1987 IMSA GTU Nissan 300ZX

History

Ex-George Alderman fully restored and beautifully presented 1987 IMSA GTU Nissan 300ZX non-turbo V6.

The car was raced in period by George Alderman, Max Jones, Bobby Rahal, Butch Leitzinger, Morris Clement, and Chuck Kurtz. Alderman and Jones shared the car during the 1987 IMSA, with Jones achieving a best finish of second place at the 300 k.m. Kuppenheimer GT Challenge at Road Atlanta. 

2021 and 2022 Rolex Monterey Reunion competitor, finishing P6 in a field that included historic GTP, GTO and V8 Trans Am cars.

This Nissan was last offered for sale in 2022. It was posted with many photos on BringATrailer. The bidding stalled at only $47,000, too low buy a significant piece of IMSA racing history that qualifies for today’s premier historic racing events.

The Nissan was also offered at RaceCarsDirect with a thorough description of the car from the then owner, as well as links to a period racing video of the 1987 IMSA GT race at Portland featuring the car, and some in-car-camera footage from the 2022 Rolex Monterey Reunion.

The Nissan ultimately sold in early 2023 for substantially more than the failed high bid at the BAT auction. The 2023 sale price was more in line with the true value of the car, and that is why the Nissan actually changed hands at that time.

Having said that, the current owner is now changing direction in his racing program. He is willing to accept considerably less for the car than what he paid so he can move to the next chapter in his racing career. If you were interested in this car back when it did not meet its substantially higher reserve on BAT, or are just discovering it now, you can get it for virtually the same money that was not even close to getting it before. And there’s more.

The current owner reports that the Nissan is in much better condition now than it was when he purchased it. He said it was not operable when he took delivery. He then took the car to Huffaker, who found many flaws including fuel injection and engine mapping problems. He paid to have all of that corrected prior to racing the car at the Rolex Monterey Reunion. The results at Monterey speak for themselves. Huffaker went through the car again after Monterey, as is their standard procedure, and the car remains in that condition currently.

At this point this Nissan is a proven, bargain entry into historic IMSA GTO/GTU races, and a potential class winner, and top finisher overall.

Description

As described by the prior owner, the Nissan underwent a bare-tub restoration from 2016 and 2019 at Racecraft of Woodinville, Washington. Everything is new or refurbished to as new condition.  

The car’s Genesis Engineering fiberglass body is affixed to the car’s Bob Cuneo designed steel, TIG welded, tube frame chassis.  

The engine is a naturally-aspirated 3.0-liter VG30E V6. It has an aluminum flywheel and Tilton clutch, and is bolted the car’s four-speed manual dog ring transmission.

The car also has the following:

– Aluminum driveshaft

– Custom Z Car Garage CV rear drive shaft axles 

– 3 piece 16″ Panasport wheels, stripped down, crack checked and fully refurbished.  

– Barnes dry sump pump 

– Nissan R200 long neck rear differential with an O.S. Giken limited-slip differential. Differential pump and cooler.

– Penske coil over shocks

– Electronic fuel injection with MS3-Pro ECU, Jenvey individual throttle bodies. Nissan Motorsport cross ram intake manifold. 

– 962 fiberglass seat with Schroth harnesses

As can be seen from the list of parts, the restoration work performed, the car’s history, and the car’s proven recent competitiveness in historic IMSA races, the offered price is a bargain. If you would like to join the historic IMSA race grids, this is an affordable entry ticket, and an affordable, fun, competitve, race car to campaign. 

All vehicle descriptions are accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing. Corrections, and supplemental information, are always welcome. Buyers are responsible for confirming vehicle histories, condition, and authenticity to their own satisfaction prior to purchase. Motorsports Market is not the owner of the vehicle and assumes no liability for errors and omissions.

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