“No reserve” can be a thrill – or, in the case of this 1980 Nissan 280ZX, a conundrum. Is there enough value in this ZX to make it worth the price? Nissan launched the 280ZX (aka, S130) in response to a shifting market that placed fuel economy at the top of consumer concerns. Too, its 280Z was aging into irrelevance, with competitors including Toyota’s Supra and Mazda’s RX7 vying for the attention of buyers. The new car was launched in 1978, retaining the barest minimum of the Z-car’s shape. It was longer, wider, and heavier; as compensation for this shift off the “sporty” spectrum, it had almost 30% more interior space than its predecessor. In keeping with its new dimensions, the ZX was slower than the S30 and rode like a competent sedan rather than a curve-carver. Today’s example is from the 10th-anniversary series; it’s a project car located in Branson, Missouri.

The engine is the S30’s 2.8-liter straight-six choked down to 135 hp; the five-speed manual gearbox is also inherited from the earlier 280. Zero to sixty is north of 11 seconds. To bring the car into the personal luxury niche, Nissan replaced the rear suspension with semi-trailing arms and tuned the whole underside for a soft ride. The seller asserts a version of “ran when parked”; the current mechanical condition is unknown.

The interior – or what remains of it – was considered ergonomically outstanding when the ZX was introduced. The gauges are very visible, the seats are comfortable. The top-shelf GL package offered power steering and cruise control. This 10th-anniversary edition has leather upholstery. A profile photo shows that some portion of the driver’s door is damaged – perhaps only the window, perhaps part of the door as well. While more than 440k 280ZX cars were sold, parts such as trim can be difficult to find, so the restorer might find himself cruising junkyards and swap meets.

This car is listed here on eBay with bidding at $2005. Driver’s door notwithstanding, the trim, lenses, sheet metal, and even much of the paint are in decent condition. Meanwhile, remember the phrase – “a rising tide lifts all boats”? That pertains to cars, too: when the car you really want is too expensive, you’ll trade down: a coupe instead of a convertible, an auto instead of a four-speed. In the Z-car world, 240s have skyrocketed, pulling up all their brethren. This spectacular 280ZX sold for over $50k recently, though this version – at a sale price of $12k – is more typical.