In short
- The 350Z is the Z33 generation and the 370Z is its Z34 successor.
- Nissan shortened the Z34 wheelbase by 100 mm and overall length by 69 mm while adding 33 mm of width.
- The catalogue 350Z uses a 3.5 L VQ35HR V6, while the 370Z uses a 3.7L VQ37VHR V6.
- A 350Z DE-versus-HR decision stays within the 350Z and must not be confused with choosing a 370Z.
The names make this sound like an engine-capacity update. The drawings make the larger change obvious. The Z34 sits on a shorter wheelbase, grows wider and moves every useful front-end clue. I would not sell one body as the other with a different specification block.
What is the difference between a 350Z and 370Z?
The 350Z is Nissan's Z33 generation with a 3.5 litre V6. The 370Z replaced it as the Z34, using a shorter wheelbase, wider body and 3.7 litre V6. They need separate artwork.
This page compares generations. If the car is already confirmed as a 350Z, the separate DE, RevUp and HR guide handles the engine change within Z33. Mixing those two questions is how an advert ends up technically detailed and still attached to the wrong body.
How did the 370Z body change from the 350Z?
Nissan reduced the Z34 wheelbase by 100 mm and overall length by 69 mm, while increasing width by 33 mm. The 370Z is therefore shorter between the axles and wider overall.
| Car | Generation | Body relationship | Front-view clue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 350Z | Z33 | Longer predecessor | More upright, straighter-edged lamps |
| 370Z | Z34 | 100 mm shorter wheelbase and 33 mm wider | Swept lamps with hooked outer edges |
The number plate, paint and wheels are weak generation evidence because all can change. The lamp outline and the metal around it are more useful. A photograph from the side then shows the shorter cabin-to-axle relationship of the Z34 more clearly than a tight front crop.
How do the 350Z and 370Z engines differ?
The later catalogue 350Z uses the 3.5 L VQ35HR V6. The 370Z uses the larger 3.7L VQ37VHR V6. Engine capacity supports the generation check, but the exact 350Z version still matters.
A 3.5 litre description points toward Z33 and 3.7 toward Z34, but an engine swap can break that shortcut on a modified car. The chassis and body identify the drawing. The installed engine identifies the specification that should be described.
How do the signed poster figures compare?
Jonathan's signed catalogue records describe a 2008 350Z HR and a 2012-source 370Z. They are examples of the exact drawings for sale, not blanket figures for every Z33 or Z34.
| Poster line | 350Z, 2008 | 370Z, 2012 source |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3.5 L VQ35HR V6 | 3.7L VQ37VHR V6 |
| Power | 308 bhp | 323 bhp |
| Torque | 358 Nm | 363 Nm |
| Weight | 1620 kg | 1496 kg |
| 0 to 60 mph | 5.6 sec | 5.1 sec |
| Top speed | 150 mph | 155 mph |
Those rows should not be copied into a for-sale advert for another market, gearbox or model year. Their job is narrower: they record the car shown on each reviewed poster.
Should you choose a 350Z or 370Z print?
Choose the print that matches the owner's actual generation. This is an identity decision, not a judgement about which car is faster or newer.
Start with Z33 or Z34, then check the year range and visible front. Once the drawing is right, paint and registration make it the individual car. If neither catalogue drawing matches because the body has been converted, send the photographs through the custom drawing route.
Where do the 350Z and 370Z differences come from?
Nissan's official Z history establishes the Z33-to-Z34 succession, engine capacities and dimensional changes. The shop's reviewed car records provide the exact poster figures.
Nissan's 50-year Z history records the 350Z as Z33, its replacement by Z34, and the 370Z body changes quoted here. Manufacturer history cannot identify a modified individual car, so photographs and the chassis record still decide uncertain examples.
When those facts agree, compare both Nissan Z drawings in the catalogue.
Questions people actually ask
- What is the main difference between a Nissan 350Z and 370Z?
- The 350Z is the Z33 generation with a 3.5 litre V6, while the 370Z is the shorter, wider Z34 successor with a 3.7 litre V6. Their body panels, lamps and proportions require separate drawings.
- Is the Nissan 370Z smaller than the 350Z?
- Yes in length and wheelbase. Nissan states that the Z34 wheelbase is 100 mm shorter and its overall length 69 mm shorter than the Z33, while its overall width is 33 mm greater.
- Does the 370Z use the same engine as the 350Z?
- No. The signed catalogue 350Z is a later VQ35HR 3.5 litre car, while the 370Z uses the VQ37VHR 3.7 litre V6. Earlier 350Z cars also need their DE or HR version identified separately.
- Can the same car drawing cover both a 350Z and 370Z?
- No. The Z33 and Z34 have different proportions, lamps, bonnet shapes and bumper openings. Paint and registration can change inside one reviewed drawing, but they cannot turn one generation's body into the other.
Written by Jonathan in Derby. Last updated .