Find or Sell Used Cars, Trucks, and SUVs in USA

1978 Datsun 280z Sun Yellow/black **77,500 Original Miles** on 2040-cars

US $8,800.00
Year:1978 Mileage:77350 Color: Yellow /
 Black
Location:

Encinitas, California, United States

Encinitas, California, United States
Transmission:Manual
Body Type:Coupe
Vehicle Title:Clear
Engine:2.8L, I-6 (L28)
Fuel Type:Gasoline
For Sale By:Private Seller
VIN: GHLS30110599 Year: 1978
Make: DATSUN
Model: Z-Series
Trim: 2+2
Options: CD Player
Power Options: Air Conditioning
Drive Type: Rear Wheel Drive
Mileage: 77,350
Exterior Color: Yellow
Disability Equipped: No
Interior Color: Black
Number of Doors: 2
Number of Cylinders: 6
Warranty: Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty
Condition: Used: A vehicle is considered used if it has been registered and issued a title. Used vehicles have had at least one previous owner. The condition of the exterior, interior and engine can vary depending on the vehicle's history. See the seller's listing for full details and description of any imperfections. ... 

 This is it. The classic California 280Z. ALL original save for the PanaSport Wheels. This is a 3-owner Z and has been in California its entire life. It is very well documented as well, including the original window sticker showing it was sold new at Nevada Valley Imports in Grass Valley, CA and stating its $9,177 price in 1978.  This is probably the most original 280Z for sale on eBay.
It starts and drives great, and I have to keep reminding myself that it is a 35 year old car. The transmission shifts smooth and doesn't grind or have any problems at all.

Specifics:

  • VIN/Chassis #: GHLS30110599
  • "Sun Yellow" over Black Vinyl (which is in as-new condition with no signs of wear)
  • 77,300 original and accident-free miles
  • Original L28-198504 2.8L 6-cylinder Motor Mated to a 4-Speed MANUAL Transmission
  • 2 + 2 Seating
  • 16" PanaSport FZ Wheels (no rash or chunks missing) Wrapped in Yokohama YK520 255/50-16 Tires
  • New Fuel Injectors Installed 1 Year Ago (idles smooth)
  • Original Period Correct Blue/Yellow California Plates
  • Original Spare Tire with Jack, Datsun Tire Sealant and Even The Original Took Kit!

This Z is a pleasure to drive as-is, and gets many looks and nods of approval. You could leave it as it is, or if I were keeping it, I personally would budget about $3,000-$6,000 to make it look like it did the day it left the factory in Japan. 


If I were keeping, I would recommend tending to the following:

  1. Take care of the 3 small rust spots that are on the car as you can see in the pictures.  One is just after the drivers-side door sill, and the other 2 are on the passenger side in front of the rear wheel and the patch behind the rear wheel near the bumper.  
  2. New Front Steering/Suspension bushings (which come with it, i just never got around to installing them). It drives fine, but I am really picky and like direct feel and input from the car especially as far as steering is concerned.
  3. New tires in the next 5,000 miles. The Yokohama's have good tread left (atleast 60%), but they are getting dry and could be replaced. 
  4. A/C Compressor needs a recharge to blow ice.
  5. Dash has 2 small cracks in the center above the 3 gauges.
  6. And of course, if you REALLY want it to pop, a new paint job. Preferably its original Sun Yellow. On a side note, I still get compliments on the color, even thought it's 35 years old. The lady service manager at a Mobil 1 station where I was filling up this morning actually came out and said, "what a cool Z, I love the yellow paint." And her station services Ferrari's, Lamborghini's and Porsche's on the regular, so I was pretty surprised when she said that!

Well, that's about it. I think I have been as forthcoming as possible. It is a great daily driver, and although it's not perfect, it is original, and i think that's what is part of the allure. Not many cars of this era are still driving around with their original paint and interiors and look good enough to give a second look. It passed California Smog 2 days ago perfect.

Feel free to e-mail me with any questions or concerns and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Also, if you live in the Southern California area, you are welcome to come and inspect it in person.

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Auto blog

Autoblog Podcast #339

Tue, 02 Jul 2013

Farewell, Zach Bowman; Pikes Peak 2013; Datsun; 2014 Ram lineup
Episode #339 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and it's the last rodeo for Zach Bowman before he departs for other pastures. The crew this week consists of Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Jeff Ross, who talk about the astounding records set at this year's Pike's Peak hill climb, the return of the Datsun brand name and the recently-announced 2014 Ram truck lineup. Of course, we start with the garage and end with your questions and comments. For those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. You can follow along after the jump with our Q&A. Thanks for listening!
Autoblog Podcast #339:

This father and son duo terrorize the UK countryside in Datsun 240Z pair

Wed, 12 Nov 2014

The Datsun 240Z got a lot of things right when it was introduced, with handsome styling, strong performance and a reasonably affordable price. And while the coupes grew a strong fan base in the US, they remained quite a rarity in the UK. Decades later, a father and son in England have latched onto the car and bonded over their shared love for two completely opposite takes on this Japanese GT
There's already quite a collection of exotics in Mel Streek's garage, and his rat rod 240Z, which he calls the Ratsun, definitely doesn't fit with the rest. On the outside, the Datsun looks ready to fall apart, but it's mechanically perfect underneath. Alternatively, Mel's son, Ollie, has a completely different take for his Z with its perfect, shining paint.
Both Zs sound amazing, though. They have a mechanical, somewhat course exhaust note that's intoxicating to hear. You can definitely tell there's some work going on under the hood. Check out this video from Petrolicious for a father and son who both find something to love in these classic Japanese coupes.

Roadkill pits every project car against each other

Sat, 22 Feb 2014

The guys behind Motor Trend's monthly Roadkill series have collected nine of their favorite project cars from their videos and pitted them against each other in a battle royale to determine a winner. It's 44 minutes long, but it's completely worth the investment of time.
The cars run the gamut from a 1973 Chevrolet Ramp Truck, a 1975 AMC Pacer and a legitimately impressive 1967 Chevy Camaro, and they are pitted against each other to see which is the fastest around an autocross course. The drivers include Roadkill's two hosts and Motor Trend's Johnny Lieberman and Carlos Lago. It's reminiscent of the best episodes of Top Gear and worth a watch.
So it's the weekend - the perfect time to relax. Grab your preferred beverage, get comfortable and enjoy 44 minutes of some seriously ratty but utterly cool project cars as they are throttled within an inch of their lives (or past it). Scroll down to check out the video.