You need this: Firehawk Series 300ZX Turbo raced by Parnelli Jones

How to relive the thrill of pro showroom stock racing? This Nissan 300ZX Turbo could be the ticket–until that time machine is working, of course.

This 300ZX made its motorsports debut at the 1987 IMSA Firestone Firehawk Series race at Riverside International Raceway, where Parnelli Jones drove the car to victory.

The car was “damaged in a collision,” sometime in …

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In case you were wondering, yes, it is signed:

Do I spy with my little eye some Ronal R9 wheels? 

I remember PJ Jones driving one, but not Parnelli.

Me thinks that $80k is quite optimistic.

Apparently, Parnelli sponsored the race, and IMSA/Riverside put him in a car.

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-04-26-sp-1371-story.html

Can't imagine why they would use a t-top car though.

In reply to racerfink :

That's really interesting. Thank you for digging into the history, it definitely provides a little more insight.

In reply to racerfink :

Makes it easy to fit a tall driver. =P

racerfink said:

I remember PJ Jones driving one, but not Parnelli.

Me thinks that $80k is quite optimistic.

Had me until I saw the price tag.  It would be hard to justify almost any z31 at $40k. 

$80k though? I'd rather have a DeTomaso Pantera NOT signed by Parnelli Jones.

crankwalk (Forum Supporter) said:

Had me until I saw the price tag.  It would be hard to justify almost any z31 at $40k. 

$80k though? I'd rather have a DeTomaso Pantera NOT signed by Parnelli Jones.

I HEAR YOU!  I'll take a Pantera any day, running or not over this z31.  Additionally, autographs and the like do not mean as much to me as the actual automobile does, and certainly doesn't "add" to the car in any significant way (for me).  Hmmm, maybe when it's time to sell to the public? (<cough> suckers <cough>)

Any engine bay shots? I dont see any in the for sale ad. Curious if it had any period HKS bits under the hood.

In reply to crankwalk (Forum Supporter) :

They would not have been allowed, as the Firestone Firehawk series was a Showroom Stock series.

In reply to racerfink :

Could you get the turbo without the T-tops? I can’t recall off the top of my head, but I believe that even the later Shiro came standard with T-tops so I’m thinking not. 

In reply to racerfink :

“showroom stock”

David S. Wallens said:

In reply to racerfink :

Could you get the turbo without the T-tops? I can’t recall off the top of my head, but I believe that even the later Shiro came standard with T-tops so I’m thinking not. 

I don't think so. I forget the JDM words the cool kids use to determine a "facelift" for the same model.

That is the 84-86 Z31 body, the facelift was 87-89 (both turbo and non-turbo cars got a 5hp bump), the Shiro was white only, turbo '88 model. Even my non-turbo '88 car had T-tops, which was awesome when I was in high school (graduated in 2000). White with the ALL burgundy leather interior, burgundy carpets/dash/center console/everything. 

Had Eibach springs, Koni shocks, ST sways, 240SX throttle body (it was 5mm larger IIRC), Pacesetter headers and custom catback with a Thermal Research and development muffler. We also took the turbo hood scoop and built a sealed box around the K&N air filter for ALL THE POWAH! I'm sure it did exactly nothing.

Article about Shiro: https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/superhero-shiro-1988-nissan-300zx-shiro-special

I'll have to look through a bunch of my IMSA programs from 1988 to see if Tommy Kendall's 300ZX he shared with Max Jones had t-tops.  After we got tossed at Road America for "brake scoops" on all our T/A's, Tommy and Max led the points for a brief time.

David S. Wallens said:

In reply to racerfink :

“showroom stock”

I worked for Joe Varde in 88.  The stories I could tell...

racerfink said:

David S. Wallens said:

In reply to racerfink :

“showroom stock”

I worked for Joe Varde in 88.  The stories I could tell...

Well....    we are waiting!

racerfink said:

David S. Wallens said:

In reply to racerfink :

“showroom stock”

I worked for Joe Varde in 88.  The stories I could tell...

Same! I love hearing stories from people who were in the industry or racing scene back then. The 80's were a pretty fascinating time in car development...

Just noticed the price tag, $80k seems steep, even for a 80's firehawk car.

racerfink said:

In reply to crankwalk (Forum Supporter) :

They would not have been allowed, as the Firestone Firehawk series was a Showroom Stock series.

Well ya know I saw the HKS stickers and non-stock exhaust so I figured it had some goodies.