Vehicle Description
Available now is this awesome 1983 Datsun 280zx dressed in all red
with black trim accents. This Japanese icon is powered by the L28E
is the enlarged 2,753 cc (2.8 L; 168.0 cu in) inline 6-cylinder
engine mated to a proper 5-speed manual gearbox. The interior is
finished in a black and grey two-tone color pattern and in very
good overall condition for the age. The original stereo head unit
is present, but sound comes from an aftermarket stereo mounted in
the glove compartment. The 280ZX was a complete redesign, retaining
only the L28 inline-six engine and other driveline components from
the 280Z. Both two-seat and four-seat (2+2) designs were offered.
Compared to the more overtly sporting earlier models, the 280ZX was
a much softer, heavier car, with less focus on driving and more on
driver comfort and refinement. Softer suspension, better sound
insulation, more comfortable seats, and ample equipment including
high-end audio systems defined the new ZX. In the spirit of the
times, emissions controls and aerodynamics were markedly improved
over the first generation Z-cars, while weight was down somewhat as
long as the buyer did not pick much from the very long options
list. The exterior design was evolutionary, less rounded and with
better integrated safety bumpers. Many parts, including the
rear-axle and the power steering came from the Datsun 810 luxury
sedan. Most of the design effort went into the entirely different
and much more modern interior. Nissan gave the 280ZX a facelift in
1982, with revised NACA ducting in the hood, new alloy wheels
(fourteen inch six-spoke alloys for non-turbo models, and fifteen
inch four-spoke alloys for turbo models), a revised B-pillar
garnish, new pin-stripe style tail-lights, and rubber bumper
over-riders replaced the earlier model's chrome and rubber items.
The bumpers were now also body coloured and wrapped around further.
Interior changes were minor but included new seat trim styling. The
1982 model also was the first to offer the popular voice warning
system, which warned the driver when the headlights were left on
after the vehicle was turned off, if the parking brake was on while
the vehicle was in motion, and many others. This facelifted model
has since come to be called the Series II 280ZX. Power steering
became standard equipment with a new rack-and-pinion system, rather
than recirculating ball. Changes were made to the rear suspension
layout, which also meant the exhaust pipe now exited from the left,
rather than right-hand side. The rear brake calipers and rotors
were also changed and the drive shafts (half shafts) were upgraded
from universal joints to constant velocity joints on certain
models. As in 1981 both turbo and naturally aspirated engines were
offered, but non-turbo cars now used the uprated L20E for the
Japanese market or the L28E for the export market, which on the 2.8
L version, due to increased compression, were rated at 145 hp (108
kW) rather than the earlier engine's 135 hp (101 kW). The naturally
aspirated 1982 Datsun 280ZX boasted a 0-60 mph time of 9.1 seconds,
1.2 seconds slower than the Corvette of the same year. The (US
market only) 280ZX Turbo was offered with a manual transmission;
this was a Borg-Warner T-5 five-speed model. This was one of the
first Nissan and Japanese car in general which used a non-Japanese
transmission; the T-5 was also used in the GM F-bodies and Ford
Mustang in addition to numerous other American domestic vehicles.
The T-5 was only available in 1982 and 1983 after which spring
rates and sway bars were revised, which largely addressed the
handling nervousness of the early 280ZX Turbo, and reviews
confirmed that the 1982 280ZX Turbo was the most sporting Z-car
since the original 240Z of 1970. The 280ZX proved successful in
various classes of racing, particularly in the US. Significant
results include: 1979 SCCA C Production Category (Bob Sharp Racing
280ZX)[5] 1979 and 1980 IMSA GTU Championship (Electramotive Da