There is no denying that tightening emission regulations during the 1970s impacted vehicle performance, and Datsun’s Z-Car range wasn’t immune. These cars could still accelerate relatively well, but the company achieved this feat by offering ever-larger versions of its L-Series six under the hood to counter falling power. The seller has taken matters into their own hands with this 1975 280Z. Gone is the six, with a Chevrolet small-block occupying the empty space. It hasn’t seen service for about a year, but it appears that its revival would be straightforward. The seller has listed the Datsun here on eBay in Temple Hills, Maryland.  Bidding sits below the reserve at $5,300 off the back of some intense action.

The seller indicates that this Datsun received a repaint at some point in its original Kilimanjaro White. The company offered this shade from 1970 until 1975, making this one of the last cars to sport that color. It is unclear when the work occurred, but the presentation is still quite respectable. There are no significant imperfections, and the panels are straight. Rust can be a major bugbear with the Z-Car range, but this car’s steel penetration is limited to a small area in the battery tray. The cowl and prone spots like the hatch opening and floors have dry surface corrosion, but addressing these wouldn’t require a grinder or welder. The glass is clear, while the 16″ Panasport wheels are the first sign that there could be more to this 280Z than meets the eye.

I have long considered Datsun’s L-Series six-cylinder engines some of the most underrated in automotive history. They aren’t typically as powerful as equivalent twin-cam units, but they are as tough as nails. Datsun selected the 2.8-liter version to propel the 280Z, teaming it with a four-speed manual transmission to produce a car that could cover the ¼-mile in 16.2 seconds. That figure was considered respectable in 1975, but this car’s seller craved significantly more. They ditched the six in favor of a Chevrolet 350ci V8 of 1973 vintage. They teamed the V8 with a three-speed Turbo 350 automatic and a Posi rear end, which is a bulletproof combination. The motor wears upgrades to ints intake, carburetor, and a set of shorty headers. Therefore, it is fair to expect that it produces more than the 170hp and 177 ft/lbs of torque that would have been available from this car’s original six. That brings us to an important point to consider with this conversion. The small-block is not only more powerful than the engine it replaces, but it is also heavier. This is typically not good news. However, because its length is shorter, most of the additional mass is situated behind the front axle centerline. Therefore, the handling could conceivably be slightly better than it was originally. The seller confirms that the Datsun doesn’t currently run, and hasn’t for about a year. It isn’t all gloom and doom, because they believe that fitting the included electronic distributor and new fuel lines would cure most of its ills. There will probably be other work before the Datsun is genuinely roadworthy, but tackling those tasks to achieve perfection would be a productive way to occupy the upcoming cold months.

The second surprise with this Datsun, beyond what resides under the hood, is the condition of its interior. Trimmed in Black, it has avoided many of the issues that can plague these classics. The vinyl is in generally good order, with slight damage to the driver’s door trim the only obvious shortcoming. The seats look excellent, and the dashpad hasn’t cracked. That latter item is noteworthy because addressing the problem can be expensive. It doesn’t need a cover to hide a problem, but I would fit one to this car as cheap insurance. The factory radio has made way for a retro-style stereo, and the seller states that the air conditioning requires a recharge to blow cold.

Purists will decry the changes made to this 1975 Datsun 280Z, but it is worth noting that they aren’t irreversible if someone wishes to return it to its factory form. To say that it has generated interest is an understatement, with forty-two bids submitted and ninety-four people adding it to their Watch List. Christmas is fast approaching, and it seems that some enthusiasts intend to give themselves an early present. Are you feeling the same way?