The Datsun Z Car had a fairly long first-generation lifespan, beginning in 1969 and going until 1977 without any significant body changes unless you count the stretched 2+2, which made its debut in 1974. The first run cars included the 240Z followed by the 260Z, then finally the 280Z, but when 1978 rolled around a completely redesigned 280ZX took over, delivering more modern looks and comforts not found on the previous offerings. This 1979 Datsun (now Nissan) 280ZX here on eBay is from the estate of a classic car collector, with 44 bids already and the price resting at $4,400, but there’s no reserve so the most optimistic competitor will be taking the car home. Plan on visiting Cincinnati, Ohio if you want to check the Z out in person first.
We don’t get all that many specific details about this one, but the seller does tell us it’s pampered and has been garage-kept since new, although he doesn’t mention whether or not that’s still the original factory paint job. The finish is stated as driver quality, with some checking and imperfections here and there, but the body itself is described as being free of rust and retaining straight panels. This one’s also said to have the Grand Luxury package, which included equipment such as a rear wiper, aluminum alloy wheels, power windows plus a few other goodies.
To be well beyond the four-decade point, things inside appear nicely preserved with the condition seeming to reflect how I’d hope the inside of a car regardless of age would present that’s only been driven 74,000 miles, which the seller states is the actual mileage here. Even the cargo area is clean and shows little wear, with the hatch struts still holding gas and functioning properly.
Buyers in 1979 got a 2.8-liter inline 6-cylinder engine under the hood, making 135 horsepower in the North American market and it’s matched with a 5-speed manual transmission here, though there was an automatic available but the stick-shift seems like it would be a lot more fun. The seller says his car starts, runs, and drives excellently plus also feels confident it’s ready to be on the road cross-country, should the future owner not live near The Buckeye State. What are your thoughts on this 1979 280ZX? How do you think these compared to the previous generation of Z cars?
This was the year Nissan Americanized the Z. It went from being a sports car to a GT car. I sold Datsun/Nissan vehicles from 79-84. I don’t recall a Grand Luxury pkg but it’s been a long time and maybe there was. I owned a 75 280Z and a 85 280ZX. The 75 was a lot more fun!
Not many people will agree with me but I preferred the 280ZX to the 280Z, 260Z and 240Z. I worked at Bob Sharp Datsun back when these were new and drove almost every Z year. The ZX had a better and quieter ride.
Have a 1980 280 zx ran it for a lot of miles made a lot o escapes from the ex w the kids did 130 smooth still in my herd w my 67 Ford Fairlane Convertible 289 w Cherry Bombs Edlbrock heads 4 barrel carb, Audi 2.8 Turbo cabriolet, Bronco 88 n 6.7 Cummins 2500 n the X5 Bmr Diesel and a Honda 37 .mpg love the 280zx $5000 I will be there!! TkE it 2 Ct!!!! LmK!!!!
What?
Not quite the “Mustang 2” of the Z series, but never on my list. For me it was always what came before and after that stood out.
I think that more weight and less horsepower(135vs150) equals less fun to drive. But the straight 6 in the Z car responds well to modification, so upping the power and therefore the fun is relatively easy. I really like the style of the latter generation 280ZX, and if one can get this particular Z at little more than the current bid I’d say it’s a heckuva deal. Really think the black paint and gold finished wheels look great together, but the interior is in excellent shape for being over 40 years old.
I bought a nice 1979 280ZX back in 2010. Very nice car and well kept by the previous owners. My enjoyment was short lived when I noticed that while I was enthusiastically rowing thru the gears leaving from each stoplight, the soccer mom in the minivan next to me was showing me her taillights and leaving me behind. I assumed they couldn’t all be hot rodders, so I upgraded to a 1996 Z3 and solved the problem.
This ZX is a good deal. I’ll be watching this one. I wish I could get it. I do like the 83 ZX but this 79 looks good and price right. I know it’ll get bid up. Good luck to whom ever gets it.
I worked in cars for awhile. My HS shop teacher had a 240z that he would bring in the shop to teach us with. Always had a fondness for the Z’s.
One of the good things about the 280ZXs currently is that they’re affordable at reasonable prices compared to some of the Z cars before or after it. Get it while it lasts,cause it’s going,going fast!!!
I want it.
I had an 81 ZX that I bought in 85 for only $5,100. I thought that was a pretty good deal. I only had it a year but it was a fun little car, very well put together and got good gas mileage. It was a big upgrade in comfort from my 72 Celica that was more rust than metal. But really, I loved both cars for what they were. If I could i’d love to have a yellow 77 Celica hatchback, I knew a kid back then who had one and I thought it was the coolest car ever.
I’m the very proud owner of a 1981 280zx turbo GL (yes, they were available as a Grand Luxury trim). Mine has just over 30k miles and provides great acceleration and I love the sound of the turbo as it spools up. I chose the ’81 because of the snow flake wheels unique to that year turbo and prior to ’82, the B-pillar garnish was chrome to compliment the chrome bumpers. ’82 and ’83 were more integrated all polyurethane bumpers that while more modern, aren’t as special in my opinion as the chrome ones. While it may not handle as well as a some cars of that era, I believe it was the 2nd fastest automobile available for sale in the USA back then with recorded 0-60 of about 7 seconds which was very impressive back in those Malaise years of the industry. While not an all out sports car like the gorgeous 240z, still a wonderful GT car that outsold the production of 240z, 260z and 280z cars combined and as already mentioned, really nice ones are still very affordale classics.