1979-1983 Datsun 280ZX

Nineteen Seventy-Nine was the year that the Z car evolved into the ZX car.  That “X” brought along with it stylistic changes that would render it the most beautiful of all Zs, before or after.  I bet I’ll get some mail for that.  No matter.  Automotive enthusiasm is what this deal is all about.  And let me tell you, the 1990-1996 cars are beautiful.  But nothing from Nissan / Datsun captures like the 280ZX.  Manufactured in Japan (as the Fairlady ZX) and landing on American shores, it blended stylistic influence as far flung as the Jaguar XK-E and as close to home as the later years of  the “flying dildo” Corvette C3.  In all, it worked pretty seamlessly to create a muscular, lithe, sports GT in the Japanese idiom.  But for the American market.  Got it?  

I’d mark 1980 as the year that the ZX hit its stride.  T-tops bowed that year, helping to create what Datsun marketed as “The ultimate definition of AWESOME.”  Turbocharging was added to the options list for 1981.  At that time, America was just leaping out of the blocks in what would become a mad dash toward turbo craziness.  Led by Buick with the forced induction 1978 3.8 litre Regals, the U.S. market quickly embraced the benefit of horsepower without much expense to fuel economy – not so insane, after all.  High quality manufacturer installed turbochargers quickly gained momentum as reliable and tractable performance accoutrements that laid waste to their brittle, failure prone aftermarket counterparts of just a few years prior.

Nineteen eighty-one brought the 2+2 ZX, for those who eschewed the notion that a finely tuned sports machine and a budding family should remain mutually exclusive.  If the extra 6-odd inches of roofline didn’t distort the great lines of this car in your opinion, then it was just for you.  In what was quickly becoming automotive tradition, Japanese or otherwise, Datsun was committed to refining the driver environment.  The Z interior, thus, was as comfortable and well outfitted as possible.   

This mantra gave rise to ever improving interior appointments, building upon the factory fitted Hitachi high-output stereo to include what Nissan would later refer to as a “computer board” – an optional fully digital dash with electronically monitored systems and functions.  Some nattering nabobs of negativism said this was uncouth in a performance oriented car.  How can you look at that disco display and not be taken in by it at least a little? 

The years 1982 and ’83 were largely carryover years for the ZX, as preparation continued for the next generation – the 300ZX.  These late Datsuns represent some of the best buys in the GT strata of their time – fully fleshed out high-po tourers that were well sorted and dead reliable.  Prices for any ZX in great shape, particularly those capable of inhaling elevated intake pressures, are rising.