Nissan has a long history of cars that live up to the hype of the company’s slogan: “Innovation that excites.” Still, it took years—and the 10 best old Nissan cars of all time—for the automaker to establish the street cred it enjoys today.

It's easy to forget about all the awesome older cars that have held the nameplate over the years due to the popularity of modern models like the

Maxima

Altima

, and

Sentra

. But trust us, Nissan is so much more than basic sedans!

To give them the respect they deserve, we've curated this guide on old Nissan cars you should know.

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What makes an old car great?

Older cars are usually immortalized in the history books for one of two reasons.

First, the specific release was a vital stepping stone toward future innovation goals. Second, the car was just plain incredible and unforgettable.

Both justifications are equally crucial to the success and longevity of an automobile brand. And Nissan has certainly had its fair share of cars that fall into one of these categories. Here are the 10 most notable.

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10. Nissan Fairlady Z / Datsun 240Z, 260Z, 280Z (1969–1978)

Nissan’s Z cars were the auto manufacturer's first step into the sports car category. The first-gen models were released as the Fairlady Z in the Japanese market and as the Datsun 240Z, 260Z, and 280Z everywhere else.

Even as a Japanese car, the Fairlady Z resembled a classic American sports car. This design, partnered with impressive performance, resulted in massive sales success—the ‘71 model year sold over 50,000 units.

The Z cars have been so successful that they have not only survived but also thrived for seven long generations of innovation. You may even find more names from the Z series on this list! (Keep reading to find out.)

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9. Nissan NX1600 / NX2000 (1990–1996)

The little sports coupes that could, the NX models were Nissan's attempt to compete with some of the category giants, like

Porsche

and

Acura

. And they were able to do just that!

Specific features like a lightweight frame, stiff chassis, and limited-slip differential contributed to the NX’s incredible handling—for which it was recognized as one of the world's best-handling cars by Road & Track magazine.

Best of all, you didn’t have to break the bank for this performance—NX models were roughly $12,900 to $15,000.

8. Nissan 240SX (1989–1999)

The iconic retractable headlights on the

240SX

make it easy to pick out of a crowd. And while the headlights are cool, they are just one of the many bright spots on its long list of cutting-edge features.

For example, the front MacPherson struts and rear multi-link suspension helped make the 240SX one of the most drift-able cars of all time. This is a dream for some car enthusiasts!

The 240SX is also very tunable and has a strong aftermarket for parts. These benefits have helped it become a prevalent vehicle in the secondary marketplace.

7. Nissan 300ZX (1990–1996)

The Nissan

300ZX

was a complete design makeover of the Z series. Stylistically, in its fourth generation, it now resembled a GT more than a traditional 1970’s sports car (like the first-gen Fairlady mentioned earlier).

Of course, change can be risky when dealing with loyal automobile enthusiasts, but this reimagining was well received! Its new aerodynamic style set the standard for performance cars throughout the 1990s.

Let us not forget about the performance specs. High trim levels of the 300ZX could be found with a 300 horsepower, twin-turbo V6 engine—now that’s some kick!

Overall, the combo of iconic style and impressive power makes this one of Nissan’s most recognized performance models on the road.

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6. Nissan Sentra SE-R (1991–1994)

The

Sentra SE-R

, otherwise known as the Sport Edition Racing, was designed to give the daily sedan driver just a little more spice in their life. It made Car and Driver’s “Top 10” list in its debut year (1991) for its unique combination of sportiness and practicality.

Compared to the standard Sentra, you would get about 30 more horsepower, no turbo lag, and a faster zero to 60 time. The manual six-speed transmission system also complemented these advantages.

Even though the sweet spoiler helped it stand out, it wasn’t enough to beat the competition. Popular models in the category, like the

Miata

and the

Integra

, didn’t allow much room for newcomers—the SE-R struggled and was discontinued in 1994. It was rebooted in the 2000s for a short run but didn’t survive again. Regardless of its own success, it was a notable model in the long-running history of the Sentra.

5. Nissan Leaf (2010–present)

While it may be a stretch to include the

Nissan Leaf

on an old car list, it would be irresponsible to leave it off considering its contributions to the electric vehicle industry.

As of 2022, the Leaf had sold more than 577,000 units worldwide. This massive success gave it the title of all-time bestselling electric car until it was dethroned by the

Tesla Model 3

(which is certainly good company to be in).

As a toast of gratitude towards Nissan’s commitment to sustainability, the Leaf took the fifth spot on our list. The electric car industry certainly wouldn’t be where it is today without it.

4. Nissan Hardbody Pickup (1985–1997)

The release of the Nissan Hardbody had even the most dedicated truck enthusiasts reconsidering their loyalty to

Ford

Chevy

. While its technical model name is the D21, the “Hardbody” nickname caught on in U.S. markets, describing the truck's double-wall bed and overall rugged design.

Powered by your choice of a four-cylinder or a V6 engine, this spunky pickup truck offered great utility for its price point. The independent front suspension and leaf spring setup also bolstered its off-road capabilities.

The Hardbody was a key stepping stone in Nissan's entrance into the truck market, especially in America. Innovations from this point forward helped Nissan claim future success with its modern

Frontier

model.

3. Nissan 350Z (2002–2009)

Once again, Nissan successfully reinvented their Z-series lineup with the fifth-generation release of the

350Z

. The new rounded look, versatile customization options, and affordable price tag made it an instant hit.

Are you starting to see where Nissan’s “innovation that excites” slogan comes from?

As if the car wasn’t successful enough on its own, its cameo in the 2006 film The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift sent it to a whole new level of recognition.

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2. Nissan Pulsar GTI-R (1990–1994)

Even though it only achieved about half the credibility of the No. 1 Nissan on our list, the Pulsar GTI-R was beyond notorious enough to mention. This all-wheel-drive hatchback was initially designed as Nissan’s Group A application for the World Rally Championships.

Although average on the racetrack, it was highly regarded as a streetcar. The SR20DET 2.0-liter turbo-four engine could be found under the scooped hood. With 230 horsepower, it shot to 60 mph in about 5 seconds, so you can understand why it was sought after!

However, you may struggle to find one of these on the secondary market—the Pulsar GTI-R was only sold as an export and had limited production numbers. But, if you’re lucky enough to come across a sales listing, this hatchback is usually a pretty good value compared to other JDM cars.

1. Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 & R34 (1989–2002)

The Skyline GT-R comes in at No. 1 on our list, which is the same place the model found itself at many Japanese car racing tour events. To depict its fierceness, the car was given the nicknames Godzilla and Godzilla Returns for the R32 and R34 models, respectively.

Not for nothing, the R34 Skyline GT-R could cover a quarter-mile in 12.2 seconds and had a zero to 60 time of 4.4 seconds—making it one of the fastest-accelerating cars at the time.

And to compliment the performance, the Skyline GT-R is highly customizable. Many notable automotive designers put their unique twist on this four-wheeled canvas.

After international accolades and cameos in video games and movies, the Nissan Skyline GT-R has solidified itself as one of the most iconic cars of all time.

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How to find affordable Nissan car insurance

Of course, your insurance needs will change if you’re driving your classic Nissan every day or preserving it in storage. But, regardless of your situation, shopping for insurance quotes every renewal period can help you save money.

Luckily, the

Jerry

app has made the process easy and efficient. Here’s how it works.

Once you download Jerry, just answer a handful of questions that will take you roughly 45 seconds to complete, and you’ll immediately get car insurance quotes for coverage similar to your current plan. Jerry can even help you cancel your old policy when you decide to switch.

If you’re not comparison shopping regularly, you could be missing out on hundreds of dollars of savings. In fact, Jerry users save roughly $900 a year on

car insurance

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