Spotless Survivor: 1993 Nissan 240SX SE With 26k Original Miles
Nissan’s Z-Car range from the 1970s received great acclaim as an affordable sports car offering above-average performance and impressive handling. The company continued pursuing that philosophy with classics like this 1993 240SX SE. The formula remained simple, with the company slotting a peppy engine under the hood of a light vehicle that gripped the road like a limpet. These cars have become a firm favorite of Drift competitors. However, this one is an unmolested survivor with a genuine 26,000 miles on the clock. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Rocco B. for spotting a Japanese gem that needs nothing but a new home.
Nissan unveiled the 240SX in 1989 as a worthy successor to its 200SX model. It continued the “SX” trend as a two-door sports car powered by a bulletproof four-cylinder engine. Our feature car rolled off the line in 1993, and the supplied photos support the seller’s claims about its condition. The Charcoal Metallic paint holds a beautiful depth of color and shine, and if there are significant defects, they aren’t visible in the supplied photos. Even scrutinizing the close-up shot of the prone front bumper appears to reveal nothing beyond what might be a couple of small chips. The panels are laser-straight, and this dry-climate classic is a rust-free survivor. The first owner ordered the Nissan with a factory sunroof, and the lack of interior moisture damage confirms the seller’s claim that every seal in this beauty is perfect. The glass is crystal clear, and the factory 15″ alloy wheels are in as-new condition.
Nissan launched the 240SX powered by its 2.4-liter SOHC KA24E four-cylinder powerplant, producing 140hp and 152 ft/lbs of torque. It updated to the DOHC KA24DE engine in 1991, with the new motor pumping out 155hp and 160 ft/lbs of torque. This car’s original owner selected the five-speed manual transmission, although there was a four-speed auto option for those preferring a more relaxed driving experience. The updated powerplant may not appear to offer significant performance gains on paper, but drivers could feel the difference under their right foot. The SOHC motor launched the Nissan through the ¼-mile in 16.2 seconds, but the DOHC slashed that to 15.7 seconds. The seller claims this survivor has 26,000 original miles on its odometer, but they don’t indicate whether they hold supporting evidence. They state that the Nissan runs and drives perfectly, and with the legendary reliability of these classics, it should offer years of motoring enjoyment for its new owner.
I have seen owners exercise great care to protect their classic’s interior, but this seller takes that approach to a higher level. They claim they never drive the car without wearing gloves because they don’t want the oil from their skin damaging the leather on the tilt wheel. Therefore, it is unsurprising that this car is almost perfect. The first owner added a modern Alpine stereo, but the seller includes the factory unit for those wishing to return that aspect to its original form. The Gray cloth trim is spotless, and I doubt anyone has ever used the back seat. The dash, console, and plastic are in as-new condition, and the carpet is immaculate. The new owner slips behind the wheel of a car featuring ice-cold air conditioning, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, a rear defroster, and cruise control.
The seller listed this 1993 Nissan 240SX here on Craigslist in Mansfield, Texas, with an asking price of $40,000 OBO. They may consider a partial trade for an appropriate vehicle, and that could be a point worth negotiating. They confirm they are the car’s third owner, and I located a previous listing for this car when the original owner disposed of it. It dates from 2019, revealing that this car changed hands for $20,000. Whether values have doubled in five years is debatable, but a brief online search revealed similar examples in this price range. Would you pay the price, or is it optimistic?
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Comments
I had a 1989 Cherry Red Pearl, drove it for 10 years. To date one of the best cars I’ve ever owned. Sold it to buy my wife’s wedding band. Have missed it ever since. These are great cars, solid and fun. Always felt like a much more expensive car than it was. This is a fantastic example. However, I always liked the front end and wheels on the 1989-90 models better. More aggressive looking.
I remember the automotive press really liking these, and of course I wanted one in the worst way. But in the early ‘90s with my freshly printed liberal arts degree and entry level reporting job at the newspaper, it cost about the same as my yearly salary. Not that I would have had time to enjoy it, working what seemed like around the clock. Really like the interior. The monolithic upholstery on the front seats was definitely different from just about anything else out there and looks comfy. Even the back seats look like a nice place to be if you don’t mind your knees in your face. Very spiffy dash design, and the stitched shifter adds some panache. It’s not for me to say it’s overpriced, but at $40,000, you’re not much under the price of a new Nissan Z.
I still can’t believe there are no inexpensive TWO door cars like this for single people today. No Celica. No Eclipse. Let alone any 2 doors with a TRUNK. Heck i would settle for a modern 2 door Cavalier.
I’m with you 100%. There’s a market there. They just must not be as profitable as the ridiculous SUVs.
There is that 2 door Toyota/Subaru that is still available. It is supposed to be a great performing/handling car that sits in the same price range that this car did.
My ’15 BRZ is the spit of the original 240Z. Fun. Affordable. Indestructible.
I think the Toyota G86 and Subaru BRZ would fit the bill nicely for that
I think the Toyota G86 and Subaru BRZ would fit the bill nicely for that
I had a buddy in high school that owned one of these. I’m not certain of the exact year. He was a little more affluent than I was – parents were members of the country club, etc. He had a hankering for a Jeep CJ like I owned, so one night when we both had dates he suggested we trade vehicles so that I could take my date out in style and he could show his girlfriend how fun a Jeep would be. I think that night cured him of wanting a Jeep CJ. I’m not sure he knew what he was getting into with no AC, the rough ride, and the zip up windows. I liked the Nissan, though.
There’s too many options out there for me to drop 40 k on. Very nice 240 but man I could find a nice Porsche for 40k. Just saying.
In the autumn of 1991 I was dating the most spoiled, pampered, demanding witch I ever had the misfortune to date. She did have other assets of course lol. She drove a gutless red Honda Prelude which her Daddy had bought for her when she tired of the older white one. She told people we were engaged ( we weren’t) and had our whole life planned. Basically I would work my as$ off while she rode horses. When I told her I was thinking of buying a 92 Nissan 240SX as my new car she was outraged! No sir! I was to buy a new Jeep Grand Cherokee that would haul her horse trailer! She didn’t own a horse trailer and I was unsure whether Daddy or I was expected to provide one.
Well I bought a black 240SX the next day and she threw a fit. Guess which one I kept?? Saw her last year. She didn’t age nearly as well as this Nissan.
Sounds a lot like my ex wife. I feel your pain buddy but you’re better off. As for this car, I don’t think I’ve seen one looking this fresh since they rolled off the line. Most of the ones I see are tuners or beaters. But 40K?
In 93 it was one of these or an Integra. Bought the Acura, which lasted 15 years.
You used to see a ton of these around and now I can’t remember the last time I saw one.
Nice car
I considered one of these and then went with the Eclipse. FWD vs RWD was a consideration, but I don’t regret my choice – that was a fun car that handled on rails.
It’s has pluses and minuses,
Plus, 5 speed manual,
Minus, it’s not a DETT.
Years ago, when these first came out, I was lucky enough to get one as a rental car, (I think it was from Hertz). Drove it all over New England for a week.
Fun car, and many admired it and wondered what it was.
$40k ? I have a very clean 91 240sx 5spd that I bought for $600 in 2007 that didn’t run well at all, turned out it was just bad injectors. I autocrossed it until 2015, and parked it in the garage. When Covid hit, I decided to restore it to give me something to do. Now I have a very nice stock 240 sitting in the garage that I drive every couple weekends and now I’m wondering what kind of money it would fetch.
It happens … guy came into the dealership with a “knocking” sound in his Nissan pickup … gave him $100 in trade … salesman bought it, tightened the lifters and all was good … ya never know …
Nice to see a still mostly original 240, and one with low mileage is very rare. Unfortunately a lot of them have been carved up and turned into drift missiles with body kits. I have a very clean 91 coupe that I’ve owned since 2007. During Covid I had the car repainted and the seats reupholstered with new carpet and the dash is crack free. Other than a few suspension mods and aluminum flywheel and driveshaft it presents as nice as this one. Be nice to see the seller get $40k or close to it.
40k for a 6 cyl sports car, that’s crazy
4 cylinder
I trmember driving one of these at a Nidsan dealer when they first came out.
I was NOT impressed with the performance at all.
They looked fast but……….
These were more about sharp, lively handling rather than sheer speed/acceleration, much like today’s BRZ/FR-S/GR86 siblings.
Agree – to quote Stuckey in “Pretty Lady” it handled like it was on rails … and, as for speed, it was limited to 125mph, which I did on I-10 in Texas … later, when a CHP officer said I was doing 127 outside Lodi, I told him his radar must be wrong … he wrote me up for 89 to avoid the paperwork – it was 4AM and he was going off-shift …
Sweet car but not $40k sweet, at least not to me.
Almost bought one of these in 1990. I remember staring at a white one, going there at night to look at it after work when the dealership was closed. At the same time I went down the road a bit and ended up getting a white 1990 Acura Integra GS and don’t regret it. Bear the snots out of that Integra and it kept coming back for more. The 240sx was always a wicked cool car in my book.
Can get a nice Infiniti coupe for a lot less than that–an loads more power.
Had a red ’94 240SX SE Convertible … was a trade-in with about 40k miles on it … owner was “upside down” on the trade but I offered to buy it for what he owed … we made the deal and I drove it to 288K miles, only changing the radiator and the auto antenna riser (made of plastic it got brittle) … promised it to my daughter when she got out of Navy boot camp (I bought an ’04 350Z Touring Conv) … she put another 110K+ miles on it before hydroplaning into a guard rail (no one was hurt) … car was “rock solid” … one of the best cars I’ve ever owned …