Vehicle Description
This beautiful black 1978 280Z represents the best of the 2-seat
Z-cars that totally transformed the automotive landscape in the
1970s. As the latest models prove, the Z will always have a place
in our garages and in our hearts, and this early 280Z is a
fantastic way to enjoy the ride.
Looking at the shape, it's clear that there's a little bit of
E-Type Jag in there, maybe a hint of Corvette, and plenty of MG,
too. Fast, light, agile, and affordable, even today, this Z is a
delight. It's also the recipient of a fairly comprehensive
restoration, with nice paint and trim that gave the 43-year-old
sports car a brand new look. Cars like this were often put away as
sunny-day drivers, and as a result, this one shows none of the
bumps and bruises of the daily grind and it certainly appears that
it lived most of its life someplace warm and dry. Chrome was going
out of fashion in 1978, but there are still a few bright pieces,
including both bumpers and the stainless around the windows, all of
which remains in very good shape. Even things like the rubber
bumper overriders are supple and undamaged by UV rays, suggesting
that this car has led a very sheltered existence. Rear window slats
are an iconic performance look too.
One of the Z-car's biggest successes is the interior, which is both
sporting and functional. The black bucket seats were designed by
guys who knew the car would be used to its potential, so they have
thicker bolsters than most, and the pleated upholstery looks quite
racy. Of course, all of this remains in great condition, showing
only very minor signs of use since the restoration. The dash is
full of easy-to-read instruments, each housed in its own pod,
including a row of auxiliary gauges in the center, a look that is
still evident today in the latest Nissan GT-R. These cars were
top-of-the-line machines by 1978, and this one comes with factory
A/C, an automatic transmission, and an AM/FM/cassette stereo.
There's a positively massive trunk area under the rear hatch, and
the carpets show almost no wear or fading, surely thanks to the
window slats out back.
The L28E 2.8 liter inline-six is a fantastic motor. Torquey, yet
eager to rev, it was enlarged to better suit American driving
tastes, as well as to make the automatic transmission a reality. It
still has that same baritone wail that epitomizes big-horsepower
inline-sixes, and because it's a Nissan, it's also reliable and
smooth. The engine bay is as clean as the rest of the car, and that
tangle of hoses is how the factory did it, but don't worry, it has
all been regularly serviced and is in excellent running condition.
It's quite clean underneath, showing proper care and maintenance
and the exhaust system looks fairly recent. Heck, you can still see
all the markings on the suspension components that shows they were
properly torqued! The automatic transmission shifts as it should,
and the blemish-free alloy wheels look like period Minilites and
wear 205/60/15 blackwall radials.
Today, as when it was new, this 280Z is a lot of performance for
the money. A nice combination of restored and solid original
components, it's the Z you always wanted when you were a kid. Call
today!
