1976 Datsun 280z, 5 Speed, Original Color, Excellent Mechanically / Cosmetically on 2040-cars
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Body Type:Coupe
Engine:6 Cylinded
Vehicle Title:Clear
Fuel Type:Gasoline
For Sale By:Private Seller
Interior Color: Black
Make: Datsun
Number of Cylinders: 6
Model: Z-Series
Trim: Coupe
Warranty: Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty
Drive Type: Rear Wheel Drive
Mileage: 86,606
Exterior Color: Persimmon Red
I'll start with what I know of the history of the car. I bought the car in February 2005 just a month after I retired. I had been looking for a Z car in original condition, and this one was in my favorite color. The odometer showed about 71,000 miles. The car was located in Florida and had been sitting in a garage for the past 10+ years. The car started and ran, but not well enough to drive to Atlanta, so I had the car shipped.
The gas tank was cleaned and the radiator replaced. Then a complete tune up including spark plugs, spark plug wires, distributor cap, fuel injector electrical plugs, all vacuum hoses and an oil and filter change. The engine was not modified except for a K & N cold air intake. The car then ran great and continues to do so.
Then I decided to convert the car to a 5 speed gear box which I sourced from a Datsun 280ZX. During the conversion I installed a new clutch disc, pressure plate, release bearing, pilot shaft bushing and had the flywheel resurfaced. I also replaced the rear crankshaft seal on the engine. I installed new clutch slave and master cylinders and the flexible hose to the slave cylinder. The transmission dust boot and shift boot were replaced. The mount for the differential was replaced.
Then I turned my attention to the cosmetics. I did not like the original heavy bumpers, so I removed them and added the MSA body kit that is on the car today. I later added the fender flares. The flares are attached with stainless steel screws with no modification to the sheet metal underneath. I finished the area where the body kit joins the sheet metal with black trim, rather than filling the joints with body filler. Based on past experience, I know that filler eventually develops cracks. The rear louvers are the original factory option louvers that are aluminum, not plastic. I did not find any rust anywhere on the car. There is no rust or rot in the battery area of the engine compartment. I did my best with the underneath pictures of the car, but the pics are not great. The underside is solid with no rust or rot.
The original hood was not damaged, but I replaced it with a hood from a 1978 Z that has louvers for better cooling - and I like the look. The car was then painted the original color. The color is Persimmon Red, Datsun code 110. The front fender emblems were replaced with JDM Fairlady Z emblems. The Datsun emblem on the hood was removed and the Z emblem attached to the custom mesh grill. The sealed beam headlights were replaced with H4 units including new wiring and relays.
The wheels are 16" Panasports with 225/50 X 16 Falken Ziex SE 912 tires with at least 75% tread remaining. The diameter is almost exactly the same as original so the speedometer is accurate. The suspension was getting a little soft, so I installed Tokico springs and strut cartridges on all four corners. That lowered the car about 1 1/2" and greatly improved the handling. I replaced the front brake pads and the rear wheel cylinders and shoes.
The interior is excellent. Take note of the seats. They look very similar to the originals, but they are Recaro seats from a 911 Porsche. They are real leather, not vinyl like the originals. The leather is soft with no cracks. The seats are much more comfortable and supportive than the originals. They are mounted on the original slides and adjust fore and aft and the seat back angle is adjustable. The dash has a full cap. The carpet was replaced and is not faded or worn. The door panels are excellent with no cuts for speakers. The car has a Sony radio / CD player with Pioneer Speakers mounted on the rear deck.
The only issue with the car is that recently the dash lights stopped working. The headlights, tail lights, brake lights and turn signals all work, but the dash lights do not. I rarely drive the car at night, so this has not been a problem for me. All the gauges except the clock do work.
The car was built in 06/76 and was equipped with factory air conditioning. I never used the car for a daily driver. It has always been a "fun" car, and I do not drive it in stop and go traffic or when the weather is very hot. The AC worked but was low on Freon. Instead of having it repaired, I removed the compressor and the evaporator. I have those which will go with the car. So the buyer will have all the parts to re-install the AC, if wanted.
I've driven the car about 15,000 miles since I've owned it. I cannot document the mileage since the odometer has only five digits. Based on the condition of the car when I bought it, and that it had been in storage for 10+ years, I don't think the odometer had rolled over 100,000 miles. But I have to state that the actual mileage is unknown.
I've been driving for 50+ years and have been a "car nut" since I was a teenager. I switched to Datsun from British cars about 20 years ago. In addition to this 280Z, I also owned a Datsun Roadster which I recently sold. I decided that one "fun" car was enough and that I would sell the two Datsuns and replace them with one car. I mostly drove the Roadster in the summer with the top always off and the Z in cooler weather. I wanted a year around car, but with a top off option. So I found a low mileage, two owner 1994 Nissan 300ZX with T-Tops and recently bought it. Now it's time to reluctantly part with the 280Z.
I've tried to cover info about the car as completely as possible, but I know I have left out some info that some prospective buyers want to know, so ask questions. I'll be happy to talk with prospective buyers and arrange an inspection and a test drive.
The only known issue with the car is the dash lights. That being said, the car is 37 years old and is being sold AS IS, WHERE IS with out any warranty stated or implied. The buyer is responsible for picking up the car or having it transported. I will assist in any way possible, but the expense is the buyers responsibility.
Datsun Z-Series for Sale
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Auto blog
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."
First new Datsun in decade sketched, set for Indian reveal
Mon, 01 Jul 2013Nissan's Datsun nameplate revival will begin with two models bound for the Indian market. Nissan has released sketches of a five-door hatchback based on the Micra (codenamed K2) and a top-down view of a hood that could potentially be from a sedan.
The company's press release says all will be revealed on July 15 in New Delhi, India. The Datsun lineup will be first offered in 2014 to that country's ride-deprived residents as well as Indonesia and Russia. Later in 2014, South Africa will join the list.
We've heard Nissan plans for Datsuns to share platforms with company-owned Lada. In January, we heard the projected price tag could be around $3,000 USD to compete with Chinese imports. The official press release (which can be read in full below) says nothing about either of these reports, however.
Datsun debuts new seven-seat Go+ in Indonesia [w/video]
Wed, 18 Sep 2013The Datsun name may have long since been replaced by Nissan, but the old brand is making a comeback - in certain markets, at least. Nissan relaunched the Datsun brand in July as its new budget brand for developing markets with the debut of the Go hatchback, and has now followed up with the addition of the larger Go+.
Set to be built in Indonesia at Nissan's plant in Purwakarta, the Go+ debuts today in the capital of Jakarta as the second model in the new Datsun lineup. The seven-passenger minivan features flexible seating in a compact form 13 feet long, powered by an unspecified 1.2-liter engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission.
Nissan isn't saying much else about the model, but hopes the new Datsun twins will account for half of its sales in Indonesia within three years. The low price target for both models - set to come in at less than 100 million rupiah ($8,700) - ought to help it get there. The lineup is then scheduled to reach other markets, starting with India, Russia and South Africa next year.