The ZCCA was established to help build enthusiasm through the formation and support of formal "Z Car Clubs" across North America. After a few years of coordination and setting up the Constitution and By-Laws, the current formalized ZCCA was set in operation, complete with coordinated member club benefits, dues structure and elected committee members.

The ZCCA's inception occurred during the second Annual Z Car Convention held in Phoenix, Arizona back in the summer of 1990 in conjunction with Nissan North America. Club representatives had lunch with Nissan's VP of Marketing at the time, a Mr. Hadley Chamberlain, who stressed the company was very supportive of the grass roots Z Car Club movement but could not interface effectively with each individual Club. Management in a variety of Nissan lines of business recognized that Nissan and the ZCCA could help unite the Datsun and Nissan Z community.