Survivor Z Car: 1983 Datsun 280ZX – SOLD!

March 26, 2021 Update – we confirmed the seller of this “Classifind” deleted their listing, so we’re now able to call this one “SOLD!” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call Rudy directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

March 8, 2021 Update – We came across a fresh Craiglist listing for this 280ZX where the description, pictures, and price all remain the same.

There’s seemingly always a handful of Datsun’s premier sports coupe available for sale at a given time, which makes the good cars far easier to spot. This 1983 Datsun 280ZX first appeared in February 2021 on Craigslist near Greenville, South Carolina with under 100,000 miles, lots of original equipment, and supposedly a healthy maintenance paper trail, listed with an asking price of $12,500. Comparing this price against the Hagerty Insurance Online Valuation Tool shows us that the seller isn’t too far off, as an “Excellent” specimen goes for $15,200, and a “Good” rated example drops to $5,800 – while there’s a lot of room for interpretation in that spread, this one presents better than most in the listing.

The Nissan S130 has long been in a sort of limbo between some of the more memorable generations of the classic Z car. The original 240Z remains the heartthrob of the lineup, featuring small bumpers, willing engines, small bumpers, and simple, driver-focused cockpits – not to mention reasonable curb weights. It all went to hell from there, with more restrictive emissions equipment robbing power and safety regulations adding to the curb weight, but Nissan tried desperately to crank out a sports car enthusiasts would still want. The S130 was smack-dab in the middle of the dark years of the malaise era, but Nissan still found ways to keep it interesting, with numerous special editions, T-top roof panels, and even a turbocharged model.

When it comes to buying one, it’s less a matter of looking for the rarest edition as no one particular model in the lineup is worth appreciably more than another. It’s really about buying the best one you can get, as most collectors know by now there’s an abundance of subpar examples on the marketplace. This one looks like a sweetheart, and it features one of the more preferred configurations: a true two-seater arrangement with the manual transmission and T-top roof. The 280ZX was also available as a 2+2, so finding one without the backseat is the way to go if you don’t need to ferry more than one passenger. Most importantly, this car has no rust, the silent killer of many an S130. The seller reports that “…lots of receipts and history” accompany the car, so this one seems worth a closer look if you’ve been on the hunt.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“This is definitely a rare find. We are selling our 1983 280 ZX. This car is an original NC car and has been garage kept. It only has 87,000 original miles. It has the Original 5-speed transmission and 6-cylinder engine. It has the factory T-Tops with the original covers to store them in the rear when taken off, and they do not leak. It has factory air conditioning, power windows, and a power antenna. Everything works on this car. It runs and drives great and is a joy to drive. We have books and manuals, and lots of receipts and history, with this car. A clean SC title in hand. The car was previously owned in NC, where we purchased it. It was in dry storage there for 10 years. For a 37-year-old car, it looks really great. Recently serviced and ready to go. A clean Auto check, with no accidents or damage of any kind. This car is ready to enjoy now. We are pricing it to sell immediately, back of book value at only $12,500.00.“

Do you have a Datsun 280ZX story you’d like to share?  Comment below and let us know!