high tech car of the 1980's

[1980'slover]

heres a very high tech car from the mid 1980's its a nissan 300zx i have attached files with it of what it looks like

[Kyle85318531]

Call me crazy, but There is no mention of audio in this thread.

[tgunner]

The italic letters on the displays add 5 mph to the perceived speed of the car.... duh! :D

[1980'slover]

this car had a cool stereo made by nissan for this car at the time, it had a am/fm cassette player with an EQ, and the steering wheel had buttons to control the volume and stations on the stereo

[Kyle85318531]

That's better. :D

[1980'slover]

the maximum speed ive seen on this car is 160 MPH on the digital dash

[1980'slover]

go to youtube and type in 300zx commercial 1 in then press enter, than when the next page appears click the first video on top , than youll see how sick this car is! than after you watch that video, check out 300zx commercial 2 ,by typing in 300zx commercial 2 and when the next page appears click the 2nd video from the top, this car was probley the most high tech car of its time!

[Fisher-Dave]

Yeah....but does it's stereo go fast :scratch2:

[1980'slover]

i havnt heard the stereo before, but i do know with that hugh EQ it has it would be loud

[Fisher-Dave]

Ever wonder how it could sound if a body rigged up a belt driven power inverter under hood? It'd need to put out around 1500 watts to be safe but I bet a big ole 70's 270 wpc monster receiver under dash would be way cool.That is if the dash didn't bend down to the floor board. :D

[1980'slover]

ive seen those old pioneer stereos with an super tuner am/fm eight track , those rock! they are an under dash stereo

[markus]

a buddy of mine had one of these a couple years after high school (1995 maybe?) like all great cars of the 80's, all the digital LCD Jetson-inspired radio and dash displays shit the bed after about a year . . .

NOT TO MENTION ya dont wanna change a water pump in these :no:

the damn thing is BEHIND the timing chain :thumbsdn:

now, the NEXT generation 300Z is a sweet car . . ZOOM ZOOM !

[Gohan]

Nice car, is this your car?

[1980'slover]

lol i wish it was! i would be driving to school in style listening to the 1980's band the fixx if i did own it, but im thinking about buying a olive green colored 1984 mercedes 4 door, but i might buy the 300zx cause they are cool and are fast with the turbo

[Mattwizz3]

How come in the last picture the car is suddenly red?

I have a car from 1987..... but its nothing to be proud of, it wasn't even high tech at the time.

[1980'slover]

i might buy a 1981 or 1983 datsun 280zx with the t top and cassette player heres what the datsun looks like

[Kyle85318531]

It will probably have a few problems..

[stuwee]

go to youtube and type in 300zx commercial 1 in then press enter, than when the next page appears click the first video on top , than youll see how sick this car is! than after you watch that video, check out 300zx commercial 2 ,by typing in 300zx commercial 2 and when the next page appears click the 2nd video from the top, this car was probley the most high tech car of its time!

Friend of mine had one, It keep sayin' "Your door is Ajar!" to which we would reply No it's not, it's a door! Heh we were young and :smoke:'n, Dude, yes it was hi-tech, but, no way it went 160 unless you were :smoke:'n something. And I'm not talking about tires! Which BTW were not speed rated that high in those days.

Peace Craig

[stuwee]

For 80's and smoke'n go for a Buick GNX or even cooler a GMC Cyclone with the same engine:thmbsp::thmbsp:

Craig

[1980'slover]

i probley forgot to mention this but the turbos did go that fast look up on youtube being a little naughty and click the first video that pops up on top, youll see how fast the nissan 300Zx turbos go, cause this guy on the video pushed the car to its limits

[Gohan]

Here are some pics of a 1988 Jaguar V12 My dad had, he sold this car in 1995 :(

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/730/jag1bc4.jpg

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/4576/jag2hv9.jpg

[CChase]

For 80's and smoke'n go for a Buick GNX or even cooler a GMC Cyclone with the same engine:thmbsp::thmbsp:

Craig

Amen to that... the Sy/Ty's ripped.


As far as that 300ZX goes... 25 year old turbo on a Japanese car = stay away.

[1980'slover]

i might go for a 1980's mercedes,bmw,cadillac, saab, or other luxury cars of the 1980's cause they are cool

[markus]

For 80's and smoke'n go for a Buick GNX or even cooler a GMC Cyclone with the same engine:thmbsp::thmbsp:

Craig

Craig . . . you are close, buuuuuuuuuuuuuut:

the Buick had a 3.8 V6 turbo, Syclone and Typhoon (s10 Blazer version) had the 4.3 liter vortec with a turbo . . . wish I had either one of 'em :drool:

closest I ever got was a 87 v6 firebird :tears:

'course, later I got into mopars - big block 70's C-bodies :thmbsp: can you say land yacht ? :D

[clifselina]

i probley forgot to mention this but the turbos did go that fast look up on youtube being a little naughty and click the first video that pops up on top, youll see how fast the nissan 300Zx turbos go, cause this guy on the video pushed the car to its limits

I don't suppose you noticed he had the spedo in Kilometers per hour, not in miles per hour. That makes his speed topping out at almost 100 MPH.

That is no great feat.

[stuwee]

Craig . . . you are close, buuuuuuuuuuuuuut:

the Buick had a 3.8 V6 turbo, Syclone and Typhoon (s10 Blazer version) had the 4.3 liter vortec with a turbo . . . wish I had either one of 'em :drool:

closest I ever got was a 87 v6 firebird :tears:

'course, later I got into mopars - big block 70's C-bodies :thmbsp: can you say land yacht ? :D

Uhhh....I was gonna say at least I spelled the name right then:whip: Thanks!!:thmbsp: Love C-bodies, ya know they outlawed the wagon versions in Demolition Derbys because you couldn't stop them:D I got a '78 Lincoln town car, 460/4bbl 22ft long 6,000lbs, U.S. Navy flag on the antenna, don't need no stinkin' air bags yacht:D btw, wasn't there a Hurst C-body with blk/red stripes and the H on them?

Craig

[hypertone]

The Porsche 928 was the most ahead of it's time ever imo. These things came out in the late 70's and still look modern.

http://www.americandreamcars.com/1985porsche928020205.jpg

[Kuma]

The Porsche 928 was the most ahead of it's time ever imo. These things came out in the late 70's and still look modern.


Wow, it's hard to believe that design is 30 years old.
As fresh as the exterior looks today, the 928's interior set also set a benchmark - and it's influence continues... what, 30 years later?

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d108/greatpics_/cf7c4bc3.jpg

That wrap around dash was a breakthrough, and it's still emulated today.

If only it didn't cost $1000 or more every time it needed an oil change or a simple valve adjustment, I'd be all over the 928 S4.

[Red October]

Ah, I love those cars, both of them. Some day I want specifically a 1983 Datsun/Nissan (yes they were called Datsun/Nissan for PART of 1983) 300ZX. Here's MY high-tech 1980s go-fast... Bose audio... a blessing and a curse!

[dew042]

I thought 'Kitt' was the high tech car of the 80's?

dew.

[markus]

I don't suppose you noticed he had the spedo in Kilometers per hour, not in miles per hour. That makes his speed topping out at almost 100 MPH.

That is no great feat.

HEY ! for a mid-80's 300ZX it sure is ! OOOoooooohhh !

thank you very much - I'll be here all week - try the meatloaf :lmao:

[westend]

If anyones interested, I have an '88 LeBaron convertible that is cosmetically spotless. It has a 2.0 turbo and the LED console is very similar to the DeLorean in "back to the future". I keep expecting the flux capacitor triangle to show up on the screen, lol. Fun little car but the stock Delco system w/cassette sucks. Speakers are atrocius.
I was just thinking tonight how nice my truck system is with the two amps, Pioneer Premeir HU, subs, etc., and the A post mounted tweeters. I was listening to the oldies channel, though. :D

[blownsi]

I loved the fiero it was a citation and a chevette glued together and delorean stole most of the design to make his own car. They were really fun to drive especially if you swapped in a 305 or a s/c 3.8. Man what I could do with one of those today. Nowadays it pretty easy to make 3-500hp out of a 4cyl.

[JesusChrysler]

Mmmm.... 1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst Edition.

Lovely.


I'd post a pic of my C (68 Plymouth Fury Fasttop), but it's not as purty.
Well; only if ya like primer as a color.

:)


Matt

[Tedrick]

...now, the NEXT generation 300Z is a sweet car . . ZOOM ZOOM !
Still one of my all-time favorites :D.

[baco99]

we haven't progressed much in 20 years, eh?

[Tiver]

Old man chimes in........I had an '85 Nissan 300zx turbo with electronic digital package that I bought in 1987 with 8k mi on it. It was fun, but not regarded very highly. The one in the OP is a turbo, you can ID it by the hood scoop. Not a bad car. I had an '81 280zx before that. The line wasn't really all that inspired between the original 240z (a real classic) and the intro of the twin turbo new body style around 1990. The Porsche 928 was surely on the short list back then and even now, but should be of the 928S4 variety. Expensive to keep up properly. Used stereo (for the most part) is much more attainable !!

[resqguy]

The problem with those 80's gadget cars is all the weight. I remember a few track events where my car club opened it up to all brands, one at Sears Point the other at Laguna Seca. My Alfa Romeo GTV6 did much better on the track. The heavy Datsuns started to go through brakes after a few laps. They were fast on the straights though.

[TAGO MAGO]

The line wasn't really all that inspired between the original 240z (a real classic) and the intro of the twin turbo new body style around 1990.

I would have to agree. The best Z cars, at least speaking of the ones imported to the US were the pre-1974 240Z cars before the emission controls and the bigger bumpers. Those middle 80's "high tech" Z cars were more personal luxury cars than true sports cars. Too heavy and too much techno flash.

The Porsche 928 was surely on the short list back then and even now, but should be of the 928S4 variety. Expensive to keep up properly.

I had a 1987 Porsche 944 and it was a fun and satisfying car.....until something broke, then it was heart breaking and wallet emptying. I could imagine a 928 being worse since it's V-8 is basically two 944 engines. To be correct, since the 928 came first, the 944 has half of the 928 engine (of course the similar 924 does not count as it had the engine from a Volkswagen Van). If I buy another sports car, I'm going Japanese (the Honda S2000 is on the short list).

[shrinkboy]

i bought a 1985 Maxima new and thought it was the coolest, most high tech, fastest and most comfortable ride i ever had. it was all square and blocky and graphic-y-- had the high end stereo with all kinds of lights and knobs and sliders; a driver adjustable ride control; 5 speed OD trans; and most memorable was a vaguely japanese sounding female who intoned "Fuerl leverl is low!!"

[CChase]

I had a 1987 Porsche 944 and it was a fun and satisfying car.....until something broke, then it was heart breaking and wallet emptying. I could imagine a 928 being worse since it's V-8 is basically two 944 engines. To be correct, since the 928 came first, the 944 has half of the 928 engine (of course the similar 924 does not count as it had the engine from a Volkswagen Van). If I buy another sports car, I'm going Japanese (the Honda S2000 is on the short list).

We've got a 1984 944 with 40,000 miles. It's pretty reliable but I agree, when it's time for something to be replaced, parts are ridiculously priced.

[slow_jazz]

Very nice looking 300ZX there.... Congrat's..... My brother-in-law had the 280ZX for years and loved it...

[soundboy]

Still one of my all-time favorites :D.

Anyone remember the Van Halen "You Really Got Me" Nissan Z commercial?

[Bigerik]

Seeing as how we have a forum dedicated to automobiles, and how this thread has nothing to do with audio, I am moving it over there.

[240sx4u]

Click the photo to see the real deal. No digital dash, just screaming fast zcar.

This car belongs to Austin Hoke.

Evan

[shrinkboy]

ooh, that's neat, i've always luved a hotrod z car

[Old1625]

......
NOT TO MENTION ya dont wanna change a water pump in these :no:

the damn thing is BEHIND the timing chain :thumbsdn:

.... !

IIRC that was common drill on cars since that era. I had an '80 Plymouth Horizon that had the water pump behind the timing belt. I was advised to to the extra beaners and get the pump replaced while the timing belt was done. 60K was pretty much the life expectancy of both. By the time I'd have to replace the timing belt and water pump a second time the car was pretty badly inflicted with tinworm, and I had launched the old girl, and have been awfully picky about valve timing gear since. I hate timing belts.

[stuwee]

Mmmm.... 1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst Edition.

Lovely.


I'd post a pic of my C (68 Plymouth Fury Fasttop), but it's not as purty.
Well; only if ya like primer as a color.

:)


Matt

That's it Matt, if you see that bad boy in your rearview mirror, move way over:thmbsp: the Ralley wheels really make the look! Niiiccccee:smoke:

Craig

[markus]

Mmmm.... 1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst Edition.

Lovely.


I'd post a pic of my C (68 Plymouth Fury Fasttop), but it's not as purty.
Well; only if ya like primer as a color.

:)


Matt

NICE HURST ! almost bought a rust bucket one of them - went with a cherry 74 newport instead ( I am NOT a body man . . .) 4 door hardtop, low option, but oooooohhhhh so clean . . . had a 400 - once I had 2 & 1/2 inch flowmasters amd edelbrock intake and carb installed, it sounded like an off shore racer (VVVRRRROOOOOOOOMMMMMM!M!!!!!!!!!) highway on ramps and 3 --2 downshifts were my favorite part of the day :thmbsp: it's even in the movie Moonlight Mile for a split second :yes:

also had (over the years) a 83 dodge diplomat ex-cop car, 78 fury ex-cop car, 76 New Yorker, and a 71 New Yorker . . .

passed on a 68 fury drop top and STILL kick myself - it was NICE, and onlyu 3500 :tears: in its condition, it'd be 3 times that these days . . .

[Parnelly]

I need to chime in here. This guy really should check his pocket before buying one of these old cars. First of all parts are hard to come by. All of its digital bs is well..... digital bs. Any wreckers that carry anything will want an arm and a leg for it. Tuner/after market parts are prolly also through the roof. Plus those cars cant make shit for power compared to what we have on our streets now. Sure it may have seemed quick at the time but put that up against anything newer and it wont be so satisfying.

While were on the topic of technology in older vehicles, My dad used to own an 82 Toyota Supra. This thing imo was pretty tech. All kinds of lights and flashing things to entertain the simplest of minds. Plus some cool shit like power everything down to sunroof mirrors etc. It had an inline 6 cylinder engine. Alum Rim and much other goodies right from the factory. The one thing that always caught my attention with this car was the factory stereo. Pioneer cassette deck. Clarion EQ/Power Booster. And speakers of unknown manufacturers. Man could that stereo crank with the booster on. It was a sweet car and could hold its own on the streets of then.

Somewhere in the flow of time we changed from fast to quick. Get up and go seems to be a lot more dominant now over top end. Either end of the spectrum likely that Z car will be beat by a tuned civic or neon. Good luck with your decision making on what vehicle to buy.
I would stay away from anything 80's.

[jon_s]

I really love the '80s car tech. I have a 1988 Mazda 626 Turbo with four-wheel-steering (hydraulic and brilliantly reliable). It's great fun to drive, fast and nimble, even by modern standards. Sadly, it is bored and out of commission in PA while I'm living in Utah with my modern vehicle. So if anybody wants a deal on it... ;)

http://www.personal.psu.edu/~jbs231/Mazda/Mazda-Thumbnails/1.jpg

[TAGO MAGO]

We've got a 1984 944 with 40,000 miles. It's pretty reliable but I agree, when it's time for something to be replaced, parts are ridiculously priced.

Well, you have 20,000 miles before the mandatory timing belt, balance belt and water pump change which usually means all the idlers and gears for the belt as well Parts + labor for that job ran about $1800 and since it is a non-interference motor, if you don't do the job you are going to look at replacing a bunch of bent valves. Apparently to keep the engine smooth in those there is a balance belt that runs in the opposite direction at twice the RPM. That car is full of high tech and very smart engineering that makes it twice as expensive to repair (i.e. you have to remove the rear subframe to replace the clutch). Also the wipers and the head light motors, at least in 1987 were all positive ground while the rest of the car is negative ground which causes problems down the road. That last trick the Europeans were famous for, although it was more common for the British. That said I would own one again, but have a Honda as my daily driver.

[markdi]

I could be wrong but I thought non-interference = no
damage.

interference = valve/piston kiss of death

[TAGO MAGO]

I could be wrong but I thought non-interference = no
damage.

interference = valve/piston kiss of death

I always get those backwards....I think.

[TAGO MAGO]

I really love the '80s car tech. I have a 1988 Mazda 626 Turbo with four-wheel-steering (hydraulic and brilliantly reliable). It's great fun to drive, fast and nimble, even by modern standards. Sadly, it is bored and out of commission in PA while I'm living in Utah with my modern vehicle. So if anybody wants a deal on it... ;)

http://www.personal.psu.edu/~jbs231/Mazda/Mazda-Thumbnails/1.jpg

I had a friend who's parents bought one new and when he got it he never maintained it, abused it horribly and it never let him down, nor did it ever cost him much money. It was a tough little car and decent power for the era. Those were also pretty nice looking too. Personally I would like to find one of the 929's from that era or maybe an old Cressida or first gen Acura Legend. You could beat the hell out of an 80's Japanese car and it would never miss a beat.

[1980'slover]

heres a sick car from the 1980's it has a digital dash

[Cpt.Beaky]

Here's an 80's car with a 21st century digital dash:

http://www.tomsdigitalelectronics.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/DSC02613a.175131835_std.jpg

Fiero modders have more fun :D

[Brent71]

I still think the Vector W2 was the most high-tech looking car of the 80's. The dash seemed like it was right out of Airwolf.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCqvSKfk1Pc

[MRX37]

High tech car from the 80's?

KITT

[Cpt.Beaky]

I still think the Vector W2 was the most high-tech looking car of the 80's. The dash seemed like it was right out of Airwolf.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCqvSKfk1Pc

Oh man, Pet Shop Boys, Kraftwerk... nice soundtrack. Nice car, too, I had not heard of them before.

[caddisgeek]

High tech car from the 80's?

KITT


Yeah, but watch out for his evil twin KARR

[glen65]

Well I never got my hands on a vector but I did
have one of these.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMmDE8nUMOU

[1980'slover]

check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PLDwdSUc94

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xvGu_e8vhY&feature=related

[glen65]

check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PLDwdSUc94

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xvGu_e8vhY&feature=related

I remember the first one.
Notice on the second one they were still using the Datsun name.

[Rodzilla]

I really love the '80s car tech. I have a 1988 Mazda 626 Turbo with four-wheel-steering (hydraulic and brilliantly reliable). It's great fun to drive, fast and nimble, even by modern standards. Sadly, it is bored and out of commission in PA while I'm living in Utah with my modern vehicle. So if anybody wants a deal on it... ;)

http://www.personal.psu.edu/~jbs231/Mazda/Mazda-Thumbnails/1.jpg


as a former owner of a 90 MX6,i feel compelled to tell you,that if it's all working,there are people out there that lust after the parts in that car..the rear steering rack and associated gear are near impossible to come by,being NLA from mazda for quite some time and a rare option to start with..you are right that it IS a high tech car,tho maybe not in the way some in this thread are looking at it...you have i think three computer boxes under your seats to control the engine,the variable rate power steering[which is adjustable BTW!]as well as one for the rear wheel steering...in good working trim a N/A '6 will eat up road with it's low end torque and is a blast to drive,but the turbo is pure street fighter...the gt MX6 wasn't called the MX missle for nuthin!a 626 turbo 4ws is the ultimate sleeper,standing out only to those "in the know"...the "swirly" wheels are the giveaway and have value btw,they are unique to only that rare model 626 do not lose them...

[glen65]

Yeah, but watch out for his evil twin KARR

Speaking of 80s cars from movie and tv.

http://www.wraithinnovations.com/TheWraith1.jpg

The interceptor from the wraith movie.

[1980'slover]

still nissan/datsun rules over mazda

[stuwee]

Speaking of 80s cars from movie and tv.

http://www.wraithinnovations.com/TheWraith1.jpg

The interceptor from the wraith movie.

Which was shot on the Catalina hwy right here in Tucson,lot of other shot's as well, I'm in there somewhere never could see myself, must a been to fast or edited out
Craig

[1980'slover]

i think thhis was the most high tech car from the 1980's! who remembers knight rider from the 1980's?

[tom1356]

This is 80's hi-tech at its finest.

http://www.astonmartins.com/v8/bulldog.htm

[avguytx]

I remember working on those 300ZX stereos with all the electronic crap. They sounded like a$$ and it was easy to pull everything and start over which sounded tons better. It was nice that they had 6.5" all the way around but you had to watch the depth on the door speakers. Most of that series I worked on had the electronic decks fail within the first year of ownership. I think at one point we had about 2 dozen of those boat anchor decks sitting on the shelf in the install bay. Nissan wanted a ton of dough to fix them out of warranty, too. Not long after that, aftermarket decks started using either wireless or wired remote controls so it was fairly easy to isolate the resistance of what the steering controls did and change it over allowing the customer to keep the steering wheel controls...in most cases, anyway.

They were still fun cars to drive but that 2+2 version was butt ugly! :D