Vehicle Description
There's no question that the Datsun 280Z changed the way we look at
sports cars in America. Affordable sports cars had all but vanished
by the time this 1977 example was built, and despite those dark
years of emissions controls, they still managed to deliver
sparkling performance.
This is one of those Z-cars that was treated like something special
from the very beginning. Whether it was a visionary who recognized
that someday this car would be a collector's item or merely a
fellow who loved his new Z, someone made sure this car stayed fresh
over the years. The bronze paint job is back in fashion after all
these years, and you'll probably find that out on the road, folk
will stop at lights just to ask you what color it is. There's a
golden glow underneath that shows up in the right light, and it
highlights things like the hood bulge and the gentle curve of the
rear fender as it comes together with the roof. Along the way,
someone added a deep chin spoiler, a ducktail spoiler out back, and
a set of smooth headlight covers, but there's no mistaking this
car's DNA. It's got some signs of use and age, but it still
generates a ton of attention, particularly for the money. It's been
retrofitted with a smaller chrome front bumper from an earlier
model, which is a great choice, and the blacked-out tail panel
looks racy.
The black interior is definitely 1970s fashion, but it's remarkably
well preserved and after you embrace the coolness that is the disco
era, you'll find a very stylish and functional cockpit inside. The
buckets are supportive, and thanks to that durable upholstery, show
only a few splits and scuffs that are a natural product of age.
Door panels and carpets are well preserved for being 40 years old,
with the cargo bay showing no ill effects from UV rays or dirty
cargo. The dash was the same in all the first-generation Z-cars,
and the round auxiliary gauge pods in the center are a design
statement that can still be found in today's 370Z. A
leather-wrapped wheel and stubby shifter with a matching knob
reinforce the performance feel that was so carefully engineered by
Nissan designers. This Z also features things like working factory
A/C and an AM/FM/CD stereo with an amp and a pair of bazooka
subwoofers in the trunk.
The silky smooth inline-six featured a single overhead camshaft,
and was enlarged to 2.8 liters to bolster low-end torque for
American tastes. Combined with the svelte curb weight, the 280Z is
generally regarded as the best-performing of the first-generation
cars. The engine is smooth and feels like it can pull forever, and
makes a brawny six-cylinder bellow through the single exhaust pipe.
It looks like there's a lot going on under the forward-canted hood,
but in reality these are reliable, durable cars that are
surprisingly easy to work on, so have no fears about that. The cam
cover was painted to match the bodywork, but otherwise it remains
quite stock and runs superbly. The chassis offers lively handling
thanks to a fully independent setup fore and aft, as well as
powerful braking that's better than most cars of the era. The
chassis is very clean and solid, although not detailed for show,
but with no problem areas, either. And as a child of the '70s,
nothing looks more appropriate than a set of "kidney bean" aluminum
wheels, which sit on 215/60/14 blackwall radials.
The Z-car changed the automotive landscape, and collectors are now
starting to realize its special place in history. Relive one of the
'70s greatest hits and call today!