I would love to know the story behind this forgotten 1979 Datsun 280ZX. It appears to be one of the more desirable 10th Anniversary editions, known for its distinctive paint job and other high-end features to commemorate the Z car’s 1969 debut. The car shown here is listed without much information, but scans of old Polaroid photos show a vehicle that was clearly under the knife for a spell and otherwise previously loved on. Today, it’s a dusty project car locked away in what looks like the same Binghamton, New York garage it was photographed in all those years ago. Find the forgotten Datsun here on Facebook Marketplace for $3,645 or best offer.
Here’s one of the older photos that shows the Z with the can’t-miss-it black-over-gold paint job that the 10th-anniversary cars came with. The hood is removed and another old photo scan shows the engine removed and on a stand, looking quite fresh. It would seem an owner at one time tore this Datsun down and gave it a proper refresh, but no details are offered as to whether the original inline-six engine was rebuilt and then parked shortly after. Did a mistake in the rebuild cause the freshened-up motor to fail, or did the owner simply grow too old, too soon to enjoy the fruits of his labor? Hard to say, but it does seem like the Datsun hasn’t moved much since the engine was dropped back in.
The 10th Anniversary cars came with distinctive wheels featuring gold paint; those are not present on this car, so there’s a chance I’m mistaken about the limited production nature of this example. The drivetrain was left unchanged, so it’s not like the engine bay would offer any clues as to whether this is a real-deal 10th Anniversary car. The interior does seem to feature the correct leather seating surfaces, but that could be a shared option with non-Anniversary models. The big miss is the badge that sits ahead of the shifter that isn’t present on this car and looks like just a generic “280ZX” plate with no mention of this car’s production number in the limited batch of 2,500 finished in black-gold.
It does have T-tops, which was another calling card of the 10th Anniversary Cars. So, taken together, we have a paint job and T-top roof (along with potentially correct seats) that make it a likely 10th Anniversary car, but then there are the incorrect wheels and missing production plate (along with the badges that should be on the bottoms of the fender and back panel, but impossible to say if those just disappeared after years of weather exposure.) Overall, it seems like this Z car is destined to become a parts rig as the seller isn’t trying to push it as a project and the missing title will limit the potential pool of buyers. Do you think this is a real-deal 10th Anniversary 280ZX?
The 10th Anniversary cars were 1980 models.
Too bad the original Zs morphed into this… a ton of plastic and fancy paint, complicated electrics and fuel system making the engine compartment look like someone threw a grenade in it, and the extra weight negating the larger displacement engine. Drove a couple of these we had in the shop and it was like driving a ’58 Buick 4 door.
CCFisher is right, and so are you bobhess. Even compared to my smogged up ’77 280, the ZX was a letdown. But so was virtually every other car in 1979, between leisure suits, disco and the EPA like we were victims of our own practical jokes. But we bought the plastic junk and, somehow, we and the industry survived.
ZX cars rode and drove very precise. Almost make American muscle ride look foolish. Down on some power over 70s Z cars but made up for it in luxury and wait for it: T-Tops that didn’t leak like a sieve!!!
owned a 78, one of the best cars i ever had.
Anniversary cars were 1980; if it’s a 1979, it’s a wannabe.
Thanks to everyone here who cleared up the question of model year. As I was reading yet another interesting article I kept thinking “Didn’t Kelly drive a 1980 280ZX Anniversary car?”
When I read the part about gold trim on the wheels I was really confused as her car had those. Kelly was a long legged brunette beauty and captain of the cheerleading squad. She was also all too briefly my GF. Her Dad rightly adored her and bought her the ZX as a 16th bday present. It was second hand but one could hardly believe it as it drove and looked brand new with less than 8K on the clock.
Maybe the ZX cars weren’t exactly like the previous Z cars but those of us just getting licenses in the mid 80s these seemed far superior to previous models.
Z cars over the years have varied in size, features and desirability – not unlike Vettes, Mustangs and so many more. Most of them fell victim to the boxed in criteria that started in the mid 70s.
Watching the industry morph as it has from good to bad and back again has been frustrating at times and fascinating at others.
Most of todays over engineered offerings, wrought with needless electronics are of no interest to me. On the other hand, “Bang for my buck” has always intrigued me. One reason why I can’t see myself with anything newer than my 2012 370Z.
I think this car is an example taking another 79 or 80zx and trying to make it look like an anniversary zx. Notice the black paint that runs along the top of the wheel wells? That is not stock. Even the color of the gold paint looks a little off to me. Having a non anniversary edition painted would explain no AE decals on the fenders or hatch. And the engine bay is painted more of a copper gold color. They likely removed the engine to paint the bay. The headlight washers in the headlight scoops are not there, and these were brand new to the 1980 Anniversary. Edition and later used in the turbo 280zx’s. Plus no commemorative AE plate on the console, the standard hubcap wheels rather than the alloy wheels, and no t-tops all point to someone that just wanted to make an imitation.