Vehicle Description
Available now is this awesome 1983 Datsun 280zx dressed in all red
with black trim accents. Clean CarFax Report with No Accidents.
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. Just
serviced, new plugs, wires, distributer cap, rotor. 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 Datsun
280ZX)1982 and 1983 IMSA GTO Championship (Electramotive Datsun
280ZX Turbo)