 | |
| Nissan//Datsun 280ZX | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Nissan |
| Production: | 1979–1983 |
| Class: | Sports car |
| Body Styles: | 3-door hatchback |
| Predecessor: | Nissan 280Z |
| Successor: | Nissan 300ZX |
| Shares components with: | Nissan 510 |
| Engine: | L28E (2753 cm³) or L28ET (2749 cm³) single overhead cam inline 6 |
| Weight: | 2825 lb (1281.4 kg) |
The Nissan 280ZX was a sports coupe produced from 1979 to 1983. It was the second-generation Z-car, replacing the Nissan 280Z in 1979. This generation was replaced by the new Nissan 300ZX in 1984. The 280ZX was Motor Trends Import Car of the Year for 1979.
The 280ZX (Model HS 130) was a complete redesign, retaining only the L28 engine and other driveline components for the first-generation Z-car. Both coupe (2-seater) and 4-seater (2+2) designs were offered. For the first time the 2+2 was a clean-sheet design (rather than a stretched version of the coupe).
With the oil-crisis of the late 1970's still foremost in car designers' thinking, Nissan focussed improvements, over the first-generation Z, on fuel economy, emissions, and aerodynamics (dropping the c.d. from 0.467 to 0.385, and lift coefficient from 0.41 to 0.14). In addition, the higher value of the Japanese Yen, and high fuel prices meant the 280ZX had to be targeted at the Grand Tourer market (where it competed with the Porche 924). This meant luxury features such as power windows were standard.
The 280ZX adopted suspension similar to that of the concurrent Maxima sedan, with MacPherson struts in front and semi-trailing arm independent rear. The wheelbase was down from its predecessor at just 91.3 in (coupe). The new suspension delivered better high-speed stability (through a lower center-of-gravity and near 50/50 weight distribution); which completed improvements made to braking, and steering.
Datsun designers deliberately sacrificed raw acceleration for improved fuel economy, so the 1979 models of the 280ZX were actually slower accelerating than the first-generation Z-car. This performance deficit was not addressed until the release of the 280ZX turbo in 1980.
The 280ZX was branded in the American and Australian markets as the Datsun 280ZX; and in the local Japanese market as the Fairlady Z (where both 2-litre and 2.8-litre variants were available).
Two trim levels were offered in America, with the GL being a no-frills coupe and the ZX carrying the full equipment list. Leather seats were optional; and a digital dash options was introduced in 1982.
From 1981 the 280ZX was available with a t-bar roof (on both coupe and 2+2 body shapes). The t-bar roof panels could be removed and stored in bags in the boot(trunk) of the car.
A turbocharged model (L28ET engine rated at 180 hp) was introduced in 1981, bringing the 280ZX's stock performance above the level of the original 240Z. In the US market it was initially only available with a 3-speed automatic transmission. In 1982 and 1983, the 280ZX Turbo was also available with a Borg-Warner T-5 5-speed manual transmission (this was the first Nissan which used a non-Japanese transmission; the T-5 was also used in the GM F-bodies and Ford Mustang -- in fact, a common swap into the 280ZX is the T-56 which was also used in the F-body cars).
Datsun gave the 280ZX a face-lift in 1982 which adding Nascar-style hood vents, fresh alloy-wheel designs, and revised B-pillar garnish. Mechanical changes included a switch to semi-trailing arm rear suspension, rack-and-pinion style steering, as well as slightly increased output from the L28E engine.
Mass Media edit
The 280ZX also appeared in the 1980s Transformers series, as the Autobots Bluestreak, Prowl and Smokescreen, who all transformed into various 280ZXs .
Trivia edit
- The 280ZX was the first time where the "By Nissan" subscript was badged alongside the Nissan pickup trucks.
- Paul Newman raced a Datsun 280ZX, and starred in a series of commercials advocating seatbelt safety in 1981.
- Steve Wozniak, inventor of the Apple, Apple II and Apple IIGS, also starred in a Datsun 280ZX commercial in 1983. His tagline was "It's Awesome"
- The 280ZX, which was specially modified for the series with gull wing door, was made famous in Japan by the police TV drama Series "Seibu Keisatsu"(w:ja:西部警察)
- Although popular in a number of American sources, the most notable appearance of Z-cars was in the Transformers series, where 3 members of the 1984-85 Autobots (Prowl, Bluestreak, and Smokescreen) turned into different models of the Second Generation Nissan 280ZX.
- Datsun Australia offered several 280ZX cars, painted specially in Benson & Hedges gold, as prizes during the 1983-4 World Series Cricket tournament. One of these cars was won by Sir Viv Richards of the West Indies.
References edit
Datsun 280ZX. Nissan Motor Company, 1978.
See also edit
External links edit
- Z Club (UK)
- Z Specialties Parts, Repair, Restoration
- [1] Comprehensive 280ZX Specifications
- IMCDB listing for 280ZX
 | This article about a modern automobile produced after 1975 is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
