1982 Datsun 280ZX

Description

The survivor label can sometime be used loosely, so make sure that you read the full info to understand just how much of a TRUE SURVIVOR this 1982 Datsun 280ZX really is. There's only 3,470 miles on the odometer, and this well-documented Datsun seems frozen in time.

Think about the 3,470 miles for a moment...someone bought a brand new, top-of-the-line sports car, and then barely drove it. A Florida car it's entire life, this car was sold new in Winter Haven, Florida and has only had two owners since new. The first owner, a woman, was given this car as an anniversary gift by her husband. Then, in 1992, they sold the car to well-known Z-Collector in the Tampa, FL area who still owns the car to this day. Our consignor reports this car has never had the T-tops taken out (until our photo shoot), and even more amazingly, no one has ever sat in the passenger seat! The car has been under car cover and stored away in his collection since 1992. There's no question that's the original dark brown metallic on the sleek surfaces of this 280ZX. In today's collector car world, there are prestigious awards given to cars like this one that almost seem like they were lost to history for decades and still have nearly impossibly low miles and appear showroom fresh. In fact, this one still carries all of its original chrome trim, the doors close with the same authority as a new car, and even the rubber surrounding the T-top still looks watertight. So you're at a crossroads with this coupe. It's legendary Japanese reliability means it can still be as trusty as a digital clock, or utilize this as a full survivor collector.

The condition of the interior is even more unbelievably rare. Let's start with the bucket seats. This is the optional leather and suede package on the premium 280ZX models, and while this was durable, any other ones you'd see today would be damaged from decades of Jordache/Levis/Gap jeans wearing these down with each time someone got in or out. Instead these stylish seats are impossibly factory fresh. If the seats are like that then you better believe the carpets, door panels, dash, and everything else is just as pristine. A sports car like this came with plenty of factory options like power windows, cruise control, and AM/FM/cassette stereo. Everything works perfectly right down to the Z-car's iconic tri-pod gauges in the middle of the dash.

The fuel-injected 2.8-liter motor is what will make it so hard to resist adding extra miles to this time capsule of a Datsun. This original engine is one of the legendary smooth and rev-happy motors that helped establish Datsun/Nissan as an exciting brand of cars. Z experts will notice this car's engine bay is still coated in the factory cosmoline coating they applied way back in 1982. This was applied at the car factory before the cars were shipped over to the U.S. It looks like there's a lot going on under the hood, but the SOHC inline-six is easy to spot and makes a wonderful baritone wail that's a big part of the early Z's allure. The ultra low mileage means the motor is in outstanding condition, and all the factory stickers and markings seem to still be in place. If you do to choose to enjoy this 280ZX on the road, you'll be rewarded with the perfect harmony of the five-speed manual transmission, fully independent suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes.

Japanese classics are some of the quickest appreciating vehicles on the market today, and you're looking at a loaded one that has averaged barely 100 miles a year over its lifetime. You will never again find something this unique that also comes with all the right documentation like the window sticker, owner's manual, and dealer invoice. If you are an enthusiast and a collector of rare automotive gems, call today!!!