- So now you have Disney+, where there's like a baby Yoda
- So now you have Disney+, where there's like a baby Yoda

or something and dude that looks like Boba Fett.
or something and dude that looks like Boba Fett.

I mean, I'm assuming it's a good show.
I mean, I'm assuming it's a good show.

And Paramount Pictures now has a streaming service.
And Paramount Pictures now has a streaming service.

It's a little bit late to the game.
It's a little bit late to the game.

That one, and Hulu is getting added
That one, and Hulu is getting added

onto every single streaming service imaginable
onto every single streaming service imaginable

that would make you question their morals at the local bar.
that would make you question their morals at the local bar.

Now meanwhile, Netflix continues to show me series
Now meanwhile, Netflix continues to show me series

that, I mean, I just wanna watch a movie.
that, I mean, I just wanna watch a movie.

It'd be cool.
It'd be cool.

'Cause all they wanna do is sick the life outta me
'Cause all they wanna do is sick the life outta me

and I just want a place where I can rewatch
and I just want a place where I can rewatch

like some Studio Ghibli or maybe just something
like some Studio Ghibli or maybe just something

where it's just like a movie streaming service.
where it's just like a movie streaming service.

Not a show, not a series, not an episode list,
Not a show, not a series, not an episode list,

not a mini-series, just a movie.
not a mini-series, just a movie.

However, I would be willing to bet that in five years,
However, I would be willing to bet that in five years,

there's going to be a streaming service, right,
there's going to be a streaming service, right,

that pulls like all of it together, guys.
that pulls like all of it together, guys.

All of it, right?
All of it, right?

Put it under one roof and charge us all one, flat fee
Put it under one roof and charge us all one, flat fee

and I betcha they're probably gonna call it cable.
and I betcha they're probably gonna call it cable.

But, hey, just like cable, there are cars
But, hey, just like cable, there are cars

that people have overlooked
that people have overlooked

and no longer even think they're relevant,
and no longer even think they're relevant,

which, well, I mean they actually kind of are.
which, well, I mean they actually kind of are.

I mean, just like cable,
I mean, just like cable,

this car still has some pretty good things about it.
this car still has some pretty good things about it.

It laid the foundation of Nissan's new gen2 cars,
It laid the foundation of Nissan's new gen2 cars,

it helped keep Nissan at the forefront of the game
it helped keep Nissan at the forefront of the game

and looked pretty darn good while doing it.
and looked pretty darn good while doing it.

I'm Alex, @alex.fi on Instagram
I'm Alex, @alex.fi on Instagram

and today we're going to be talking about the wide,
and today we're going to be talking about the wide,

the thick with only one c, the Nissan 300ZX.
the thick with only one c, the Nissan 300ZX.

(hip-hop music)
(hip-hop music)

(car beeping)
(car beeping)

(engine revving)
(engine revving)

(hip-hop music)
(hip-hop music)

The Nissan 300ZX was a car that hit production in 1989,
The Nissan 300ZX was a car that hit production in 1989,

all the way to the lovely Y2K.
all the way to the lovely Y2K.

- The 300ZX which we picked behind us
- The 300ZX which we picked behind us

is the superstar of sports cars.
is the superstar of sports cars.

- Taking it back a few years before production,
- Taking it back a few years before production,

the 300ZX was in a little bit of a what we'd call
the 300ZX was in a little bit of a what we'd call

a troubled state, okay.
a troubled state, okay.

It didn't really know what it wanted to do for college.
It didn't really know what it wanted to do for college.

It didn't have a plan.
It didn't have a plan.

And the people that (stammers)
And the people that (stammers)

they just didn't know what to do with it.
they just didn't know what to do with it.

It needed help to break away from the 80s designs
It needed help to break away from the 80s designs

that plagued the world.
that plagued the world.

It was gonna be a car going into the 90s,
It was gonna be a car going into the 90s,

it was a new decade.
it was a new decade.

Nissan wanted the next generation of the Z car
Nissan wanted the next generation of the Z car

to be something that people would truly love.
to be something that people would truly love.

Enter Toshio Yamashita and Isao Sono,
Enter Toshio Yamashita and Isao Sono,

that was as close as it's gonna get.
that was as close as it's gonna get.

This was Toshio's first big break
This was Toshio's first big break

in the automotive design world,
in the automotive design world,

as his previous work was more recently done
as his previous work was more recently done

on smaller projects, working on things
on smaller projects, working on things

like the A10 Violet and other things like that.
like the A10 Violet and other things like that.

Mostly just little its and bits and pieces,
Mostly just little its and bits and pieces,

never really a full car.
never really a full car.

You see, Nissan had designers compete
You see, Nissan had designers compete

for what the 300ZX and the Silvia would look like,
for what the 300ZX and the Silvia would look like,

with requiring people to design sketches for both cars.
with requiring people to design sketches for both cars.

Now Yamashita only submitted one for the Z
Now Yamashita only submitted one for the Z

and had nothing to do with the Silvia because he said,
and had nothing to do with the Silvia because he said,

"You know what, they're better,
"You know what, they're better,

"I don't wanna touch it."
"I don't wanna touch it."

Really, it was designed at home,
Really, it was designed at home,

while he was caring for his newborn child.
while he was caring for his newborn child.

Bet you feel bad that you were thinking
Bet you feel bad that you were thinking

that maybe he was being lazy.
that maybe he was being lazy.

Well he had a kid, all right?
Well he had a kid, all right?

And he was really passionate about the 300ZX
And he was really passionate about the 300ZX

and not really passionate about the Silvia.
and not really passionate about the Silvia.

However one could argue that maybe he just ran out of time.
However one could argue that maybe he just ran out of time.

The car would be no small task as the Z car
The car would be no small task as the Z car

is what many people knew Nissan for,
is what many people knew Nissan for,

especially in the United States.
especially in the United States.

And Yamashita ended up winning the competition.
And Yamashita ended up winning the competition.

But the car was so important that the president
But the car was so important that the president

of the North American arm even expressed to Yamashita
of the North American arm even expressed to Yamashita

that the car was the company's rice.
that the car was the company's rice.

As in it was a staple part of the company
As in it was a staple part of the company

that must be executed well and would not be able to fail.
that must be executed well and would not be able to fail.

Not rice like you think about it
Not rice like you think about it

and like most of the world thinks about it, okay?
and like most of the world thinks about it, okay?

So imagine your boss telling you,
So imagine your boss telling you,

like imagine your boss telling you that.
like imagine your boss telling you that.

Hey, bud, you know this car?
Hey, bud, you know this car?

Don't (beep) it up.
Don't (beep) it up.

All right?
All right?

'Cause if you do, it's gonna be really bad, okay?
'Cause if you do, it's gonna be really bad, okay?

Okay, sounds good, off you go.
Okay, sounds good, off you go.

Good luck.
Good luck.

I'm a miss him.
I'm a miss him.

As a result, the design team
As a result, the design team

had a much larger influence than the norm.
had a much larger influence than the norm.

Now you have to remember
Now you have to remember

it's pretty much every time that you're developing,
it's pretty much every time that you're developing,

every time you're developing a car,
every time you're developing a car,

the engineers have a majority say
the engineers have a majority say

in how the car's gonna come out.
in how the car's gonna come out.

In this one, it was the other way around.
In this one, it was the other way around.

It probably didn't have anything to do with the pep talk
It probably didn't have anything to do with the pep talk

that the North American CEO gave him.
that the North American CEO gave him.

You know, just probably threatening his life,
You know, just probably threatening his life,

not at all.
not at all.

Everything from the tail lights to the antenna
Everything from the tail lights to the antenna

to the headlights were all fought for
to the headlights were all fought for

by the design team tooth and nail.
by the design team tooth and nail.

I guess the engineers' greater wishes,
I guess the engineers' greater wishes,

because they did not want the final production car
because they did not want the final production car

to sway from the prototype.
to sway from the prototype.

Just the headlights of the 300ZX has its own story,
Just the headlights of the 300ZX has its own story,

with engineers begging to have an easier,
with engineers begging to have an easier,

more upright position style headlights,
more upright position style headlights,

with Yamashita rejecting them just so that he could maintain
with Yamashita rejecting them just so that he could maintain

the original 60 degree angle spec
the original 60 degree angle spec

and maintain the covered headlight look,
and maintain the covered headlight look,

because they were an homage, a take back to the 240Z,
because they were an homage, a take back to the 240Z,

which is actually where the headlight design
which is actually where the headlight design

originally came from.
originally came from.

The argument inevitably gave Yamashita the nickname
The argument inevitably gave Yamashita the nickname

of Mr. "Yadashita", which translates to Mr. No No No,
of Mr. "Yadashita", which translates to Mr. No No No,

since he said, "no," a lot.
since he said, "no," a lot.

The good news though is that the headlights
The good news though is that the headlights

were so successful that Lamborghini
were so successful that Lamborghini

even copied the design for the good ole
even copied the design for the good ole

(computerized female voice) Diablo.
(computerized female voice) Diablo.

Which means that he was doing something right
Which means that he was doing something right

and this was with every single piece of the car,
and this was with every single piece of the car,

it wasn't just the headlights,
it wasn't just the headlights,

the antennas had the same thing,
the antennas had the same thing,

the sloping lines had the same situation,
the sloping lines had the same situation,

the tail lights had the same situation,
the tail lights had the same situation,

and he just fought for it all.
and he just fought for it all.

And when the car was initially released,
And when the car was initially released,

it did extremely well.
it did extremely well.

The 1990 model year,
The 1990 model year,

the Z car sales reached one million in sales,
the Z car sales reached one million in sales,

which is pretty darn good,
which is pretty darn good,

and it made it the best selling sports car at the time.
and it made it the best selling sports car at the time.

However, just like the second or third Matrix movie
However, just like the second or third Matrix movie

and other JDM tuner cars we talked about in the past,
and other JDM tuner cars we talked about in the past,

they pushed it just a little bit too far
they pushed it just a little bit too far

and over-optioned the f-ck out of it,
and over-optioned the f-ck out of it,

which ultimately made it not really that desirable.
which ultimately made it not really that desirable.

And with the Yen and the American US dollar back in the 90s,
And with the Yen and the American US dollar back in the 90s,

kinda get a little suffocated,
kinda get a little suffocated,

the 300ZX didn't stay around for too long.
the 300ZX didn't stay around for too long.

But hey, is this Mr. Witca's class from 2011?
But hey, is this Mr. Witca's class from 2011?

No, all right?
No, all right?

History class is over and we're not here to do that.
History class is over and we're not here to do that.

We're here to talk about you wanting
We're here to talk about you wanting

to have one of these big ole boys, okay?
to have one of these big ole boys, okay?

So you wanna have a 300ZX?
So you wanna have a 300ZX?

Well, set down the Suicide Boys EP
Well, set down the Suicide Boys EP

and grab your favorite flashlight,
and grab your favorite flashlight,

because we're about to dive
because we're about to dive

into the tiny ass engine base space of a car,
into the tiny ass engine base space of a car,

the 300ZX.
the 300ZX.

(hip-hop music)
(hip-hop music)

The 300ZX was a brand new design
The 300ZX was a brand new design

and now it is one of the Z cars that likely receives,
and now it is one of the Z cars that likely receives,

um, how would you say?
um, how would you say?

It probably receives the greatest criticisms.
It probably receives the greatest criticisms.

Across all the Z generations, this one's like the one
Across all the Z generations, this one's like the one

that probably gets like the most flack.
that probably gets like the most flack.

The lack of the interior center gauge,
The lack of the interior center gauge,

its marginally different initial power amounts,
its marginally different initial power amounts,

and some different changes to the body,
and some different changes to the body,

resulted in the car becoming less long nose,
resulted in the car becoming less long nose,

wheels more on your backside instead of being,
wheels more on your backside instead of being,

well, the wheels are supposed to be right behind you,
well, the wheels are supposed to be right behind you,

but then they kinda scooted it at all farther back
but then they kinda scooted it at all farther back

at it was a little bit more of a contemporary sports car.
at it was a little bit more of a contemporary sports car.

However, the 300ZX has some bangin' qualities to it.
However, the 300ZX has some bangin' qualities to it.

First off, the car is a blast to drive.
First off, the car is a blast to drive.

Depending on the model you get,
Depending on the model you get,

the TT version has a good chunk of horsepower,
the TT version has a good chunk of horsepower,

a little bit shy of 300 horse,
a little bit shy of 300 horse,

adjustable two-point suspension, and four-wheel steering
adjustable two-point suspension, and four-wheel steering

that was introduced in the first R31 Skyline.
that was introduced in the first R31 Skyline.

I mean, the car did well in its own space
I mean, the car did well in its own space

and it did well in motor sport as well
and it did well in motor sport as well

and held itself okay against the competition.
and held itself okay against the competition.

The car had a tremendous amount of technology
The car had a tremendous amount of technology

and for what it was at the time, it did a fantastic job.
and for what it was at the time, it did a fantastic job.

Nowadays, it's more known as a car with no engine space
Nowadays, it's more known as a car with no engine space

to do anything and that it's heavy.
to do anything and that it's heavy.

Both are a little bit true,
Both are a little bit true,

but that shouldn't inherently deter you
but that shouldn't inherently deter you

from picking up a 300ZX.
from picking up a 300ZX.

They have some great driving experiences,
They have some great driving experiences,

great communities, and if you can actually snag one
great communities, and if you can actually snag one

in the hardtop variant, it is a fun Sunday cruiser.
in the hardtop variant, it is a fun Sunday cruiser.

Because it is a Z car, these things will never not
Because it is a Z car, these things will never not

really have an after-market platform
really have an after-market platform

and there will always have people modifying them.
and there will always have people modifying them.

It's just like you buy a Nissan, you join Z society,
It's just like you buy a Nissan, you join Z society,

you join all the Nissan communities,
you join all the Nissan communities,

and then you're just stuck there for three to four decades
and then you're just stuck there for three to four decades

because that's just how she goes.
because that's just how she goes.

But you could end up throwing bigger turbos on it,
But you could end up throwing bigger turbos on it,

wider wheels, exhaust, intake, and shaving weight
wider wheels, exhaust, intake, and shaving weight

is where you see a lot of people spending time
is where you see a lot of people spending time

on this specific car, all right?
on this specific car, all right?

For reals, you can get pretty wide.
For reals, you can get pretty wide.

I mean, it's Z car, and a lot of people think
I mean, it's Z car, and a lot of people think

you can only get wide with 350s and 370s,
you can only get wide with 350s and 370s,

but the 300s, they can get a little topsy-turvy.
but the 300s, they can get a little topsy-turvy.

Nine and a halfs in the fronts,
Nine and a halfs in the fronts,

10 and halfs in the rears with stock fenders,
10 and halfs in the rears with stock fenders,

and if there's a wheel company that can make 'em that wide,
and if there's a wheel company that can make 'em that wide,

they've been on the car.
they've been on the car.

So there's everything from your works to your Aodhans,
So there's everything from your works to your Aodhans,

your Rotiforms to your Cosmis.
your Rotiforms to your Cosmis.

Everything is on these bad boys
Everything is on these bad boys

and people really have a tendency to go
and people really have a tendency to go

with more of a meaty tire setup.
with more of a meaty tire setup.

Not so much of Stance boy,
Not so much of Stance boy,

but more a 40 series sidewall tire,
but more a 40 series sidewall tire,

which gives the car more of like an aggressive, almost car,
which gives the car more of like an aggressive, almost car,

like almost muscle car, rake stance style.
like almost muscle car, rake stance style.

If you're looking for suspension,
If you're looking for suspension,

most of it ends up being Powertrix coilovers or KSport
most of it ends up being Powertrix coilovers or KSport

because there's really not a whole lot
because there's really not a whole lot

of these on air right now.
of these on air right now.

Now don't get mad at me,
Now don't get mad at me,

but I truly believe the 300ZX is with a little wide setup,
but I truly believe the 300ZX is with a little wide setup,

you know, a little pft, you know what I'm saying
you know, a little pft, you know what I'm saying

and being as close to the floor as possible look
and being as close to the floor as possible look

just as good, just as good, I'm gonna say it,
just as good, just as good, I'm gonna say it,

as a wingless Mark 4 Supra.
as a wingless Mark 4 Supra.

Okay I can't help it,
Okay I can't help it,

but the 300ZXs look extremely good when they're done well.
but the 300ZXs look extremely good when they're done well.

They're wide, they have a sloping hood,
They're wide, they have a sloping hood,

and do a damn good job
and do a damn good job

of pretty much fitting anything to them.
of pretty much fitting anything to them.

Yes, their engine bank can be tough to work around,
Yes, their engine bank can be tough to work around,

just like the 3000 GT,
just like the 3000 GT,

which was a thing that happened in the 90s.
which was a thing that happened in the 90s.

But, hey, every car's got a little kryptonite, okay?
But, hey, every car's got a little kryptonite, okay?

That would be the only thing that would
That would be the only thing that would

likely hold back a beginner automotive enthusiast,
likely hold back a beginner automotive enthusiast,

because they're a little but tougher in the regard.
because they're a little but tougher in the regard.

Plus the Entourage and the 90s tech can
Plus the Entourage and the 90s tech can

be a little bit cumbersome to work around
be a little bit cumbersome to work around

and deal with if the pieces are failing.
and deal with if the pieces are failing.

These cars aren't terribly priced,
These cars aren't terribly priced,

but they're not inherently very common.
but they're not inherently very common.

The 300ZXs out there now don't look the best,
The 300ZXs out there now don't look the best,

also because I don't think many people
also because I don't think many people

really have tried bringing them back to life.
really have tried bringing them back to life.

Sure there are other 90s cars out there
Sure there are other 90s cars out there

that are probably a little bit faster,
that are probably a little bit faster,

maybe even a little bit lighter.
maybe even a little bit lighter.

Or, dare I say, a little bit easier to work on.
Or, dare I say, a little bit easier to work on.

But none of them quite carry the styling queues
But none of them quite carry the styling queues

and heritage that Nissan built into the Z name.
and heritage that Nissan built into the Z name.

And if you're looking to get something that is different
And if you're looking to get something that is different

while still being somewhat fun and still having
while still being somewhat fun and still having

some of the technology that you wish 70s cars had,
some of the technology that you wish 70s cars had,

but doesn't, a 300ZX is pretty much the one to get.
but doesn't, a 300ZX is pretty much the one to get.

So what do you think about the 300ZX?
So what do you think about the 300ZX?

Drop your rating below out of 10 and let us know why.
Drop your rating below out of 10 and let us know why.

And of course, if you're looking
And of course, if you're looking

for after-market wheels, tires, or suspension,
for after-market wheels, tires, or suspension,

be sure to hit us up at fitmenttndustries.com.
be sure to hit us up at fitmenttndustries.com.

Be sure to take a look at the gallery if you're looking
Be sure to take a look at the gallery if you're looking

for ideas on your next build, because there's where we,
for ideas on your next build, because there's where we,

people can upload their cars.
people can upload their cars.

And it's pretty cool.
And it's pretty cool.

You'd be surprised at how much programming that took.
You'd be surprised at how much programming that took.

If you wanna see a certain car talked about next,
If you wanna see a certain car talked about next,

drop a comment below and to the poor guy
drop a comment below and to the poor guy

that asked for the E 30, or wait, no,
that asked for the E 30, or wait, no,

to the poor guy that's asked for the E 46 for the 17th time,
to the poor guy that's asked for the E 46 for the 17th time,

keep it up.
keep it up.

Maybe we'll be there soon.
Maybe we'll be there soon.

I'm Alex from Fitment Industries and we will see you later.
I'm Alex from Fitment Industries and we will see you later.

Peace.
Peace.