Two engines were offered in the 1987 Nissan 300ZX: a naturally aspirated 3.0-liter V6 (VG30E) and a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 (VG30ET).
In the U.S. market, the base 300ZX used the VG30E naturally aspirated engine, while the performance-oriented Turbo model used the VG30ET turbocharged engine. The turbo variant includes a turbocharger with an intercooler and delivers noticeably more power than the naturally aspirated version. Rough estimates place the NA engine in the mid-150s to mid-160s horsepower, while the Turbo typically falls in the 180–200+ horsepower range, varying by year and market. Transmission options for the 1987 model year included both a manual and an automatic.
Engine configurations for the 1987 300ZX
Below are the two engine configurations that were available for the 1987 300ZX.
- VG30E — 3.0-liter naturally aspirated V6 used in the base 300ZX (U.S. market).
- VG30ET — 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 used in the 300ZX Turbo; includes a turbocharger and intercooler, delivering higher power than the NA engine.
In short, the 1987 Nissan 300ZX could be equipped with either the naturally aspirated VG30E or the turbocharged VG30ET, depending on trim and market. The Turbo variant is the clearly more powerful option, while the NA version provides the more modest performance typical of earlier Z-cars.
Summary
The 1987 Nissan 300ZX offered two engine choices: the naturally aspirated 3.0-liter VG30E and the turbocharged 3.0-liter VG30ET. The Turbo model featured a turbo (with intercooler) and higher power, while the base NA version offered around the mid-150s to mid-160s horsepower. Trim and market determined the exact specifications.