The adage that a rising tide lifts all boats is true in collectible automobile circles. It is no secret that collectible Japanese cars are appreciating at a stratospheric rate. One of these shooting stars is Datsun’s early Z-cars. While the 240Z is the car everyone wants, later versions are still available at reasonable prices. Take for example this 1976 Datsun 280Z 2+2 for sale on eBay in Salem, Virginia. While the words “barn find” appear in the ad, this poorly described backyard gem has just two days to go in the auction. With bidding at a low $1,225, is this a good chance to pick up a Z on the cheap and fix it up as you go? Does the lack of details in the ad make this an iffy proposition?
I have to start with a warning here. The ad for this Z is scant on useable pictures and the description leaves a lot to be desired. There are no pictures of the interior, engine, floor pans, or any area you may be concerned with on a Z of this vintage. The seller’s description simply lists it as a barn find and adds nbsp. I am unsure as to what nbsp means. If you know, please enlighten us in the comments.
Another aspect of this ad that raises questions is that the photographs seem to have been taken through a tube. There is shading in the corners as if some lens magnifier or cover was used. The picture above has a walker or cane handle in the lower left corner. Perhaps someone who is mobility impaired is selling the car and these are the best pictures they could get. The seller does list a phone number to ask questions about the car. Perhaps an interested reader will pick up the phone and get the story on the car. If so, I hope they share the details with us. I just wish the ad had more information so that the seller could maximize any profits on the sale.
As for the car itself, the 280Z was the final evolution of the Japanese car that turned the sports car market on its ear in 1970. Datsun combined their smooth inline six with a four-speed manual transmission, a beautiful body, and a competent chassis at a price that was very competitive with other sports cars in the market. It kind of bridged the gap between the various British and Italian roadsters on the market and the more muscular Corvette. Like the Corvette, the model gained weight and lost horsepower as the seventies wore on. By the time the 280 went through a major restyle in 1979, the car had evolved into a muscular personal luxury car.
The car in the ad is the rarer 2+2 280Z. Rarer does not necessarily mean more valuable. Datsun was trying to capitalize on the Z’s success and added a semi-functional backseat. This necessitated changing the roofline and the car’s good looks. From a marketing standpoint, this made sense, but collectors have kind of given this model the cold shoulder.
So what does all of this mean for this car? Someone who lives in the area may have a real opportunity here to pick up a restorable car that would make for a very liveable classic. By the time 1976 had rolled around, the Z had a larger engine and a more luxurious interior, and many of the bugs had been worked out of the original design. A look at the pictures reveals that the car is in decent shape. Rust, always an issue with Zs, seems to be at a minimum here. A phone call and maybe an in-person inspection may provide an opportunity to purchase a good car here. I just wish the ad revealed more.
Have you ever owned a Z car? What was the experience like? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Just no.
The least popular model of a 45 year old car, buried to the axles in the woods.
If you go to pick up this Z-car, it’s going to come out in pieces.
I suspect “nbsp” is a html code artifact – it stands for “non-breaking space.” Nothing to do with the car.
The 2+2 is alot more popular in Japan, than the US…The land where sporty 2 door coupes aren’t as popular as ugly, bloated SUVs.
Go figure.
If its too good to be true is my mantra!
How do you know how long it has sat there dumbass I know the owner they just parked it last week it is a every day driver super nice car your just jealous you can’t own one 🗣💩🤥🤮😭😭😭😭😢
This is close by me,but I have no desire to
even go look at it.
Parts car?
Ang, what would it cost me for you to go take a look at it for me?
Do have papers and keys on this car? Or did they find it in the woods and thinking. Hey let’s put this on E-bay and make money!! No interior shots. If the door won’t open try the hatch. Look and reads like a scam!! 🙄🐻🇺🇸
Looks like keys on the back bumper! Maybe the floors are paper?
Seller has negative feedback. Steer clear.
That is not really fair. The negative feedback was on two items out of 85 total. Both were items under $35 and old electronic stuff. The rest of the feedback is very positive. Appears to me that someone is clearing out their estate so that their heirs don’t have to. It is a shame that there are not better pictures. One has to assume that it would be a decent parts car, but you never know, it may not have been in the woods as long as we all suspect. I am not a fan of 2+2, but surprisingly many people recently are taking to them.
My ex girlfriend had a blue 240z. She sent it to a car restoration guy to get repainted. He left the car outside his shop for two years where it got vandalized and rusted out. She then dragged it home where it sat in the garage for another ten years and got eaten by mice. I pulled it out of the garage, replaced some tune-up bits, and it started right up like a champ. I drove it around the block once and then we sold it the next day because she was tired of it.
I’ve got 2 ’83 280 Z’s. One was bought as a parts car on the cheap, the other for 2500. The 2500 car still has a manifold leak and has developed a lot of rust. It has been sitting for several years since one of the grandkids wanted it. A warning light came on saying “low water”, but the radiator always checked OK; later we determined it was telling us the battery needed water. Was gonna replace the exhaust manifold but was never able to get the bad one off the car. It’s under a shelter but it is still rusting away. Thin Japanese steel, I guess. Great running and driving little car when I was driving it.
Had an ’81 ZX Turbo. First year for electronic ignition. What a nightmare. Ran good for a couple years till had a head gasket problem. Got fixed but never ran right again. and rust began on floorboards. Decided to have fun and put a 350 in it. Sold drive train and took to resto shop. Frames were junk back then and almost junked it. But the resto guys “knew a guy” that used to make replacement frame parts. Turns out he had one and put that in. Fitted over original rails. Did body work and put 350/700R4 in. A blast to drive, but difficult to hold it straight when hard acceleration. Spun it 180 not even trying. Unfortunately let my son drive it without demonstrating the acceleration issue. He Put it thru a buck fence and wrapped it around a tree. No injuries, but luckily had collectors ins. on it. Check paid for a nice 72 Mustang Convertible.
Says the seller lists a phone number to call and ask questions . I dont see a phone number on here or on the EBAY listing ???
I tried 2 times to contact the seller through the EBAY listing. Both times I got an immediate response the my message was UNDELIVERABLE !!!!
A friend of mine had one like this in the early 2000s.he was a running a sbc 350 and TH350 trans.you can buy all the stuff to do an engine swap from black dragon motorsports.
my brother and his son pulled an early 280z out of Florida minus engine, and it currently has a 350/5speed out of an F body camaro in it.
runs and drives but college got in the way so the details haven’t been finished up, needs headlight wiring etc
Slang for “nbsp” No bull s*** please
I had a 79 2 seater, bought for 800$, was a bit rusty, but had a friend working for a Datsun dealer and was able to get the front frame “rail” under the passenger side, and my brother and I were able to rehab it….two black primer fenders to replace the rotted ones and all that was left was a custom metal filler where the spare tire well had rusted out [stored a compressor/can of fixaflat under the cover since a 15″ matching Enkei would never fit] , and while I never got around to painting it, I did throw a header/Ansa exhaust on it and 15″ Enkei wheels. the 14″ aluminum turbines that it came with [ I think, a long time ago] went on my brothers 260z.
That 280z was fast and a lot of fun, I later traded it away, with a lot of regret, and to this day I usually hold on to my cars because of that regret
I’ll bet the seller does not own this car. Looks like they were driving down a trail, saw it sitting there and snapped a few photos and posted it as a joke.
No attempt whatsoever to get any closer than the trail allowed them. They could have at least opened a door, the trunk, or the hood to make it look like they at least had access to the vehicle.
If they do own it, then it is the lamest attempt ever to sell a vehicle.