This Week's Klockau Lust Object: 1987 Nissan Maxima wagon

I’ll just wait a moment for all of you to get up from your fainting couch. Wait, what? A Maxima? Not a Talisman, Mark IV, Regency, 740 Turbo or 1800ES? Yes, it’s true, I do like these ‘80s Maximas.

Yes, there was a time when Nissan didn’t make mostly unreliable potato-shaped embarrassments. I remember friends of my parents, Dee Dee and Ward, shopping for new cars around 1986. They wound up getting a beige ‘87 240DL wagon, and Ward gave me the brochures they’d accumulated while shopping.

I remember there were brochures on the ‘86 Taurus, the Mercury Sable, and this generation of Maxima. I really liked the Maxima, because they kind of gave off a Volvo vibe from the outside, while the interior reminded me of the Caddys and Lincolns I loved even way back then.

Back in the mid-’90s my cousin, Suzy, picked up a sedan cheap. It was kind of a two-tone silver and titanium, with either this interior or a light gray. It was in pretty decent shape, and she drove it with next to no trouble for several years.

And I remember seeing the sedans pretty regularly back then, but don’t recall ever seeing a wagon. Of course, I like them more than the sedans. Haven’t seen one in the wild in a LONG time, maybe the mid 2000s.

This one popped up recently on a FB page I am in, Finding Future Classic Cars, and was for sale in Ft. Lauderdale at the time. As of this writing it is still available, for $8700.

As the ad said, “Dark Red Metallic (329) over grey velour interior.

2025 oil service and new battery
2024 oil service
2024 new muffler and tailpipe
2024 under carriage and engine dry iced cleaned
2023 4 Yokohama Avid tires installed (now 2k miles)
2020 new radiator hoses and flush

“This all-original vehicle features professionally corrected paint and applied Ceramic Pro coating with lifetime transferable warranty and professionally applied 3M Automotive Window Film. Engine and under carriage dry ice cleaned April 2024.

”Features: Power Sunroof with Moonroof, OEM Nissan Dynamic Sound System with Graphic Equalizer (poor reception)and Cold AC

”All factory except headlights updated to LED for better visibility. Stored in Air-Conditioned Storage Garage and paint and plastics reflect absence of heat/sun damage.

”Drives and Shifts with No Issues, No Known Mechanical Issues. No rust.
I have driven to New Mexico and Colorado from Florida in this car with no issues.
Nissan dealer service records 2013-2019.”

I don’t need it, but I like it a lot, and it reminds me of a time, long ago, when most new cars WEREN’T ugly, embarrassing conveyances for dull people, lol!

NOTE: It would look nice parked next to a similarly-hued 1990 Lexus LS400…