Wrist & Wheel Vol. 9: 1994 Nissan 300ZX Z32 & 1995 TAG Heuer Formula 1 WA1210
Icons of 90s Speed & Style
There’s a certain kind of magic when you look back at the 1990s — a decade where analog precision and digital optimism collided. It was an era when Japan’s automakers were in a horsepower arms race, and Swiss watchmakers were clawing back mechanical prestige after the quartz crisis. Two icons from that time, the 1994 Nissan 300ZX Z32 and the 1995 TAG Heuer Formula 1 WA1210, carry the spirit of that era in metal and design. Pairing them today feels like rediscovering a forgotten playlist: still fresh, still authentic, still cool.
Specs That Defined the 90s
1994 Nissan 300ZX Z32
Engine: 3.0L VG30DE V6 (222 hp NA, 300 hp Twin Turbo)
Transmission: 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic
Performance: 0–60 mph in ~5.0 sec (Twin Turbo)
Design: T-top roof, low-slung wedge profile, pop-up headlights
Tech: Four-wheel steering (HICAS), adjustable suspension (on some trims)
Legacy: IMSA & Le Mans success cemented its motorsport credibility
This was peak Japanese sports car engineering — balanced, aggressive, and loaded with tech that embarrassed European rivals at twice the price.
1995 TAG Heuer Formula 1 WA1210
Movement: Swiss quartz ETA 955.412
Case: 35mm stainless steel, unidirectional diver bezel
Dial: Bold luminous markers, sporty layout
Water Resistance: 200m
Design Language: Bright colors, rubber straps or steel bracelets, race-inspired aesthetic
The WA1210 was affordable but stylish, carrying TAG Heuer’s racing DNA into everyday life. It wasn’t trying to be a Monaco or Carrera — it was the accessible performance watch, just as the 300ZX was the accessible exotic.
Culture: The 90s Connection
The early to mid-90s were defined by optimism. Japanese sports cars were peaking: the 300ZX, Toyota Supra, Mazda RX-7, and NSX were heroes in magazines and video games. At the same time, TAG Heuer was leaning hard into motorsport heritage, sponsoring Formula 1 teams and timing Grand Prix races.
Both the Z32 and the WA1210 carried speed culture in their veins. The 300ZX looked like it belonged at 150 mph on the Autobahn; the TAG Formula 1 looked like it belonged on the wrist of the driver. Affordable performance was the theme: you didn’t need to be a millionaire to feel like one.
Why They’re Icons Now
Both the 1994 Z32 and the 1995 Formula 1 WA1210 disappeared from the spotlight for a while. The 300ZX bowed out in 1996 in the U.S. as emissions and insurance strangled the fun out of sports cars. TAG Heuer shifted its focus toward luxury mechanical pieces in the late 90s and 2000s.
But today?
The Z32 is gaining collector love. Clean Twin Turbo examples have doubled in value over the past five years. The design — those wide hips, those pop-ups — screams 90s cool in a way that feels fresh again.
The WA1210 and its Formula 1 siblings are having a renaissance. Collectors are rediscovering these quartz TAGs for their bright dials, slim cases, and “first serious watch” nostalgia.
Both represent a time before tech took over driving and watchmaking. They’re analog, mechanical (even if the watch is quartz), and deeply human.
The Comeback Look
There’s something about the old 90's sports car look and the clean, legible dial on the WA1210 that fits right back into today’s retro-inspired the new TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph uses the TH50-00 light-powered quartz caliber, built for TAG Heuer by La Joux-Perret.
Far from a simple Eco-Drive rebrand, it delivers a full day’s power from under two minutes of sunlight, a 10-month reserve after two days of charging, and a 15-year service interval. It keeps the Formula 1 true to its roots — rugged, accessible, and now modernized for today’s collector while moving the line upmarket. . Neither is pretending to be vintage chic — they are vintage, but from a decade often overlooked until recently.
Pair them together and you have:
A car that could still turn heads in Miami or Shibuya.
A watch that wouldn’t look out of place on the wrist of a 90s F1 driver.
Both embody speed, style, and optimism, frozen in time yet ready for a comeback.
Final Thoughts
The 1994 Nissan 300ZX Z32 and the 1995 TAG Heuer Formula 1 WA1210 or the new TAG Heuer Solar graph aren’t just relics — they’re reminders of when design was bold, performance was accessible, and style was effortless. Their return to relevance isn’t nostalgia; it’s recognition.
The 90s are back. And with icons like these, they never really left.
