Nissan 200 ZR
STRAIGHT 6 - TURBO
Z31 Fairlady ZR 200 - Produced for the Japanese home market only. Introduced in the chunkier series 1 style in 1986 ( Series II, aka "CALIFORNIAN" style was introduced the following year ) The ZR200 was brought to the market after strong demand for a lighter, more sports oriented Z, than the 3 litre V6, and also to reconnect with the straight 6 heritage established by the famous 240Z.
Total production numbers are unknown to me, but based on total Z31 sales in Japan, between 400 to 600 were produced in 1988 - a very small number indeed by Japanese standards ( R32 GTR Skyline - 60,000 produced)
Available as a two seater or (LOL), a four seater for leprachauns - 5 speed or auto, most being produced as auto 4 seater config. The model was discontinued in August 1989.
Price in 1987 was about JY3,500,000 approx $27,000. At that time in Australia $27,000 would buy you almost 2 local VL Commodores ( Australia's own car. . eh hem, fitted with a Nissan Skyline 3 litre RB30 engine and auto box at that date - as their traditional engine could no longer meet emission requirements and turn the back wheels, with the AC running at the same time)
Nissan were riding high on the domestic economic boom times in the latter half of the eighties - producing a mind bending array of vehicles - many quite similar and a few quite eccentric efforts - Be-1 coming to mind immediately, as also the compound turbo/supercharged MARCH GT.
Laurel, Leopard,President, Passage GT, Skyline GTS, Skyline GT, Cefiro, Cima, Fairlady, March, Be-1 and who knows what
else ? Many of these were built in direct competition with Toyota Products - Fairlady is an obvious competitor to the GTEU 7M SUPRA, and that may also be an explanation for the production of a straight six turbo Fairlady.
The latter 80's produced the most gadget laden Nissan designs - such as key card swipe entry, in car TV (CIMA and LEOPARD) and a general indulgence in gadgets across the range. The PGZ31 Fairlady is strangely lacking in even the most basic features of that time. My 2 years older (1986) Skyline is filled with much fruit, such as electric lumbar support, auto spoiler that lowers at speed, central locking, 3 mode auto trans,climate air, four wheel steer and so on. The 200 ZR has none of this, and ABS was apparently not even offered as an option, yet, was commonly available in most other Nissans of that time.
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Excited fans urge the ZR31 on ! |
What The ??? |
Wheels are 5 stud, Skyline is 4 - ZR has limited slip diff diff link - not found on all Skylines - in short is seems like a Nissan orphan that has foregone gadgetry for solid engineering. The car did not seem to change in any detail during its production life. The HR31 Skyline with a similar production life changed tail lights, front grille, headlights and engine induction and management systems. There may have been a diff upgrade for the Z31 Fairlady in 1988 but if anyone can confirm this send me an email. That aside it seemed very much a limited production car that was left pretty much alone.
Engine is the 2000cc RB20 DET better known in its role under the bonnet of the SKYLINE Turbo. Very rare in Japan, almost unknown here. The top mount intercooler is a surprise. The space in the front is pretty much taken up by flat mount engine and A/C radiators, and associated fans, so I can understand the choice of location.
This car is great to drive, and feels similar to the SUPRA turbo of the era - having owned a 1987 3 litre turbo 5 speed. It does have a huge weight advantage on the SUPRA and feels very lively for its 2000cc. It doesn't seem to give away any ground to the 3 litre Supra on performance. The auto trans feels very robust, with solid sharp changes. It drops gears when slowing down to provide engine braking and is on the whole a very lively and liveable auto box. First gear is very short on the 5 speed box and I find the auto has the advantage of a sustained application of power from take off around town without the manic spurt of the 1 to 2nd shuffle of the manual. The auto can be a little lost when the car is cold and hunts around a bit till the engine starts to warm up. Once the turbo starts to spin power increases dramaticaly -far more so than I have experienced with other RB's and you have to constantly ease off the throttle to keep the speed legal as revs rise in the gears -takeoffs can also be a little brutal, and in wet road conditions that fancy diff is definately not getting a free ride. I can't recall Skylines as twitchy as this ?
ZR Links. . . A man in Japan tells it his way
