1978 Datsun 280z Sun Yellow/black **77,500 Original Miles** on 2040-cars
Encinitas, California, United States
Body Type:Coupe
Vehicle Title:Clear
Engine:2.8L, I-6 (L28)
Fuel Type:Gasoline
For Sale By:Private Seller
Make: DATSUN
Model: Z-Series
Trim: 2+2
Options: CD Player
Power Options: Air Conditioning
Drive Type: Rear Wheel Drive
Mileage: 77,350
Exterior Color: Yellow
Disability Equipped: No
Interior Color: Black
Number of Doors: 2
Number of Cylinders: 6
Warranty: Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty
This is it. The classic California 280Z. ALL original save for the PanaSport Wheels. This is a 3-owner Z and has been in California its entire life. It is very well documented as well, including the original window sticker showing it was sold new at Nevada Valley Imports in Grass Valley, CA and stating its $9,177 price in 1978. This is probably the most original 280Z for sale on eBay.
It starts and drives great, and I have to keep reminding myself that it is a 35 year old car. The transmission shifts smooth and doesn't grind or have any problems at all.
Specifics:
- VIN/Chassis #: GHLS30110599
- "Sun Yellow" over Black Vinyl (which is in as-new condition with no signs of wear)
- 77,300 original and accident-free miles
- Original L28-198504 2.8L 6-cylinder Motor Mated to a 4-Speed MANUAL Transmission
- 2 + 2 Seating
- 16" PanaSport FZ Wheels (no rash or chunks missing) Wrapped in Yokohama YK520 255/50-16 Tires
- New Fuel Injectors Installed 1 Year Ago (idles smooth)
- Original Period Correct Blue/Yellow California Plates
- Original Spare Tire with Jack, Datsun Tire Sealant and Even The Original Took Kit!
This Z is a pleasure to drive as-is, and gets many looks and nods of approval. You could leave it as it is, or if I were keeping it, I personally would budget about $3,000-$6,000 to make it look like it did the day it left the factory in Japan.
If I were keeping, I would recommend tending to the following:
- Take care of the 3 small rust spots that are on the car as you can see in the pictures. One is just after the drivers-side door sill, and the other 2 are on the passenger side in front of the rear wheel and the patch behind the rear wheel near the bumper.
- New Front Steering/Suspension bushings (which come with it, i just never got around to installing them). It drives fine, but I am really picky and like direct feel and input from the car especially as far as steering is concerned.
- New tires in the next 5,000 miles. The Yokohama's have good tread left (atleast 60%), but they are getting dry and could be replaced.
- A/C Compressor needs a recharge to blow ice.
- Dash has 2 small cracks in the center above the 3 gauges.
- And of course, if you REALLY want it to pop, a new paint job. Preferably its original Sun Yellow. On a side note, I still get compliments on the color, even thought it's 35 years old. The lady service manager at a Mobil 1 station where I was filling up this morning actually came out and said, "what a cool Z, I love the yellow paint." And her station services Ferrari's, Lamborghini's and Porsche's on the regular, so I was pretty surprised when she said that!
Well, that's about it. I think I have been as forthcoming as possible. It is a great daily driver, and although it's not perfect, it is original, and i think that's what is part of the allure. Not many cars of this era are still driving around with their original paint and interiors and look good enough to give a second look. It passed California Smog 2 days ago perfect.
Feel free to e-mail me with any questions or concerns and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Also, if you live in the Southern California area, you are welcome to come and inspect it in person.
Datsun Z-Series for Sale
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Auto blog
Autoblog Podcast #339
Tue, 02 Jul 2013Farewell, Zach Bowman; Pikes Peak 2013; Datsun; 2014 Ram lineup
Episode #339 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and it's the last rodeo for Zach Bowman before he departs for other pastures. The crew this week consists of Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Jeff Ross, who talk about the astounding records set at this year's Pike's Peak hill climb, the return of the Datsun brand name and the recently-announced 2014 Ram truck lineup. Of course, we start with the garage and end with your questions and comments. For those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. You can follow along after the jump with our Q&A. Thanks for listening!
Autoblog Podcast #339:
Fiat contemplating sub-brand to compete with Dacia, Datsun
Tue, 05 Feb 2013You can add Fiat to the admittedly short list of automakers considering a low-cost brand to rival Dacia. The inexpensive Eastern European brand from Renault-Nissan has performed on the balance sheet like a premium model line, and the money the alliance is taking off the table is encouraging other players to deal themselves in. Pretty soon Nissan's Datsun sub-brand will join the Dacia party, going on sale in Russia, Indonesia and India and will claim even more rubles, rupiahs and rupees for the parent company. Volkswagen recently said it will make a decision this year on a budget line for the Chinese market. With the euthanasia of Lancia and plans to move the Fiat brand upmarket, company CEO Sergio Marchionne wonders aloud to Automotive News Europe whether there could be room for a new budget brand underneath Fiat.
We're told that the initiative has been in the idea box for five years and even moved to the stage of name considerations, like Innocenti, but worries about profit kept it from realization. If such a range were to be developed, Marchionne says it couldn't be built in Italy and stay within budget, and the company is "analyzing its manufacturing capacity outside of Europe to see if a low-cost brand is viable."
37K miles in a 1967 Datsun Roadster
Tue, 11 Mar 2014When we think of comfy, long-distance road cars, there are a few obvious choices. A Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Bentley Continental GT or, assuming fuel efficiency isn't paramount, a Range Rover are all good options for a road trip. But what if that road trip was 37,000 miles? Maybe something more reliable but still comfortable, then, like a Honda Accord. What about a 1967 Datsun Roadster?
As insane as it sounds, Scott Fisher is doing just that, running a Datsun 1600 Roadster across North America and racking up 13,500 miles in his first three months on the road. His total journey will see him pile over 37,000 miles on his red convertible. The car is lightly modified, but most of the work is for the sake of reliability and comfort, with a five-speed manual 'box, an upgraded radiator and electronic ignition.
Fisher's trip hasn't been all smooth, with a few typical bits of trouble. He also ran into some deer in Utah, quite literally, clipping one of the animals, which delivered quite a bit of damage to the passenger's front fender (hence the rear three-quarter view in our lead shot). Still, the car seems to be holding up well, as shown in this latest video from Petrolicious.