Hold Onto The Steering Wheel: 1999 Nissan Maxima Turbo

The 1995-99 Nissan Maxima were the last cleanly styled generation of Maxima.  The cars that followed this generation were more powerful, but were noticeably uglier cars.  The Maxima started the tag line "four door sports car" in the early 1990's.  Today's bright red feature is the sport model SE, but has bonus of a turbo kit and supporting mods added to the decent 190 hp 3.0 V6 engine.  The usual hotrod move is to swap in a later 3.5 engine into these cars.  Find this 1999 Nissan Maxima for sale in Houston, TX for $6,000 via craigslist.  Tip from JG 750.

Seasonal Colors - 1978 Datsun 810 Wagon

I remember going to the junkyards after school and finding them littered with old Coronas, Carinas, 810s, and Colts. Now a decade and a half later, they're barely in scrap piles let alone rolling down the road. Finding such a period correct example of Japanese-American iron that hasn't become either part of the landscape or someones drift muse is indeed a rarity.  Find this 1978 Datsun 810 Wagon for sale in Marietta, GA for $5,900 via craigslist. 

Seller Submission: 1983 Datsun 810 Maxima Wagon L28ET Power

The first generation Maxima was badged (for the US market) first as the Datsun 810, later the Datsun Maxima, and finally as the Nissan Maxima.  All we know is that it is a rear drive Japanese classic that deserves your attention.  Find this 1983 Datsun 810 Maxima Wagon here on eBay offered for $7,500 buy-it-now or make-offer located in Cookeville, TN.  Seller submission from Dave.

Maximum Sunday: 1983 Datsun 810 Maxima

The final entry for Maximum Sunday is a classic rear-drive sedan from the Datsun era.  The first generation Maxima was badged as the Datsun 810, later Datsun Maxima, and finally Nissan Maxima.  This was the only generation of Maxima to be rear-wheel-drive and shared many components with the 910 series Bluebird.  Find this 1983 Datsun Maxima (by Nissan) here on eBay offered for $7,890 with 7 days go, located in Canton, GA.

Maximum Sunday: 2002 Nissan Maxima SE 6-Spd

Maximum Sunday continues with this next Nissan Maxima, this time a fifth generation example offered at a decent price.  The fifth generation Maxima is a few horsepower down from the next generation, but it is a few tenths quicker to 60mph and might be a better car.  Find this 2002 Nissan Maxima SE 6-Spd offered for $3,500 in Lawrenceville, GA via craigslist.

Maximum Sunday: 2004 Nissan Maxima SE

All Nissan Maxima...all Sunday long.  Wait, what?  Seriously, it is going to be an all Maxima day here on the web's best source of El Caminos, monster trucks, and controversial engine swaps.  But none of that today...just pure cheap maximum carnage.  First up is this 2004 Nissan Maxima SE 6-speed offered here on eBay for $5,860 buy-it-now located in Paterson, NJ with 2 days to go.

5k: Clean Autobox: 1987 Nissan Maxima Wagon

 Why is it that all the clean, low mile examples of interesting cars offered for a decent price are shifted with an automatic transmission?  Was the driving experience really so terrible that the owner didn't want to drive it anywhere?  Would a manual transmission version have been destroyed by one of their kids?  Whatever the reason, these slushbox equipped machines are minty fresh and seriously tempting.  Find this 1987 Nissan Maxima Wagon offered for $3,000 located in Los Angeles, CA via craigslist. 

10k: RB25DET NEO Swap: 1982 Datsun Maxima Wagon

From 1980 through 1984, Nissan imported their Bluebird 910 based rear-drive family sedan using the Datsun (and later Nissan) brand with the 810 Deluxe and 810 Maxima model designation.  It is only of interest to enthusiasts because it was the only time we could get a rear-drive Maxima here in the states, but stock/original examples are not going to impress anyone with performance, handling, or speed.  An RB-series turbo inline-6 borrowed from a Skyline might change that impression.  Find this 1982 Datsun Maxima Wagon with RB25DET NEO Swap offered for $10,000 in Hollister, CA via craigslist.  Tip from Brian P.

2k: Unicorn Sleeper: 1992 Nissan Maxima SE

 Back in the early 1990s, if you needed a fast front-wheel-drive car to get to an MC Hammer concert, you would be best advised to avoid the popular choices like your buddy's Honda CRX, Integra GSR, or VW GTI -- and instead head to your parents garage and borrow the family Maxima.  But it couldn't be just any Maxima, it had to be the 1992-1994 Maxima SE that used the 3rd generation chassis and the powerful VE30DE V6 mated to a 5-speed manual.  Find this 1992 Nissan Maxima SE offered for an undisclosed price, located in Lancaster, CA via craigslist.

5k: Cheap Fun: 2002 Nissan Maxima A33 6-spd

The fifth generation Nissan Maxima (A33) was introduced in the 2000 model year, but it wasn't until the 2002 model year that the engine was upgraded to the VQ35DE and it was equipped with a 6-spd manual that it became a genuinely fast sleeper.  Find this 2002 Nissan Maxima A33 6-spd offered for $6,500 in Las Vegas, NV via craigslist.