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1983 Datsun 280ZX

- One of Four Cars painted like this from the delivering dealer in Houston, TX
- Final Year of the 280ZX
- 2.7L Inline 6 Cylinder
- 5 Speed Manual Transmission
- 58k Original Miles
- Tan & Maroon Paint Over Red Interior

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1983 Datsun 280ZX on a site other than GarageKeptMotors.com, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of this vehicle due to third-party website limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 165 photographs, including a short startup-and-walk-around video, and a link to the car's accident-and-damage-free Carfax, please go to our main website: GarageKeptMotors.)

“People these days are remembering all that was good about them when new. ... the 280ZX was the last car to incorporate so much of the early Z car design language, making it the final entry.” - ClassicCars.com

The Datsun “Z cars” attracted legions of fans. As ClassicCars put it: “When Datsun introduced the 240Z car in 1969, it created one of the most disruptive products that the sports car market had ever seen. The car offered the performance of such cars as the Jaguar E-Type, the styling reminiscent of the Ferrari 275 GTB, and reliability that was better than either.”

Calling it “the world's best-selling sports car,” MotorSport magazine chronicled the model development over the late Seventies and early Eighties: “... as emission restrictions tightened, so Nissan-Datsun was forced to enlarge the engine... to 2.6-litres as the 260Z, then, for the US only, to 2.8-litres as the 280Z. The next stage, in I 978, was to re-shell the nine-year-old theme, to meet current demands of creature comforts and legislation. The result was the 280ZX.”

Offered here in tan metallic with a dealer-applied burgundy graphics package over a striking red interior, is a well-maintained '83 280ZX. Showing just under 59,000 documented miles on the odometer, just over 1,500 miles per-year on average, the level of care given the car over its life is evident throughout.

The car's exterior paint shows even gloss across the entire body, and the burgundy side-and-lower-body striping (also including the broad hood stripe) and model-identification added by the original dealer is crisp and shows virtually no sign of age. Blackout rear-window louvers and the smoked-glass removable t-top panels add flair and distinctiveness to the ZX, as do the functional pair of louvers on the front-hinged hood. Window glass and lighting lenses—including the full-width rear taillight panel—are free of cracks and imperfections. Even the “Unleaded Fuel Only” sticker above the exposed fuel filler-cap retains its original appearance.

Inside, the striking red interior is a vintage Eighties look. Patterned red velour bucket-seat upholstery is free of rips or tears, and in remarkable condition overall. The same holds true for the red carpeting extending through the full cabin and cargo area. Door panels, the car's dashboard, and its steering wheel all display a nearly new look and feel. The full complement of gauges, characteristic of the Z-cars, is in place and functional. The car's factory radio and HVAC controls remain in place. A 5-speed manual transmission shifter is mounted on the console, forward of a useful storage compartment.

Under the hood, the 2.7 liter inline 6-cylinder overhead-cam Datsun engine is complete, with all components and “plumbing” properly located. (The throaty engine note can be sampled by way of the link to the startup-and-walk-around video available on the GarageKeptMotors site.) The engine bay is clean and tidy without over-detailing. Viewed from below, the car's chassis shows no evidence of body-panel rust, and only minimal surface rust on un-treated metal surfaces. It's likely this Z never saw snow. Original factory data tags are still in place.

The more than 165 high-definition photographs available on the Garage Kept Motors site, together with the walk-around-and-startup video (and damage-free Carfax report) faithfully present this '83 280ZX from every angle, including from underneath. That said, we always encourage in-person inspections at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom by interested parties, or their representatives. Since our showroom is not open to the public, we ask that appointments for such visits be made with us via phone or email in advance. In the same way, we are happy to answer any questions about this very handsome 280ZX.

MotorSport magazine summarized: “...the high-geared ZX is a very smooth and long-legged cruising car, very relaxed whether at 50 or 100 mph and much quieter and more refined than the old Z. High-speed stability is first class. This is one sports car perfectly suited to long distance motorway travel.”

We think this example is also a bit of a time-traveler... a very satisfying trip back to the Eighties.