Review: Driving a 1983 Datsun 280ZX

[HobieMarty]

This is an entertaining review of the 1983 280ZX. The car is pretty cool and the presenter is cute and kind of funny,

https://youtu.be/uU3vhL4Xvzk?si=MLz_LV3hlpEBqlzC

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[70SATMan]

Girlfriend at the time bought an 83 brand new while I had my ‘77 280. Hers was Grey over grey with the T-tops. Driving both in period, I preferred my ‘77. The ZXs became more GT than sports.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by 70SATMan

Driving both in period, I preferred my ‘77. The ZXs became more GT than sports.

I agree.

My first squadron had a parking lot that was complete inside baseball on car guys at the time: The L'kdars all had some vintage Americana, the married LT's all had Supras, ZX's...Married Ensigns and Ltjg's drove vans.

The rest of the single rabble owned a mix of use 911's, old BMW's, Mazda RX's, and trucks.

Some of the Chief's in the squadron had some muscle cars that may have violated the sonic limits of the human ear.

[70SATMan]

Nice! I recall buddies having had RX7, Supra, 914, 924, Mk1 GTI, VW Squareback and a Vega Wagon (lol). Can’t remember what our DivO drove. Don’t remember any muscle in our Div. other than our Chief that had what I want to say was a Nova.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by 70SATMan

Nice! I recall buddies having had RX7, Supra, 914, 924, Mk1 GTI, VW Squareback and a Vega Wagon (lol). Can’t remember what our DivO drove. Don’t remember any muscle in our Div. other than our Chief that had what I want to say was a Nova.

My second XO had a huge, B-52 Song-esk Chrysler. When he had his change of command, the entire squadron pitched in and had his car painted like an Spruance Class Destroyer, complete with the helo flight deck.

All props to Master Chief Grizzly Adams, the squadron Maintenance Master Chief, for the idea: He remains the only man in my life besides my Father I never wanted to disappoint.

That aside, he drove a Cats Eyes El Camino...San Diego in the 80's.

[70SATMan]

Alameda/SF/Oakland, mid to late 80’s for me. I still have my ‘drivers license’ to the old Malibu Grand Prix kart track that was south of The Coliseum. We dropped serious coin for a while racing against each others times.

[Dixie]

In 1995, I owned a 1983 280ZX 2+2 in exquisite condition. I bought it after having to sell my 1995 convertible Mustang GT due to some insurance issues. It was two-tone brown, repleate with the climate control function, t-tops, and the ***** telling you if your door was open.

I didn't want to like it. I was mad, feeling it was a step back. Plus, it had a few niggly issues. But with time that car taught me there's more to life than raw horsepower and 0-to-60 times. For me, it was eye-opening as to what a sports car really is.

[masraum]

She is cute and amusing. Apparently, I abuse my cars by her thinking. I'm not surprised, and not going to change, LOL. I wonder how she speaks when she isn't speaking for a YT video. Her speech comes off a little "stiff". I feel like she's trying too hard or too conscious that she's filming.

good review. I never really drove any of the fun stuff back then. From the time that I got my license until I got my first Porsche, I was either driving something Pre-1970 with a V8 or some sort of economy car. I did once have a very short test drive in a Scirroco that must have been early 80s. It was fun, and I also once drove a second gen supra ('81-86). I think it was mostly just in a parking lot. It was also seemed like it would be a fun little car.

[HobieMarty]

My sister had a 1979 280ZX. It had an automatic transmission but was still fun to drive. It was silver with silver and blue interior, no T-tops though and had some funky-looking factory wheel covers. I had my 1976 Triumph TR6, (had my sportscar before she had hers), and it was fun to drive the cars and note the differences in them.
I had a great night in sis's ZX when a girl I met asked me if I had ever been skinny dipping? Why no, no I haven't...yeah that was a good night for sure and my sis handed me a "teddy" later the next day that she found in her car and told me to "give it back to my friend"!!! Ahhh memories!!!

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[KFC911]

I'm sure the ZXs were awesome, but my lust with 'em ended in '78 .….

Last year of hs, I would occasionally trade my new CJ5 Renegade with headers and side pipes for a friend's new '78 Z ....

She never returned my Jeep muddy....

I never took her 280Z off road either

Luv them carz...

[David]

I hadn't thought about it in a while but I dated two different girls back in the 80's that had 280ZX's. Good times...

I did a quick search for a picture of my '78 280Z and came across this description I put together for a car show:


1978 Datsun 280Z

The ’78 280Z is the last of the original body style ‘Z’ cars
that started with the 1970 Datsun 240Z.

Drivetrain: 2800 cc (171 cu. In) inline 6-cylinder
Nissan competition 0.040” over pistons
Compression was raised from 8.3:1 to 9.7:1
Stage II Schneider cam with heavy duty valve springs
Ported head
Balanced crank, rods, and pistons
6 into 2 into 1 header and 2 ½” exhaust
61mm Weber throttle body with K&N cone filter
Ported and polished intake manifold
MSD multiple spark ignition and MSD coil
10 lb flywheel (stock flywheel was 27 lbs)
Centerforce Stage II clutch
1983 280ZX 5-speed transmission (for better gear ratios)
R200 rear end with 3.9 gear ratio
Over 200 hp

Chassis: Steel unibody construction
Eibach springs (2” drop)
Tokico strut inserts
Suspension Techniques anti-roll bars
Polyurethane bushings throughout
Strut braces front and rear
Front disk brakes, Porterfield carbon-kevlar pads
Rear Aluminum drum brakes, Porterfield carbon-kevlar shoes
15 x 7” Enkei wheels with 225/50-15 Dunlop SP8000 tires
240Z lightweight bumpers
Front air dam and rear spoiler
PPG Urethane paint
Curb weight 2600 lbs

Performance: 0-60 acceleration is 6 seconds (approximate)
Top speed over 140 mph (observed)

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

My second XO had a huge, B-52 Song-esk Chrysler. When he had his change of command, the entire squadron pitched in and had his car painted like an Spruance Class Destroyer, complete with the helo flight deck.

All props to Master Chief Grizzly Adams, the squadron Maintenance Master Chief, for the idea: He remains the only man in my life besides my Father I never wanted to disappoint.

That aside, he drove a Cats Eyes El Camino...San Diego in the 80's.

Some of the old Chryslers were a mobile tennis court.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by David

I hadn't thought about it in a while but I dated two different girls back in the 80's that had 280ZX's. Good times...

I did a quick search for a picture of my '78 280Z and came across this description I put together for a car show:


1978 Datsun 280Z

The ’78 280Z is the last of the original body style ‘Z’ cars
that started with the 1970 Datsun 240Z.

Drivetrain: 2800 cc (171 cu. In) inline 6-cylinder
Nissan competition 0.040” over pistons
Compression was raised from 8.3:1 to 9.7:1
Stage II Schneider cam with heavy duty valve springs
Ported head
Balanced crank, rods, and pistons
6 into 2 into 1 header and 2 ½” exhaust
61mm Weber throttle body with K&N cone filter
Ported and polished intake manifold
MSD multiple spark ignition and MSD coil
10 lb flywheel (stock flywheel was 27 lbs)
Centerforce Stage II clutch
1983 280ZX 5-speed transmission (for better gear ratios)
R200 rear end with 3.9 gear ratio
Over 200 hp

Chassis: Steel unibody construction
Eibach springs (2” drop)
Tokico strut inserts
Suspension Techniques anti-roll bars
Polyurethane bushings throughout
Strut braces front and rear
Front disk brakes, Porterfield carbon-kevlar pads
Rear Aluminum drum brakes, Porterfield carbon-kevlar shoes
15 x 7” Enkei wheels with 225/50-15 Dunlop SP8000 tires
240Z lightweight bumpers
Front air dam and rear spoiler
PPG Urethane paint
Curb weight 2600 lbs

Performance: 0-60 acceleration is 6 seconds (approximate)
Top speed over 140 mph (observed)

It was awesome, and faster than the numbers listed above, I suspect.

[Eric Hahl]

Sara is super funny and a very talented individual. She/he used to be an aircraft mechanical in the Air Force specializing in electrical. Her vehicle builds are extremely detail oriented and enlightening.

[Tim Hancock]

Loved my '72 240Z I had in college. Used to autocross it. Wish I had kept it. It had some rust issues that I did not have the skills, money or shop to fix back then.

Crappy pic of my car from about 1986 when I spent a summer helping a friend build a car wash.

[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by Eric Hahl

Sara is super funny and a very talented individual. She/he used to be an aircraft mechanical in the Air Force specializing in electrical. Her vehicle builds are extremely detail oriented and enlightening.

She/he? Oh wow, I had no idea.

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[Rikao4]

front shot was large..
tags and me with no problem..
myself getting tagged in my 78- 2+2 Stuttgart..

Rika

[A930Rocket]

I drove a few 280ZX’s and 300ZX’s. They felt big and heavy compared to my 240Z, that I had lowered, and installed shocks, springs, sway bars, etc.

[rattlsnak]

I had 2 - 240s, 1 - 260 and 2 - 280s. The 240s were just raw fun and the 280s were so sophisticated with a 5 speed transmission and fuel injection! Never did care for the zx's..

[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I drove a few 280ZX’s and 300ZX’s. They felt big and heavy compared to my 240Z, that I had lowered, and installed shocks, springs, sway bars, etc.

That's because they were, lol. The 240 would be the most raw experience of the bunch I'm sure, kind of like comparing a TR6 and a TR7.

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