The 1984 300ZX 50th Anniversary Edition

The 1984 Nissan 300ZX Turbo 50th Anniversary Edition celebrated the five-decade anniversary of Nissan's founding in December 1933.

The 1984 300ZX Turbo came equipped with a 3.0-liter V-6 that produced 200 hp and 227 lb-ft of torque. The transmission was either 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic. Inside the cabin, drivers were treated to peak '80s design and technologies considered advanced for the time, such as steering wheel audio controls, digital readouts and electronically controlled sport suspension.

The 300ZX 50th Anniversary Edition's features included: "Nissan 50th Anniversary" commemorative badging, unique front fenders and rear fender flairs, and turbine-style alloy wheels with gold accents on the fins. In the cabin, unique touches included embroidered badging on the leather seats and floor mats, a futuristic digital instrument cluster with a dominant vacuum fluorescent display with a sweeping tachometer, speed display and G-force indicator, and a Bodysonic Amplifier with adjustable intensity that added rumble to the seats based on the sound profile of the music being played from the head unit.

The year 1984 marked not only a milestone for Nissan's history as a carmaker; it also marked the Z as the best-selling sports car in America.

gold-embossed AE emblem

Digital Dash

Steering Wheel Controls : By AZ-Zbum

Body Sonic Unit in Seat

A car cover, floor mats and a gold key with the 50th logo also were standard features.

50th AE Cover

Floor Mats

Golden Keys and other AE Items from Purchase

Exterior features included a T-Bar roof with mirror-glazed panels and bronze tinted windows. Triple gold pin striping along with gold turbo graphics and AE fender emblems top off this unique 300ZX Turbo package.

Note the rear Fender Flares. Only the AE had this to match the flared front fenders. Under the Flare is the standard fender lip

Power was supplied by the same Turbocharged 3.0-liter (SOHC) 60-degree v6 offered in the 1984 300zx turbo. This generated 200 HP @ 5200 rpm and 227 ft. lbs of torque @ 3600 rpm. The gear box is a 5-speed overdrive manual (4-speed automatic optional) and the final drive ratio is 3.545 This power plant was able to produce 0-60 in the low 7 second range and 1/4 mile times and speeds at 15.4 sec. @ 88 mph. Top speed is limited to 137 mph. Speeds in the 140+ mph range could be reached with the limiter disconnected.

Identifying Authenticity

Since many Datsun/Nissan dealerships in 1984 attached AE bdges (which were found in the glove box of most non anniversary edition 1984 models) to non-AE 300ZX's. These Z's were sold as, and to this day are being passed off as AE's. If your Z does not have the color scheme and features mentioned here you do not have an 50th AE. Now even if your car does have these features, you can tell for sure by checking the Model plate on driver's strut tower.

Look at line that contains MODEL information. On this line you should see "L5". If the line doesn't have "L5" in it, the car is not a true 50th Anniversary Edition.

There are only 6 possible combination of letters for this line for the North American 50th AEs. They are as follows:

• KHLZ31XTNGL5W
• KHLZ31XTVGL5W
• KHLZ31XTUGL5W
• KHLZ31XATNGL5W
• KHLZ31XATVGL5W
• KHLZ31XATUGL5W

If it isn't one of these numbers, it isn't a North American AE. The "N" is for Canadian models. The "V" is for Californian models. The "U" is for the other United States models. The "A" is for automatics.

USDM Production numbers

Values

Current market values of the Z31 Models are on the rise though not at the level as the S30 (240Z Model). Clean Examples of the 1984 300zx 50th AE cars are selling between $10000-$20000 and Mint examples for more. Below is a chart of some that have sold recently

Please Note: These prices are actual prices of cars sold and not current cars that are for sale. Value is based on many factors. As stated Values as of 11/2019 are on the rise.

USDM 50th Anniversary VIN Lookup

You can now look up a USDM 50th AE Vin Number here to verify the production infomation and any ownership information that has been added to the Database.

This Database was provided by Paul Hillman (aka AZ-Zbum)

The AE Production Number is listed under the Production column

Other USDM 50th AE Resources

The 50th AE In Other Markets

In Australia, the 50th AE was also offered with the same silver over black with gold pinstripe like the American version but was offered in only a 2+2 non-turbo version. It had the rear spoiler with digital dash and cloth seats.

It had the 50th AE badge on the car but it is located just behind the drivers door on the pillar.

Australian AE Gallery