1980 Datsun 280ZX

1980 Datsun 280zx Coupe If we had to rank the ZX's character traits in order of intensity, the list would read something like this. First, and foremost, the ZX is an amusement park on wheels, packed with reminder chimes, electronic displays to carry out pre flight countdowns, and joy­sticks to run the speakers-all intended to keep two participants perpetually at the brink of entertainment overload. Second, the ZX is the sports car for the guy that's just traded in his two year old Eldo and needs to go out and feel his oats one last time before the old ticker chimes midnight. Some epic prose from Car and Driver, April 1980 For consignment, a 1980 Datsun 280ZX coupe with a title verified 67,244 actual miles. This is a one owner car and although Car and Driver touted the newly arrived T-Tops for 1980, this car is a hardtop coupe with 5-speed manual, often the preferred configuration by enthusiasts. Exterior We were still in our 70's earth tone day in 1980, and this car is dressed in single stage Mahogany Metallic, an esteemed member of the brown family. Never mind that Mopar was playing with Impact colors, Datsun stuck with more conservative choices and it looks great on this long nosed sports car. In profile, it can be confused for few other cars and the 14-inch wheels with 70 series tires and a late 2024 date code, are visually connected by a finned rocker panel and topped by wheel opening trim. Sporty accoutrements includes the twin ducts on the hood with black grates that match the cowl, and a grated, aluminum B-pillar that looks like something out of Star Wars. The rear window faces the sky and ends with Datsun's iconic tail light design over a razor straight bumper. In front, the inset headlights are pure sport and head up a wind defeating nose. This fantastically preserved car shows only minor ghosting in the paint and a few chips for exterior imperfections. Interior Tan vinyl door panels include window cranks and a modest armrest and both doors present cleanly. That condition prevails throughout the interior including the bucket seats that are immaculate. The soft, plastic steering wheel is a testament of the times and fronts a clean black instrument panel housing clear gauges, augmented by the racy three meters to the right, canted towards the driver like a race car. A vent panel tops a Kenwood AM/FM/Cassette player with extensive equalizer next door, because that's how we rolled in 1980, and you didn't have to be a sound engineer to operate it. Brown plastic surrounds the shifter in the center console where a bit of patina is noted in the change holder, while the tan carpet and brown Z-branded mats are in nice shape. An overhead console is situated in the perforated vinyl headliner, all in good condition. Drivetrain A relatively clean engine is found in the bay and it's a 2.8 liter SOHC inline six cylinder putting out 132 horsepower and fueled via a Bosch L Jetronic injection system. The coveted 5-speed manual transmission backs it up and sends power sports car style to the rear axle with 3.36 gears. Undercarriage Nicely preserved underneath with some typical surface rust but no errant fluids noted. Power disc brakes find all four wheels and the single exhaust flows through a stock style muffler before exiting discreetly in back. Suspension consists of Macpherson struts up front and coil spring with semi trailing arms in back, where it's also independent. Drive-Ability We step back in time and enter this cabin and its analog glory, grabbing the period shifter and period steering wheel and circling our test loop in this now vintage sports car. It does everything well, from straight tracking to handling to stopping on the proverbial dime. We note the radio doesn't work, (darn), and the power antenna does not do it's thing but beyond that, this Japanese wonder mobile's functions operate as intended. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test d