Review: Driving a 1983 Datsun 280ZX

[astrochex]

When I was a lad in the early 70s, my best friends favorite care was the 240Z, mine the 911.

[70SATMan]

Originally Posted by astrochex

When I was a lad in the early 70s, my best friends favorite care was the 240Z, mine the 911.

Growing up among corn and beans in Cent. Illinois, I’d always loved the G models but, they were like a leprechaun’s pot of gold. You’d heard the stories, seen renditions but, NEVER in person. Had no real knowledge of the early 911s or 356s for that matter.

The Datsun dealership was a bike ride in to town, away from our house. Pops and I drooled over commercials for the Z’s. I could see them with my eyes like, for real. I had a friend whose dad bought one of the last ‘78s on the lot. It was black and now, knowing what I do, wonder if it was a Black Pearl edition. Anywhoo, I got to ride in that black ‘78 a couple of times, cementing the love.

Fast forward to 1983, a Navy buddy through Basic Elec school in Orlando and then ET “A” in Great Lakes bought a light blue metallic ‘77 while we were in Orlando. Spent some hooligan time in that car. We both got our orders to Great Lakes and the car went with him. He met a girl, got married and next thing you know, he decided to sell the car. Of course I jumped on that wagon. Drove that car numerous trips from Chicago to Down State (home) and back through school. Drove it to Denver while I was attending “C” school. Back to Illinois for leave upon graduation and then out to the Bay Area when I got my ship’s orders. Had it through five out of the six years I was in the Navy.

I still had my 280 when I started dating my wife from San Francisco (after the GF with the ‘83ZX). She moved down to the Santa Cruz area in ‘87 so, now I’m bombing weekends from Alameda to SC. I rented a room from my in laws to be so, I was commuting the Bay Bridge to NAS Alameda every day when in port. Magical times in your 20s, hitting pick and pull yards for better parts than what ya got or just to have good spares. Many adventures.

My brother in law to be at the time I was dating my wife had a black ‘66 911. That was my first exposure to the early 911 cars. BIL tossed me the keys to his car one day and we went for a drive. That one drive hooked me and I knew that I’d have one at some point.

The 280 saw me discharged out of the Navy, moved to the house I’m sitting in now having coffee, get married and was my DD into Silicon Valley for work until my second daughter was on the way. Sold it to get a sedan for the family. I did get a ‘91 Nissan Maxima SE MT5. Man, I loved that car too.

I still search for the VIN of my Old Z from time to time. Would love to have a 240 to pair with the 911 one day. Luckily, my wife loves the early Zs as well.

Later ZXs including the 300 just never grabbed me.

[KFC911]

If I ran across a nice 70-78 ... I would be tempted ... just not $tooopid.

How much for 'em now ... just in case ?

[onewhippedpuppy]

That was a good video! Never realized they sounded that good. Just for fun I looked a little online, looks like $15k buys a pretty mint one.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by 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..

I just remembered that back in college I got a short ride in a 240. I remember the guy. He'd been a neighbor in the dorms. I can't remember where we were going, but his car was a 240 and it wasn't stock. This would have been around 1989 or 90. I think I remember him telling me that it was modified. It had a roll bar, and was loud and raw and pretty damn awesome.

Dad was in the Navy and in our first trip/tour to Japan ('78-80) I remember seeing Datsun Fairlady Zs off base.

[id10t]

My first girlfriend had a '79 280zx. Great fun little car, but she found out the hard way that they can start fires. She was pulled by FHP for speeding on a hot summer day during a drought, and her hot exhaust managed to catch the tall dry grass on fire as the trooper was writing her a ticket.

The seats and gear shift did make road head a bit tough....

[A930Rocket]

I had a friend with a 72 Z in Atlanta. He and another friend went to a beach somewhere for the weekend. The non-owner totaled the Z and they had to take the bus home.

That was one really nice yellow Z.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by HobieMarty

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

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

Yep..damned good job, eh?

[David]

My other Z car story. Not as happy as my second Z car but one amusing side story: My first car was a 240Z automatic. I bought it for $1,500 the day I turned 16. Many lessons were learned, like don’t buy at night, bring a real expert and not a family friend who knows something about cars, and last, wait for what you really want. The car was a complete rust bucket and even had a street sign welded underneath presumably to add some structure to the rusted out body. I sold it to a junk yard for $400 shortly after buying it. Sad story

The funny side story: I had it at a high school keg party. Something right out of every kid’s dreams, tons of kids up to mischief. While standing near my car some hot chick in a brand new Chevy blazer said she liked my car and wanted to drive it. No problem, we switched cars and off we went racing around the neighborhood. Going around a right hand turn the driver’s door flew open because it was a piece of crap rust bucket. We got back to the party and laughed about her not falling out of the car. Unfortunately I had no game so that’s where the story ended. Sad face again

[slow&rusty]

I bought my first 280ZX Turbo almost 25 years ago, it was rotting away in a muddy alley off Colfax not far from the Denver Zoo. It was owned by a Japanese Banker who had just bought a BMW M5 and the Datsun was left to decay behind his house. It had not moved in years, and I had to physically dig it out which was fun in the Winter time in Denver with mud and snow\ice.

It took a full Saturday to get it started and running again.

25 years later I still own the car. Its been a science project over the years as I've played with different suspension set-ups, different turbos, intercoolers, exhausts, fuel injection systems you name it. Currently it put outs 380hp at the wheels and 410 torque, so it has enough power to get down the road quite nicely.

Still looks good as well..Houston's finest agrees!

[Cloggie]

My first sports car was a 240Z, which ultimately I equipped with triple sidedraft Webers and a hotter cam etc etc.

I drove one of the new 280ZX's when they came out, dealer was awfully keen to get a hold of my 240Z at the time so told me to take it for a long, nice drive.

15 minutes I was back. Nothing like the 240z it was fat, sloppy and complicated....not interested

Next step after the 240 was a 911s. Never looked back.

D.

[Ronbo]

Originally Posted by HobieMarty

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

She has a YT channel years back called Sarah -n- Dippity that documented the transition as it occurred. The channel was removed long ago.