Find or Sell Used Cars, Trucks, and SUVs in USA

1978 Datsun 280z Sun Yellow/black **77,500 Original Miles** on 2040-cars

US $8,800.00
Year:1978 Mileage:77350 Color: Yellow /
 Black
Location:

Encinitas, California, United States

Encinitas, California, United States
Transmission:Manual
Body Type:Coupe
Vehicle Title:Clear
Engine:2.8L, I-6 (L28)
Fuel Type:Gasoline
For Sale By:Private Seller
VIN: GHLS30110599 Year: 1978
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
Condition: Used: A vehicle is considered used if it has been registered and issued a title. Used vehicles have had at least one previous owner. The condition of the exterior, interior and engine can vary depending on the vehicle's history. See the seller's listing for full details and description of any imperfections. ... 

 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:

  1. 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.  
  2. 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.
  3. 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. 
  4. A/C Compressor needs a recharge to blow ice.
  5. Dash has 2 small cracks in the center above the 3 gauges.
  6. 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.

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Auto blog

Datsun expands low-cost revival with new Mi-Do in Moscow [w/video]

Fri, 29 Aug 2014

Those who were disappointed when Datsun changed its name to Nissan over three decades ago may have been pleased to see the marque revived last year, even as a budget brand. Nissan's counterpart to its ally Renault's Dacia budget brand, Datsun has been steadily expanding its lineup of low-cost transportation for developing markets with the debut of the Go hatchback in India, the Go+ minivan in Indonesia and the On-Do sedan in Russia. And now it has returned to Moscow to reveal its fourth model, the Mi-Do.
Based closely on the On-Do sedan (which itself is based on the Lada Granta) the Mi-Do takes on a five-door hatchback bodystyle but with no more frills. It uses the same front-drive chassis with the same wheelbase as the sedan, but its chopped tail makes it a good foot and a half shorter overall. Into that compact shape, Datsun has fitted dual airbags, ABS and... well, that's about it. It's got a 1.6-liter, eight-valve inline-four kicking out a grand total of 87 horsepower to either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. Bare bones, this is.
While delivery of the first On-Do sedans commences next month (with the first example going to an IT specialist in Omsk), the Mi-Do is set to begin delivery early next year. Scope out the video and press release below from the Mi-Do's reveal at the Moscow Motor Show.

Renault planning a Tata Nano rival. Again.

Wed, 28 Nov 2012

Four years ago, Renault confirmed that it would partner with India's Bajaj Auto to develop a rival to the Tata Nano. At the time, as everyone waited for the Tata Nano to arrive, you could have used a Richter scale to measure the tremors the executive suites of any automaker with an interest in the low end of emerging markets. Then the Nano, still the cheapest car in the world, didn't sell so well - at the end of last year its sales were just six percent of its most conservative projections - and everyone seemed content to let Tata spend the money to figure out if there really was a market for the cheapest car in the world.
Renault believes there is, kind of. Automotive News Europe reports that it will partner with Nissan to build two low-priced cars for emerging markets, one for €3,000 ($3,888 U.S.) and another for €5,000 ($6,400 U.S.). The price of the least expensive offering is nearly $1,400 more than a Nano, which costs $2,500, and that can't be considered a small sum in comparison. But one of the hindsight knocks on the Nano has been that even in emerging markets buyers don't want a car whose biggest lure is that it is cheap; they'd rather give their aspirations a bit more of a workout.
Renault's offerings are scheduled to hit the non-Western market in late 2014, which is coincidentally the same year that will see the return of the budget-minded and emerging-market-specific Datsun nameplate. They'll be built in Renault facilities in Chennai, India, with no mention made of Bajaj this time around.

Nissan IDx 'in the plan' for production, needs support from fans [w/poll]

Wed, 15 Jan 2014

If there's a trend in the auto industry we can firmly get behind, it's the small, light and affordable rear-drive coupe. The positive critical reception to the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ twins has encouraged other manufacturers to look at building their own rear drivers, and even a few to show actual concept cars based on the idea. The Chevrolet Code 130R from 2012 and more recently, the Nissan IDx twins that were first shown at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show both come to mind, as does the brand-new Kia GT4 Stinger Concept.
Nissan trotted out the IDx Nismo and the IDx Freeflow for another showing in Detroit and we'll admit to being totally smitten with both cars. Again. The duo draw inspiration from the iconic Datsun 510, a lightweight, affordable rear-driver that remains a cult favorite decades after production ended.
Now, a report from our friends at AutoWeek reveals that we may, possibly, hopefully see a production IDx, provided fans make a strong enough case for it. "It's in the plan," Nissan product boss Andy Palmer told AW. According to the report, Palmer said the IDx is "into the first sage of the development process. The next stage is project validation and then looking at the business case. It's no one's intent to waste millions of the company's money, so obviously we have a good feeling about this one."