Datsun 280ZX - Details & Specs

The controversial second-generation of the Nissan Z. The Datsun 280zx was bigger, heavier, and offered a turbo.. Here's everything you need to know.

The 280zx was different than the earlier Datsun Z's. After a decade of being worn down by government regulations, the car needed an upgrade. The new Datsun would be much more luxurious than its predecessors, even to the point of sacrificing some of the Z's signature handling finesse.

The new 280zx sat on the S130 chassis and was powered by the same engine as the previous 280z, the Nissan L28 inline 6. The new body was quite aerodynamic for the time and Nissan would come to offer a factory turbocharger for those needing a true performance Z Car.

The 280zx would end up being the last Z under the Datsun name, over the next few weeks we'll be covering every singlegeneration of the Nissan Z, so make sure to like and subscribe to The Left Pedal for more!

[dr.thrustfist]

Just got an old rusty 99, 000 mile 280zx brought back from the dead, it may not be a looker but it runs like a dream and I love it to death

[albertomorales]

Great job on all of your 280 ZX videos. Thank you. I have a red and black 1983 280ZX. She is probably one of the last ones to leave the assembly line. She was originally blue but the last owner painted her regatta red with black bumpers and mirrors. I waited over 20 years to get mine and even the talking voice module still works. I am looking for a 1974-78 B 210 Hatchback in honor of my very 1st Datsun. That car took me all over. I graduated college with it and have many stories of road trips to go surfing in Rincon Puerto Rico. Around 1989--1990 is when I fell in love with the 280ZX. I use to go watch street racing in Los Filtros area of Guaynabo. The competitors were mostly the following cars: Mustang, CRX, Talon, Eclipse, Conquest, , Camaros, Trans Am, Rx 7. 300ZX, and my favorite the 280ZX .I am planning on doing an engine rebuild and changing mine from an automatic to 5 speed.

[sunbear]

Been watching your channel since I started working on my 280zx about 2 years back I love the new direction your going bud this video was great.

[rondyechannel]

Owned 1969 Jaguar XKE, 1976 Datsun 280Z, and 1983 280ZX. Of course, the XKE was best sports. The 280Z was completely tail happy and room mate totaled it (4500 miles) Restored the ZX is by far most comfortable.

[weswarren]

I'm loving the artwork and animations in these videos!

[Treaxvour]

I love the technologically advanced yet retro design of the late model zx. It makes it look more natural when I put LED guages and lights, yet it still looks older than everything else on the road.

[jhzx]

i have 383 small block in mine, very fun car to drive, very very fast now, appreciate seeing a video on these

[josemichel]

Great video! Right now I’m working on restoring an 81’ 280ZX with the L28ET engine.

[rustyretired]

Already back with another video? Lets go!

[ykcirw]

I daily drove all generations of the s30, and the s130 takes the cake. The handling is a lot better in my opinion- I drive an 83 though and I can whip it just as good if not better than my 240zs.

The 280zx is so unique and beautiful. It's the perfect combination of the Z31 and S30.

[omercarrothers]

The emissions regulations that you're speaking of, did the same thing to other cars of this era. The V8-powered Mustangs, Corvettes, Camaros and Firebirds of this time period were also putting out about 150hp. Granted, the 240 and 260 made a hair more power or similar with carburetors, but the Hitachi carbs on the 260 were worthless, thus Datsun/Nissan engineers went to a Bosch fuel-injection for the 280Z; which put the car at around 170hp.

[jordankeeler]

first video ive seen from this channel in a while. found you after buying my 280zx. this new style is great and the video actually taught me more than I expected, animations were sick too! good shit

[williamwilson]

My 79ZX was faster, lighter, and frankly better looking than the puggy 78 280z that it replaced. That, and I never had to deal with gasoline smells and rust like the the early Z's. The ZX "electricals" were also miles ahead of the dim headlight fused linked S30's. I still have a 1973 260Z and the 79ZX that I bough new. No way in hell that Datsun could have kept selling the 1969 designed car into the 80's.

[jkmgfxc]

In Japan, Mazda released the RX-7 at the same time as the 280ZX. I was drawn to the RX-7 rather than the Z, which was not much different from the first-generation model. At the time, Italian and German sports cars, known as supercars, were all the rage in Japan, and the RX-7, with its retractable headlights, was praised for its innovative design.

[allanbrogdon]

I was getting parts to rebuild my engine in my 76 Datsun pickup. I said it is a 4-cylinder, you gave me 6 rod bearings. He took two back. I said are you sure! Turned out they match a 280-Z just shorter crankshaft.

[bryanhallman]

It's a 924, not a 929. Mazda came out with a 929 luxury sedan in the 1990's. The 924 was replaced with the wide body 944 for 1983.

[LOVE-VIBES-X-PROJECT-CARS]

The good ol s130 yeah I want a 2+2 too

[TheSaturnV]

Animator nailed the classic ZX rear end dump. 😅

[Pexman-huzw]

I have 83 datsun matching with rx 7 mazda back in the mid 90s.. mine just to show and i dont race coz i need it driving while im in high shool 1987 my dad will kill me lol

[recoilzz]

Im restoring an 83 280zx 2+2 right now!