Miles Through Time Exhibits

Frankly, the ZX was looking a little frazzled. The 1986 Nissan 300ZX Turbo, now on display at the Miles Through Time Automotive Museum thanks to the generous donation by Robert Contreras, is a testament to this era of automotive evolution. Robert owned the car for over 12 years in Miami, Florida, where it developed some rust but still presents well.

The 1986 Nissan 300ZX Turbo is an example of advanced engineering that still makes people take notice nearly 30 years later. Featuring a 3.0-liter V6 with a T3 Garrett turbocharger, it pushes up to 6.7 psi of boost to make 200 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 227 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm. This power output was comparable to the 230 horsepower mark of the 1986 Corvette V8. Weighing about 3,050 lbs, the 300ZX Turbo offered a linear and predictable turbo performance, with a 0-60 MPH time of 7.1 seconds and a top speed of 137 MPH. It also came with four-wheel disc brakes, a 5-speed manual transmission, and an all-digital dash that provided clear rpm and speed readings.

Pushing the boundaries of its time, the 300ZX Turbo included high-tech features such as steering wheel-mounted radio and cruise control buttons, automatic climate control, an acceleration g-meter, and power seats, windows, and mirrors. The car also boasted leather seats and a voice alert system for reminders like leaving the headlights on.