1982 Datsun 280ZX GL

1982 Datsun 280ZX Coupe Nissan hit the nail on the head with the new, softer touring Z, and Motor Trend named it Import Car of the Year when it debuted in 1979. It was a harbinger of things to come, being the first car sold as a Datsun by Nissan. By 1986, the Datsun name would be completely phased out. The 280ZX was a fresh design; the only thing remaining from the preceding 280Z was the excellent 145hp inline six. Oldcarsweekly.com, March 2020 For consignment, a 1982 Datsun 280ZX coupe with 117,536 actual miles. Owned by our consignor for an astounding thirty-eight years, the car currently cranks but will not start, the clutch pedal does not spring back up and there are spots of rust, making this an ideal project for the Z enthusiast.  Exterior There it is, the iconic wedge shape that turned the consumer grade sports car world on its end, here in Jade Gray Metallic. In profile, you can see some add-ons that increase the sport factor including body cladding, a deeper chin spoiler, louvers on the rear quarter windows, and the 15-inch Prime wheels. There's one original wheel on the car and it will come to you with two complete sets; one original, one Prime. Out back, a rear wing hovers over the iconic light panel and quad exhaust is added, albeit uneven, for a more symmetrical exit of spent gas. Covered headlights and a NACA duct along with vents are unmistakable and fog light have been added to the expanded chin piece. This is where we first note some rust through on the edge of the hood, which also suffers from a dent. Other imperfections include some faded and oxidized paint, chips in a side stripe, rust by the gas cap, chips, scratches, a crack in the acrylic headlight cover, gash in front bumper, blistering and surface rust on lower panels, paint runs, and some orange peel.  Interior Black door panels join gray carpeted lowers to make attractive inner doors that present in good condition and since it's the 80's, the silver leather bucket seats come as no surprise, sporty and luxurious as the same time, showing some patina especially on the driver's side where there is discoloration and a hole. Up front, the Z-car's touted ergonomics shine through in a palette of black and gray with everything driver focused and the AM/FM/Cassette radio and equalizer are accessible by both occupants. The shifter is the star of the show with its accordion rubber boot and tall profile. Gray carpet below shows some age and is protected by Z-branded carpeted mats while the rear cargo area has fitted mat in good shape, along with T-top covers and Pioneer speakers.  Drivetrain Under the hood, a driver quality 2.8 liter SOHC inline six cylinder with 145 horsepower, mated to a T5 5-speed manual transmission that routes power to the rear axle with 3.54 gears.   Undercarriage Driver quality here as well with some typical patina and surface rust but a solid structure overall. We note some dampness at the rear differential and some rust forming at the bottom of the doors. A single exhaust runs through a Monza style system that splits after the muffler and exits through dual pipes with twin tips on each side. Power disc brakes are at all four wheels, and the fully independent suspension includes Macpherson struts up front and coil springs in back with semitrailing arms.   Drive-Ability The car cranks but would not start. The clutch has to manually be pulled off the floor after compressing. With the battery on, we can test other functions and everything works with the exception of the heater blower.  Here's a classic 280ZX that presents a bit of a project but one well worth saving. Once done, you'll have one of Japan's finest touring sports cars, the values of which have gone in one direction over the past twenty years. JN1HZ04S1CX458939 J-Japan N-Nissan 1-Passenger Car H-2.8 Liter Non Turbo I6 Z0-280zx 4-Coupe S-? 1-Check Digit C-1982 X-Nissha Assy Plant 458939-Sequential Unit Number Classic Auto Ma