Gray with white interior
Two owner car from new.
First owner bought the car from Competition Infiniti of Smithtown, and owned it until 1996. She then traded it in on a then brand new Infiniti I30.
I’ve had the car ever since that time.
Completely stock and original.
These cars even came with a Service Manual, which this one has.
Introduced in November of 1989 in the U.S., with the Infiniti brand, and luxury division of Nissan Motor Co.
The first generation Q is a Japan market Nissan President, modified for the U.S. market. The most obvious difference being left hand drive for North America.
The design direction for the Q, was understated luxury. With an emphasis on performance, and less so on frivolous additions, such as chrome trim, or wood accented interiors.
Its sales performance was mediocre, as American buyers wanted more pizazz, and glitz than the Q offered.
Its quality couldn’t be disputed, and enthusiast magazines praised its high speed stability and handling.
A 4.5 liter , high revving V8 with 278 horsepower, propels the car with authority. Period magazine testers reported the engine to sound like “Nascar” above 5,000 rpm’s, and the overall consensus was that it felt more powerful than its 278 horsepower rating.
Meanwhile, the rest of the car was built using the best materials, and manufacturing processes available at the time. Body panels were laser straight, and panel gaps tight and precise. Revolutionary flourinated clear coat over acrylic enamel paint was used on the body. Interior materials were far superior to most cars. The leather used for the seats and door panels almost never wears out, while being supple and luxurious. Everywhere you look or touch inside the car, is designed to be simple, yet beautiful. The switches are simple, but feel very precise.
It’s M.S.R.P. Was $38,350, and placed it squarely in the range of the Mercedes Benz 300E, and BMW 535i, both being 6 cylinder cars, as compared to the V8 powered Q.
The value was extraordinary, but most buyers were unmoved, and bought the German brands more frequently.
The styling of the Q was controversial, with its lack of an intake grille. As a result, sales were way off expectations, and the car struggled in the U.S. market.
In 1994, a styling update was done, and the front end now had a grille. Still , it didn’t help much with sales, and by 1997, the car was replaced with a completely different car, which in my opinion, resembled a Cadillac.
I’m happy to own this first generation Q, which embodies all that Infiniti strove for in 1989. Which was to bring a different take on a luxury car to North America.
I worked for the company at this time, being an authorized Infiniti dealer.
And, while they missed their mark, this car is a fantastic representation of what makes Japanese luxury, both intriguing and simple in its execution.