This next car comes as a tip from JB1025 who calls it Dat-Vette Custom V8 and says; Not everybody's cup of tea but looks well done could not build for this...but hang on just one minute...we've seen this car before. Find this 1978 Datsun 280Z V8 Custom offered for $8,500 in Tukwila (funny...those wheels could use some tuck..hah!), WA via craigslist.
The Datsun 280Z was the successor to the seminal 240Z car and lives in a middle ground of 260Z/280ZX before the revival Z performance with the 300ZX. As such, the 280Z tends to be treated as somewhat of a middle child - it doesn't get the praise and admiration of its eldest successful sibling (240Z) or the pampering of the baby (300ZX). Logically the 280Z is therefore a big disgruntled, often unloved, wears funky shoes and is rarely found in good shape...and this one is a good example of a cheap/used/abused version. Find this 1978 Datsun 280Z here on eBay offered for $2,895 in Lucerne Valley, CA.
By the 1978 model year the US spec Datsun Z had lost some of its original luster and it was looking bloated with big American bumpers and those heinous accordion mounting brackets. Even with a larger engine, the added safety and emission control bloat meant the car was slower and less fun to drive than the earlier models, but at least it wasn't as ugly or down on power with a boat anchor 305 V8 like a late 70s Vette...uggg. Find this 1978 Datsun 280Z offered for $4,800 in Gig Harbor, WA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
It is December, which means that my ears are ringing from the sound of those guys in red who ring bells at non-OSHA approved decibel levels for hours on end in front of grocery stores for a few nickles that get tossed into the tri-pod suspended red soup bucket. The payback period on capital spent on those silly donation buckets hangers must be short enough that the amount they spend on bell clappers doesn't exceed the daily donations...but I've totally lost the point..December...yes, almost Christmas time, and all I want for Christmas is an LSX powered Datsun coupe. Like this 1978 Datsun 280Z here on eBay bidding for $8,300 reserve-not-met with 3 days to go, located in Denver, CO.
Production of Datsun's S30 generation Z-car started with the svelte 240Z in 1969, and continued through 1978 with the slightly porkier Datsun 280Z -- however, to Nissan's credit, the Z car did not drop in performance, because with each iteration (240Z, 260Z, 280Z) a slightly larger engine made up for the increase in safety and regulation related weight. Find this 1976 Datsun 280Z here on eBay bidding for $1,525 with 5 days to go, located in Houston, TX. Seller submission from AT.
1977 was a great year for movies (Star Wars, Saturday Night Fever, The Spy Who Loved Me, Smokey and the Bandit, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The Kentucky Fried Movie, Slap Shot, Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo) but a terrible year for automobiles, particularly domestic. At least you know it gets better...but what do you do when searching for a car from 1977? Look to the East, to the land of the rising sun. Find this 1977 Datsun 280Z offered for $3,200 in the Los Angeles Inland Empire, CA via craigslist. This
post is part of DT's 2016 Birthday Celebration of 100 cars;
enjoy the ride!
In 1975 Nissan engineered a few small changes to their S30 generation Z car (now on its first reboot as the 260Z) and released the car as the 280Z. It may have weighed a few more pounds, and was equipped with big 5mph bumpers but it still contained most of the original secret sauce that made the Z so good. Find this 1976 Datsun 280Z 2+2 offered for $10,900 in Sarasota, FL via craigslist. Tip from dascpcu.
The Datsun 280Z was the final incarnation of the S30 generation Z-car, but it was a far cry from the original lightweight 240Z. The problem was that ever tightening emissions and safety regulations had sapped some of the original spirit from the 2-seat sports car, but today's example has been given an injection of fun via an engine swap....maybe. Find this 1978 Datsun 280Z V8 here on eBay
for $11,950 buy-it-now or make offer, located in Beverly Hills, CA.
It's crossed auction blocks at $38 million, topped dozens of click-baity website listicles for most beautiful car ever made, and was, statistically, on the childhood bedroom walls of 46% of the people reading this (I'm convinced most of you had Volvos or Citroens. Or a Chevy Corsica). Only 36 were made. Today, for less than the price of a new Civic, is the 37th. Sort of. Find this 1978 Datsun 280z Ferrari 250 GTO replica in Houston, TX for $17,000 via craigslist.
Commenter RyanM hit the nail on the head when he commented about the M3 powered 240Z from earlier this week: In a world where the answer to the engine-swap question always seems to be "LSx", this is a refreshing change. It certainly was a refreshing change to see something like that, but as they say on the TV: we now return to our regular programming. Find this 1978 Datsun 280Z with Chevy LSX power here on eBay
currently bidding for $15,000 reserve-not-met with less than one day to go.
You know the saying: "A good 
By 1978 the Datsun Z was starting to get heavy with luxury features and
slower with emissions requirements, but it was still a decent looking car with nice sounding inline-6 under the hood. You can pick them up for cheap and nobody is going to lament the loss of the L28E if you are looking for a swap candidate...like this one. Find this 1978 Datsun 280Z 6.0 LSx Swap
offered for $16,000 opening bid (with zero bids) on ebay, located in Denver, CO.
The first generation (S30) Z-car was built by Nissan from 1969 through 1978 and sold in the US market as the 240Z, 260Z and finally 280Z -- the name was a reference to the engine displacement in centiliters (280 cL = 2.8L). As the US emissions standards tightened, Nissan was forced to enlarge the displacement in an attempt to maintain performance, which they did remarkably well compared to many other OEs. Find this 1978 Datsun 280Z offered for $8,500 in Waynesboro, PA via craigslist. Seller Submission from Jeff S.
It seems like only yesterday when cheap well preserved 1st generation (S30) Nissan Z-cars littered the Autotrader print magazine. Good deals on early Zs are as gone as the print Autotrader magazine, but that doesn't mean you can't get lucky every once in a while. Find this 1977 Nissan 280Z offered for $4,000 via craigslist. Tip from Chuckles.
We love a good engine swap as much as the next guy and nothing piques our interest as much as an engine swap that at first glance appears to be a downgrade...but...what about shoving a diesel into a Datsun Z car...is that going too far? Find this 1978 Datsun 280Z 2+2 Turbo Diesel for sale in Estacada, OR currently bidding on ebay for $2,200 with a 2 days to go.
The Datsun 280Z was the successor to the seminal 240Z car and lives in a middle ground of 260Z/280ZX before the revival Z performance with the 300ZX. As such, the 280Z tends to be treated as somewhat of a middle child - it doesn't get the praise and admiration of its eldest successful sibling (240Z) or the pampering of the baby (300ZX). Logically the 280Z is therefore a big disgruntled, often unloved, wears funky shoes and is rarely found in good shape. Find this one-owner 1977 Datsun 280Z for sale in Idaho for $7500 via NASIOC forums. Big thanks to tip from Rojelio V.