Vehicle Description
In the realm of vintage Japanese imports, not many cars are held in
higher regard than the first generation of Datsun Z two-seater
coupes. It's rare to find one that has stood the test of time as
well as this beautiful 1977 Datsun 280 Z. It's been owned by the
same family since 1984, and maintained in a manner that has allowed
it to retain much of its originality. It's always nice when you can
know a little about the background of a car, and this little gem
brings an added measure of provenance to the table.
This is a good, solid Georgia car, so rust and body rot are not an
issue. Eye appeal? Oh yeah! Plenty of it! You'll be impressed by
the way in which the soft pearl white paint envelopes the
finely-hewn body lines of the 280 Z. That first look really is one
of those lump-in-your-throat moments. Granted, there are some minor
fisheyes in the finish, but nothing we'd consider a deal-breaker,
it still shows very well. There have been no major modifications to
the body, but a few items have been added here and there to subtly
enhance the car's appearance. A roll pan gently wraps around the
rear bumper area, while a spoiler has been installed on the front
to give it that racy look. A louvered rear window shade, plastic
headlight covers, and a blacked-out front bumper are among the
other accessories that add to the dynamic look of this classic
sport coupe. It sits on gold and polished 15-inch WORK wheels that
add a great final touch to the exterior.
A peek at the inside of an automobile often offers a hint as to its
overall condition and how it's been treated through the years. In
this case, the interior of this Datsun speaks volumes. The inside
looks basically original and is in very nice condition. The
gorgeous black vinyl seats are solid and show no splits or tears.
The carpeting is nice with no fading, and the door panels and
headliner look great too. You won't find a cracked-up dash like is
commonplace for these Z's, and it sports full, clear
instrumentation. An AM/FM radio and 8-track tape player provide the
foundation for a quality sound system, and the wood grain steering
wheel finished off the look for a little extra elegance. Soaking up
the ambiance of this interior takes you back to 1977 while, at the
same time, making it hard to believe this car is really 40 years
old!
Raising the tilt-forward hood reveals a stock fuel-injected 2.8L
turbocharged six cylinder engine. If you've never driven a car with
one of these turbo engines, you are in for a treat. These
high-winding little power plants take off like a rocket with that
pin-you-to-the-seat acceleration. It's running smooth, and still
delivers power and speed when you need it, and power front disc
brakes stop the car on command. Backed up by a 5-speed manual
transmission that shifts up through the gears quickly and smoothly,
this Z is ready to go out and stretch its legs.
It looks good. It runs well. And it's a blast to drive. Flashy and
fast, the 1977 Datsun 280Z is one of those cars that forever
changed the face of the import car market. If vintage sports cars
are your thing, then this is the one. Make it yours, call
today!