6758 Golden Miles: 1980 Datsun 280ZX

This next car might have blended into the random menagerie of overpriced garp that is our old friend craigslist.  The price is higher than you'd expect for an 80 Z and the SELLERS ALL CAPS IS NOT A GOOD SIGN...but upon closer inspection we might have found a real diamond in the rough.  With only 6758 miles on the odometer, a scrumptious shade of bronzy-brown, a manual gearbox, and t-tops that show no sign of rusty trouble this car is a quad-fecta of cool.  Find this 1980 Datsun 280ZX offered for $8900 in Miami Lakes, FL via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Cheap & Interesting: 1981 Datsun 280ZX

Vintage muscle cars from the 1960s long ago became overpriced for the every-man and late model cars are still monstrously expensive, probably because they are well engineered, fast, and reliable...but where can I cheapskate find something that is fun and cool?  Go west, young man, go west...and buy something from the malaise era.  It doesn't get much more west than Seattle and it doesn't get much more malaise than 1981 when horsepower was low and bumpers were big.  Find this 1981 Datsun 280ZX offered for $2800 in Seattle, WA via craigslist. Tip from PAH.

Pick Your Poison: '72, '73, '74 Datsun Z Turbo Swaps

How do you like your eggs?  Fried, scrambled or poached?  That is an easy question, but I think a much harder one is how do you like your vintage turbo swapped Datsun Z cars-- with a Toyota 2JZ, Nissan RB20DET, or L28ET?  Because you can't have them all...you could, but I think it would be like eating 24 eggs for breakfast.  Which would you drive?

Auction Watch: 1979 Datsun 280ZX

Find this 1979 Datsun 280ZX here on eBay bidding for $2,827 reserve-not-met with 5 days to go, located in Cookeville, TN. Tip from David.

In it for the long term: 1980 Datsun 280ZX

25 years ago, on January 2, 1992 I took a one way flight from Seattle to SFO and bought a 1973 Alfa Romeo GTV and drove it back over the Siskiyous in the dead of winter.  I still have the car, to rip off that other site, it is a Car Of A Lifetime.  I don't plan to sell it until I can't drive, and a certainly can't see selling it to buy a modern motor.  I can't imagine buying a brand new Grand Tourer in 1980, keeping it for 37 years and then selling it after buying a new Corvette.  Find this 1980 Datsun 280ZX for sale in University Place, WA for $10,200 via craigslist.

Datsun Powered: 1991 Ford Mustang-ish

We feature a fair share ridiculous amount of customized oddballs on this website, but this next thing is in a league by itself...actually, it is just another 24 Hours of LeMons car and pretty tame one too. Find this 1991 Ford Mustang-ish offered for $1,2000 in Unity, NH via craigslist.  Tip from Johnnyhoo.

Low Ball? 1982 Datsun 280ZX Turbo Pace Car

The S130 generation Datsun/Nissan Z-car is easily the least expensive of cars to wear the sign of the masked bandit, but this 280ZX is extremely expensive -- just what is going on here? Is this another insanely optimistic seller trying to fleece money from the unsuspecting public, or is this an example of the value of being unique?  Find this 1982 Datsun 280ZX Turbo Pace Car offered for $21,900 in Apple Valley, CA via craigslist.

15k: Museum Quality: 1979 Datsun 280ZX S130

Sports cars built in the late 70s can be polarizing for the classic car crowd.  Some folks will lament lackluster powerplants, rubber bumper styling, and safety related bloat -- others are nostalgic for the good times of their formative years.  Some enjoy malaise era cars specifically because they are unloved by the masses and affordable, but what do you do with a low mile original condition 70s classic that demands a premium price?  Is paying a premium for a maligned car akin to splattering paint on a canvas and calling it art?  One could argue that abstract art is not art or that malaise era collector cars are not collectible...but somebody is willing to pony up cash in either case.  People pay princely sums of money for poor condition Porsche 912s these days, so I guess you would be wise to buy a perfect condition 70s barge before they are out of reach.  When did the automotive hobby become like collecting Beanie Babies, stamps, or baseball cars...or has it always been this way?  Find this 1979 Datsun 280 ZX offered here on craigslist for $14,995 in SF Bay Area, CA.  Tip from FuelTruck.

5k: Black Gold: 1981 Datsun 280ZX S130

The S130 generation Nissan Fairlady Z was sold as the Datsun 280ZX in North America from 1979 through 1983.   The S130 may not have been as light or sporty as its predecesor, but it added a few bits of luxury in eventually a turbocharger to Nissan's sports car.  Find this 1981 Datusn 280ZX S130 for sale in Santa Rosa, CA for $2,600.  Tip from Kaibeezy.

Reader Roadkill Copper T-Top: 1982 "Datsun by Nissan" 280ZX 2+2

One of our readers recently stumbled across this very nice appearing 2nd-generation Z car and sent it on to us, so we thought we would share it despite the limited info available. He says it was "spotted in Thousand Oaks, California. Clean and well cared for. A family sized 280Z with an automatic." While no asking price is listed on the for sale sign, this may be worth a closer look for anyone in the market for a Malaise Era sporty GT. See the close-up image of sign below for the seller's contact info. Thanks to reader Victor V.T. for the tip and pics.