redesign
The Nissan 350Z was never intended to be the car that we got! After Nissan pulled out the Z32 300ZX from the US in 1996, they wanted to bring in a replacement to keep the Z philosophy alive and kicking. They tried to create a modernized concept of the iconic 240Z but was not so keenly taken by Yoshihiko Matsuo (The 240Z's original designer).
But the final nail on this proposed coffin was when Nissan understood that the proposed 2.4L KA24DE engine was underpowered and not worthy to be put into a Z car. Then in a span of 1 year, a redesigned successor was created and shown to the world at the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show, which had a very similar body shape but a redesigned front end. But most importantly was packed with a V6 (VQ35DE) engine, the codename of which was the reason for it to be named - The 350Z.
Its Pumped-Up V6 Motor Was What Brought In All The Attention
In the early 2000s, a V6 engine was mostly associated with supercars from the West. Most of the home-breeds had their big-brawny V8s and V10s. But Nissan brought in a very unique perspective with the 350Z that was powered by a 3.5L DOHC Naturally Aspirated V6 engine that pumped out 287 hp and 274 lb-ft. It came coupled to a now rare 6-Speed manual gearbox and also packed in an optional viscous limited-slip differential.
It was a never before heard proposition, that had people dumbstruck. Even more surprising was its price tag of under $27,000 which was insane value for the performance and mechanicals that are put forth. The emphasis on its price to performance ratio was very well put forward with Nissan at the 2002 North American International Auto Show in Detroit with the tag of "$50,000 performance for under $30,000".
A Driver's Paradise: Front Engine, RWD, And A Stick-Shift
The 350Z was a driver's paradise. It wasn't as light-hearted a car to start with but the Japs sure did know how to fine-tune this machine to bring a wide grin on the driver's face. It weighed in more than a Chevy Corvette of the time that was over 3,000 lbs. and packed a V8!
But Nissan was wise to balance out this shortcoming with its multilink front and rear suspension and well-weighted steering wheel. The front-engined RWD layout was the golden formula for anything FUN and Nissan nailed it with the 350Z. The pedals were specifically designed for heal-and-toe downshifting and thus began its drifting legacy.
Nissan 350Z Did 0-60 Mph In 5.4 Secs; Almost Caught The Porsche 911
With a curb weight of an elephant, the Nissan 350Z was not so keen on exceptional numbers but it sure did make the most of that V6. The 350Z did 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds and did the quarter-mile in 14 seconds flat. It had an impressive top speed of 155 mph.
It didn't compete against any immediate cars in the same price bracket as it was worth well over that. In fact, the Porsche 911 that did 0-60 mph in about 4 seconds, looked helpless in front of this Nissan's insane value proposition. All of a sudden, everyone wanted a Z!
Nissan 350Z Had A Very Polarising Exterior And Had People In Splits
The 350Z didn't have a design language that was tasteful. It was something out of the box during the early 2000s and oddly looked like a Bulbasaur! It took time for people to accept the new design language, but it sure did dissolve quickly as no one could say no to such a beautiful driver's car.
The long hood-short rear quarter design was normalized from the likes of the Datsun 240Z and will continue forth ahead as well, with the upcoming Nissan 400Z. Various packages were offered to look different and the most aggressive of them that came, later on, was the Nismo package with more sharpness.
The Cheapest Project Sports Car; And A Tuner's Hotspot
You can easily get a used low-mileage Nissan 350Z even for under $10,000! So yes this is a killer bargain and is the reason why many opt for their next project car. It is also a very common choice for drifters because of its golden front-engine RWD layout. And the Fast & Furious fanatics out there will never forget DK's 350Z from Tokyo Drift - which was basically the best definition of its overall potential!
Sources: Garagedreams.net, Motorbiscuit.com, Hagerty.com,