Vehicle Description
THIS 1977 DATSUN 280Z IS LOCATED IN : INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46254
The Nissan S30 (sold in Japan as the Nissan Fairlady Z and in other
markets as the Datsun 240Z, then later as the 260Z and 280Z) is the
first generation of Z GT 3-door two-seat coupes, produced by Nissan
Motors, Ltd. of Japan from 1969 to 1978. One of the most successful
sports car lines ever produced, the trend-setting S30 was designed
by a team led by Yoshihiko Matsuo, the head of Nissan's Sports Car
Styling Studio, with the bodywork styled by Albrecht Goertz, the
designer of the BMW 507.
Seeking to compete head-to-head with established European sports
cars, Datsun priced the new 240Z within $200 of the British MGB-GT
in the United States, a five-year-old design that showed its age.
The 240Z's sleek styling, modern engineering, relatively low price,
and impressive performance struck a major chord with the public.
Positive response from both buyers and the motoring press was
immediate, and dealers soon had long waiting lists for the "Z".
280Z
Nissan released the Datsun 280Z model for the North American market
in the 1975 model year. In a further effort to keep the S30 models
sporting in the face of increasingly stringent U.S. emission and
safety requirements, engine size was again increased, this time to
2.8 liters. The L26 engine was bored out 3 mm (0.12 in) to create
the L28, and a Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection system was added.
Canadian versions were uniquely equipped without the anti-smog
components mandatory in the States. The model code is HS30, the
same as for the original 240Z.
The 1975 and 1976 models continued to be fitted with the U.S.
federally-required 5 mph (8.0 km/h) impact absorbing bumpers that
were introduced for the mid-1974 model year of the 260Z. These
bumpers were smooth surfaced, and blended into smooth black rubber
extensions as they met the body of the car. The 1977 and 1978
models received bumpers with recessed channels added that blended
into corrugated- or accordion-style black rubber extension trim.
Also new for the 1977 model year, 280Zs no longer received the
full-size spare tire, and instead had a "space saver" spare and a
larger fuel tank. This resulted in a raised rear deck area made of
fiberboard, reducing cargo space. In late 1976 and for most 1977-78
models, an optional five-speed manual transmission was available
alongside the four-speed manual and the three-speed automatic
options. It included a "5-speed" emblem on the left bottom edge of
the rear hatch. For 1977 there was also an update from the charcoal
painted hubcap style (with a chrome Z floating in the amber center
emblems) to a hubcap that resembled an alloy wheel, bearing a
center cap with a chrome Z floating in a black circle.
Both the two-seat and 2+2 coupe 280Z remained available throughout
the 1975-1978 model year run. The S30 series was replaced in 1979
by the Nissan S130.
