Overview of the Nissan Fairlady Z Z33
This Nissan Fairlady Z is a June 2005 Z33 coupe in base grade, finished in original pearl (colour code QX1) and showing 29,035 km on the auction sheet, which is approximately 18,042 miles. It is offered at USS Tohoku as lot 10035 on 21 October 2026 and carries an auction grade of 4.5 with an interior grade of B. The sheet lists it as a one owner car, bought directly from the private owner and appearing at auction for the first time. The 3,500 cc petrol V6 is paired with a floor mounted automatic gearbox.
Low mileage, a single keeper and a new car service book with warranty booklet make this a cleaner than usual Fairlady Z for the money. It is a right hand drive Japanese domestic car, and the photographs show a tidy pearl coupe with genuine alloy wheels.
The Drive Review of the Nissan Fairlady Z Z33
The Z33 brought the Z car back to its core idea: a short wheelbase, front engined, rear wheel drive coupe with a big naturally aspirated engine and a price that undercut most rivals. The 3.5 litre V6 in the Japanese market car is the VQ35DE, a smooth, willing unit with a strong mid range and a hard edged note near the top of the rev range. The tachometer in the photographs reads to 8,000 rpm.
The steering is quick and direct for the era, and the car turns in eagerly. The chassis is stiff and the seating position sits low and close to the axles. This car has the automatic, so it suits relaxed grand touring more than track days. Expect a more laid back character than a manual car, but the same engine sound, the same low slung driving position and the same classic long bonnet, short tail proportions. Compared with modern coupes there is no turbocharging, little electronic intervention and a far more mechanical feel.
Drive type is not given in the data, but the sheet shows 2WD and the Z33 is rear wheel drive.
Auction Details
The car is lot 10035 at USS Tohoku, under the Fresh Corner heading on the sheet, with the auction on 21 October 2026 in Japan. The auction start price is not given in the data. Autoselecta's guide bidding range is £2,000 to £4,500. This is an estimated bidding range, not a guaranteed purchase price, and it does not mean the car will sell within it. Twelve similar cars sold at Japanese auctions between £3,721 and £7,205, typically about £4,646, though that range includes other versions and conditions. For the minimum bid and the landed cost to your country, see the price panel on this page.
All bids must be submitted before 9PM UK time the evening before auction.
Vehicle Specifications
Manufacturer: Nissan. Model: Fairlady Z (sold overseas as the 350Z). Generation and chassis: Z33, sheet code CBA-Z33, frame number Z33-403107. First registration: June 2005 (Heisei 17). Body: two door coupe, two seats. Engine: 3,500 cc petrol V6. Transmission: floor automatic. Drive: 2WD. Colour: pearl, original colour, code QX1. Mileage: 29,035 km, approximately 18,042 miles. Grade: base grade. Shaken (Japanese roadworthiness inspection) expiry is blank on the sheet. Recycling deposit is listed as ¥12,770.
Factory Features and Equipment
The sheet marks genuine alloy wheels, power steering, power windows and airbags, and shows air conditioning. The sales points confirm genuine seats and a genuine steering wheel. The photographs show fabric seats in black, a double DIN aftermarket style head unit in the centre console, black floor mats and the three dial instrument pod above the steering column. Navigation, ETC, a spare key and the number of keys are not confirmed on the sheet. The spare tyre symbol on the diagram carries no marking.
Japanese Auction Report Translation
The sheet was translated and checked by Autoselecta. The inspector's report reads as follows. The cabin is lightly dirty with scuffs. The wheels are scratched. The rear hatch damper is faulty. The underside is painted, with some rust in places. There are scratches and dents in various places.
The sales points list one owner, first time at auction, bought directly from the user, genuine alloy wheels, genuine seats and genuine steering wheel. The new car service book with warranty booklet is marked present. The notes box shows an abbreviation that most likely means the owner's manual and warranty booklet are present, though the sheet does not spell it out. Nothing is said about engine noise, gearbox operation, leaks or warning lights, so those are not confirmed either way.
Damage Diagram and Body Condition
The front bumper carries U2, P and a crack: a medium dent with paint damage and a crack, the most significant mark on the car. The windscreen has stone chips. The left side door shows U1 with a faint scratch, a small dent (the exact panel is assumed from the leader line). The left rear quarter panel has a faint scratch. The right rear quarter panel has A1, a small scratch. The rear hatch has U1, a small dent. The rear bumper has A1, a small scratch.
The photographs show clean, glossy pearl paint with no obvious damage at this resolution, although the bumper crack is not clearly visible. Overall this is a usable, well kept enthusiast car with minor cosmetic marks, a bumper that needs attention and some underside rust to inspect.
Interior Condition
The interior is graded B. The inspector notes a lightly dirty cabin with scuffs. The photographs show tidy black fabric seats, a clean dashboard, carpets and mats in good order, and the automatic selector in park. The instrument cluster displays 29,035 km, matching the sheet. The faulty rear hatch damper is an inspector item rather than something visible in the photographs.
Japanese Auction Grades
Auction grades run from low numbers for heavily repaired cars up to 5 or higher for near perfect examples. A grade of 4.5 is strong and indicates very little cosmetic fault. Interior grade B means average, with normal use or light wear.
Model History
The Z33 launched in Japan in 2002 as the Fairlady Z and returned the Z badge after a gap following the 300ZX. It used Nissan's FM platform and the VQ35DE V6, and arrived as the 350Z in export markets. Variants added over its life included roadster, Version Nismo and later more powerful VQ35DE tunes. This 2005 base grade car sits in the later part of the run.
Why This Model Has Become Collectible
The Z33 is a naturally aspirated, rear wheel drive Japanese sports coupe from the analogue end of the era, and clean, low mileage, one owner cars are now harder to find. Unmodified examples are especially sought after because so many were tuned or driven hard. A 29,035 km car with a service book is uncommon. Manuals draw the most attention, but a tidy automatic is a lower cost way into the model. Future values cannot be guaranteed, and this should not be considered an investment.
What To Look For When Buying This Model
The VQ35DE in early cars had a reputation for oil consumption, so check oil level history and the service book entries. The gearbox and driveline deserve a test drive for smooth shifts and no clunks. Check the sills, subframes and underbody for rust, which matters here because the sheet records some rust on the painted underside. Inspect the front bumper crack, the rear hatch damper that is noted as faulty, and the scratched wheels. Look at the condition of the front tyres, since the Z33 can wear inner edges when alignment is off.
Why Import This Car From Japan
Japanese auctions give access to low mileage, single owner cars with detailed sheets that are rarely seen elsewhere. This Z33 is a direct from owner example with a service book, and its condition can be judged from the inspector's report before you bid.
Ultimate Guide For Japanese Imports
Check your own country's rules on age, emissions, safety and right hand drive before bidding, because they vary widely. Autoselecta can help you plan the purchase, export documents, shipping and arrival steps.
Why Import Through Autoselecta
Autoselecta gives direct access to Japanese auctions, translated auction sheets, vehicle sourcing and bidding assistance. We handle export paperwork and shipping, provide tracking where available, support import and arrival in your country, and stay in touch throughout.
Browse This Week's Japanese Auctions
See this week's Japanese auction listings on Autoselecta to compare other Fairlady Z coupes and similar Japanese sports cars by grade, mileage and price.
Live Auction Search
Use the live auction search to filter by model, year, grade and mileage, and to find more Nissan Fairlady Z cars coming up at Japanese auctions.
Auction Caution
Auction cars are inspected before sale but remain used vehicles. An auction sheet is an independent condition guide, not a mechanical warranty. Older performance cars may need servicing, maintenance or refurbishment after purchase. Please note the inspector's warnings on this car: a lightly dirty, scuffed cabin, scratched wheels, a faulty rear hatch damper, some rust on the painted underside, scratches and dents in various places, a cracked and dented front bumper and stone chips in the windscreen.
