The mighty Nissan 300 ZX Turbo is an extraordinary racing car that holds a special place in Nissan’s North American racing history. To emphasise the performance credentials of the newly launched 'Z32' 300 ZX road car, Nissan expanded their American motorsports program to include IMSA’s GTO class in 1989. Selected by Nissan to head the program was Clayton Cunningham Racing, who were fresh from their highly successful IMSA GTU championship-winning campaigns with Tommy Kendal and the Mazda RX7. Top-flight American GT racers Steve Millen John Morton made up the driving team for this first season.

Constructed for IMSA’s GTO regulations, which were impressively free, the new 300ZX Turbo was very much a silhouette racer. Featuring a full chromoly steel spaceframe chassis. Suspension was by double wishbones and coil over dampers all around. Clothed in a carbon-fibre composite body that followed the profile of the production model, but was wider and more aggressive, it looked intimidating standing still. However, the only components actually carried over from the road-going 300ZX were the taillights! Mounted so far back it was effectively front-mid engine, was a heavily modified version of the VG30DETT twin-turbo V6. Sporting twin-cam, four-valve per cylinder heads, the engine was easily made 650 bhp and up to 800 bhp if needed. This engine with its aluminium block, Garrett turbos, carbon intakes and huge intercoolers were effectively descendants of the units found in Nissan’s might GTP prototypes, which were fames for producing well over 1,000 bhp if fully unleashed. All this power was delivered via a bespoke five-speed gearbox using Hewland-sourced internals in unit with the differential.

Initially three chassis were constructed, CCR 89-001, 002 and 003. The Nissan 300ZX would win on only one occasion in 1989, at Road America, but brought home 7 top 5 finishes, which overall could be considered a solid debut season. Difficulties in corralling the tremendous horse power from the mighty power unit and the short wheel base was determined to be the issue during that first season. For 1990 the wheelbase was extended and the water-cooled braking system upgraded. These two improvements meant the cars were consistently front-runners across the 1990 season.

It was not only the sprint-format IMSA GTO races where the Nissan 300ZX stood out though, it was also able to dominate in endurance racing. The 300ZX took on some of the toughest endurance races in the world such as the Le Mans and Daytona 24 Hour races. Le Mans is of course the most significant endurance race of them all, and in 1994, the 300 ZX Turbo really flexed its muscles. Shocking everyone with its outright speed it was able to run at the same pace as the prototypes, ultimately winning its class and claiming 5th overall finish, only being beaten by the Toyota and Dauer prototypes. Perhaps the greatest result for the 300 ZX Turbo would be seen earlier that same season though. Even though the Daytona 24 Hours doesn’t perhaps hold quite the same prestige as its Le Mans counterpart, it is still arguably the next biggest endurance race. At Daytona the Nissan 300ZX Turbo demonstrated absolute dominance with Scott Pruett, Butch Leitzinger, Paul Gentilozzi and Steve Millen taking a commanding outright victory by 24 laps!

Chassis 002 is one of the most successful Nissan 300ZX Turbo chassis of all time. Scoring a total of 4 victories and 17 podiums across four seasons, it also has pedigree in the longer endurance races as a Daytona 24 Hours entrant and achieving a class podium in the Sebring 12 Hours. Starting it’s competitive career in 1989, chassis 002 quickly began building its impressive history of achievements. In only its fourth ever race John Morton would drive the car to its first podium at Mid-Ohio. The remainder of the 1989 season would see Morton claim five top five finishes in 002, marking an incredible debut season.

1990 would see 002 rack up even greater success, this time being driven by Steve Millen would pilot the car all season bar the first race. In that round at the Del Mar street track, Jeremy Dale started the year in style with a 3rd. Millen would prove to be the correct choice for the Cunningham team as he would bring home 002’s maiden victory at the iconic Canadian circuit, Mosport. Shortly after this maidan win, another would follow at the famous Road America circuit. Millen would go on to achieve another three podiums in the 1990 season bringing 002’s season total of top five finishes (excluding his wins) to six.

For 1991 Jeremy Dale would return to 002 for the whole season. Dale would pick up the only win of the season at the track where the picked up its first podium, Mid-Ohio. 1991 would see the car score nine top five finishes, of which three were podiums, adding to its burgeoning tally in fine style.

The best was yet to come for 002 however with the season yielding the greatest success in its storied career. Dale would be retained as its driver for eight out of the eleven IMSA GTO rounds, with Johnny O’Connell replacing him for Del Mar and Lime Rock. For the endurance classics at Daytona and Sebring, it was just O’Connell and Morton, with Millen, Dale and Morton for Sebring. 002’s best result of 1992 was victory at Mosport, whilst its success tally for the season totalled a staggering seven top five finishes, of which six were podiums (not counting the win!).

Today 002’s availability represents a fantastic opportunity for any serious collector of racing cars to add an icon of Nissan’s motorsport heritage to their stable. Additionally, the eligibility of the car to a plethora of series and events across the globe give its future custodian endless options to enjoy it. From Peter Auto’s award-winning Endurance Racing Legends (ERL), to Le Mans Classic (LMC) Legend’s plateau 8, not forgetting the popular Daytona and Sebring Classic events. Without doubt the 300 ZX Turbo would prove highly competitive in ERL’s GT1A class and quite likely overall in LMC’s plateau 8. Presented in fantastic restored condition the car simply needs basic race preparation to be ready for the track. This car is outstanding value for money!

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