When it comes to vintage Z cars, collectors take note regardless of the generation of the model when the mileage is low and the options and colors are spot-on. Typically, it’s the older models like the Series 1 240Zs that get all the love from collectors, but examples like this – a highly preserved final year S30 280Z with some incredible colors and the preferred manual transmission – is going to get some trigger fingers itchy when it comes to paying the seller’s asking price. No one has stepped up at the moment to pay the $48,900 list price here on eBay, and with less than a day left in the listing, do you think anyone will?
This is a 280Z, which operates in sort of a limbo between the most desirable Series 1 cars and the heavy, grand touring-focused 280ZX. The 280Z has been tracking well in the collector car marketplace, almost like a consolation prize for the original 240Z. The 280Z made decent power while retaining the first generation model’s looks, and had better performance out of the box than the 260Z, if I recall correctly. It still had the unfortunate parking bench-style bumpers and more invasive emissions controls, but if you want the classic shape without the collector-grade pricing, a 280Z is a fantastic option.
The seller notes this is a one-owner car with just 34,000 original miles. The Datsun sat in that owner’s garage for some time, being parked with a cover over it in 1990 and not moving since. I can’t recall seeing very many 280Zs in this shade of yellow, and certainly with this much vibrancy. The same goes for the leather bucket seats and the crack-free dash – two details you rarely find in unrestored S30 cars. The yellow on black color combo is quite sharp, and paint looks to be almost as nice on the outside as it is in the door jambs, with the seller just notating some light fade on the exterior panels.
The custom stripes down the center of the body are an interesting look, and I have to believe these decals were dealership-applied. The engine is the standard Datsun straight six, and the seller describes some basic reconditioning that was needed before the 280Z hummed once again. This includes dropping the fuel tank, installing a new fuel pump, installing new injectors and battery, and performing an overall fuel system overhaul. A new master cylinder and four new tires were also installed. The seller has taken a restrained approach to refreshing the 280Z, which is a smart move considering how original the car remains. But that asking price – if you were in the market, would you pay it?
Really nice. Everything just ‘pops’ with this one. Nice interior, slick graphics, low mileage…If I were in the market for one, I’d be all over this one!
GLWTA!! :-)
Nissan has never been able to duplicate the success of the original Z cars.
IMHO, the S30’s beauty is timeless. The ridiculous govt.-mandated bumpers do all they can to ruin that and deserve to be replaced. The paint and striping are dated and polarizing. That said, if this Z is rust-free and as original as the seller claims then it is worth top-dollar, but the 49k ask seems like a dealer that is pushing the envelope or a seller that is hedging his bet.
The stripes added to this car look as though someone was trying to recreate the 1977 ZAP edition which was to include dual sport mirrors (a la the ’78 Black Pearl), rear window louvers (Datsun louvers require one to drill the hatch unlike aftermarket louvers), and the stripes which also were applied to the side of the body on both sides just above top of the rocker panel/body line.
The price is optimistic but, attrition has whittled the number of clean, rust free S30’s down to a small(ish) number and they are not making anymore of these. Another way to look at a ’78 280z is by ’78 Datsun had worked out most of the bugs so why not buy the latest version of the S30 and have the newest sheet metal?
no… i would not pay it….. period
After no action the first time around, the seller has relisted it today at the same price.
I thought I had seen this one before. Nice car (I had four of them back in the day, the at being a BRG 77) but not sure if it’s worth the price asked.
It has been listed many, many, many times on eBay. Seller is probably in a position to store it out of the elements and wait for the market to catch up to this pricing strategy. I call these long term flippers. They know that demographics are on their side and people will continue to chase this and a whole basket of other 1970’s through 1990’s cars for the foreseeable future. As they say, you didn’t pay too much, you paid too early.
Sorry, looks like a beautiful ride.
These are getting harder to find in great shape, but this guy is asking rusted out, no engine, trans, or glass early Camaro prices here…
As much as I like these, 25K still seems like a more reasonable price for this.
I would hold the cash tight and keep looking for the rare seller who has less greed and more of a grasp on the real world.
YMMV.
I’m not quite sure why the ride height is so generous….it looks a bit ridiculous perched up there. My ’77 on stock springs never rode that high. Otherwise….great car.
ABCarr…Wrong length gas shocks….