zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Buying
/
At $18,500, Could You T-Top This 1982 Datsun 280ZX?
At $18,500, Could You T-Top This 1982 Datsun 280ZX?-July 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:09:49

The X in today’s 280ZX stands for X-sports car, as the model is more a GT than a corner crusher like its immediate predecessor. Some people do like their cars to be a bit softer, but will this classic coupe’s price put you between a rock and a hard place?

Did you ever stop to think why it was that ‘Three Strikes’ became the universal determinant of negative action? There’s the Three Strikes in baseball, the Three Strikes law that could put you away for good, and of course the popular Three Strikes segment on the long-running game show, The Price is Right.

Last Friday’s had a lot going for it, but it also had three strikes. Those three major issues were a dead cylinder, a noisy transmission, and a hail damaged body. Any one of those individually could have been taken as a reasonable challenge. But at $3,000, all three strikes together killed the car’s chances, resulting in a 73-percent Crack Pipe loss

When you buy a car with issue’s you’re obviously going to spend less initially owing to those foibles. That’s just how the world works. The question is whether in fixing those flaws you can eventually get out of the deal more than you put into it. Or maybe you should have just spent a little more at the outset and bought the best example you could find.

This is just such an example. You’ll see lots of S130s out on the market, most of those however are generally presented as rode hard and put away wet. These models have not developed the same cachet as have their S30 predecessors, and for good reason. They lack the earlier cars’ good looks, but the primary demerits are in the suspension and relatedly, the handling.

The S130 eschewed the earlier chassis’ Chapman Strut and wishbone rear suspension for a cheaper and less capable semi-trailing arm setup adapted from the 810 Bluebird. The car also grew in all dimensions as Datsun (Nissan) repositioned the model from sports car to Grand Tourer. Later additions would bring the sexy back, but the S130—fairly or unfairly—is considered to be one of the more lackluster models in the Z car pantheon.

That’s seemingly not the case with the seller of this two-tone Chocolate over Orange Mist Metallic coupe. This car has apparently been babied its entire life and its presentation bears that out. The car comes with just 74,000 miles on the clock and with louvers on the back window glass. Those help the interior keep its youthful appearance and let’s be honest, look absolutely bad ass. I like the fact that the wiper seems to work underneath the slats.

The paint is in decent shape, the car apparently having been garaged most of its life and rarely ever driven in the wet. Everything in it and on it is old or almost so. The seller says that the belts and hoses were replaced four or five years ago, while the battery has only two years under its belt.

The beige interior seems wholly intact with no cracks in the dash, a slew of working gauges, and decent leather on the seats. Time has been less kind the suede inserts, however.

The factory radio in in residence and that has a home stereo vibe that only ‘80s dashboards can pull off. Even the voice alerts (the door is ajar!) are working.

Mechanically, the 145 horsepower SOHC L28 is said to work without issue, as does the five speed manual.

On the downside, the ad notes an as yet untraceable leak in the A/C which requires an annual recharge. This is a Freon system so I guess you’d need to become besties with the refrigeration guy to keep that tradition alive. Factory wheels are shod with GoodYear Eagle ST tires.

The title is clean and there’s no evidence of leaking from the t-tops. The current owner claims that ‘It is with mixed feelings that I am considering selling this vehicle, I am getting older and this vehicle is getting increasing hard for me to ingress and egress. It is time to pass this car on to someone else who will care for it and appreciate it as I have.’

To make that pass an interception, you’ll need to come up with $18,500. Quite amazingly, the seller notes that the NADA listing for the car is $22,200. See, that’s why I don’t read NADA.

You’re reading this, and it’s now time to put what you learned to work. What do you think about this well preserved S130 and that $18,500 price? Does that seem like a fair deal? Or, does that price put this ZX out of reach?

You decide!

Seattle, WA , or go if the ad disappears.

H/T to FauxShizzle for the hookup!

Help me out with NPOCP. Click to send a me a fixed-price tip, and remember to include your Kinja handle.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Buying
At $2,999, Could This Mega-Mileage 2005 Acura TSX Still Be A Mega-Good Deal?
At $2,999, Could This Mega-Mileage 2005 Acura TSX Still Be A Mega-Good Deal?
With over 200K on the clock, today’s Acura has certainly been around the block. Let’s see if its price and rare six-speed stick more than make up for those miles. It’s been so long since Nissan went by Datsun here in the U.S. that few non-car people likely are...
Jul 9, 2025
At $31,500, Could This Camper-Converted 2004 Land Rover Discovery II Help You Discover Your True Nature?
At $31,500, Could This Camper-Converted 2004 Land Rover Discovery II Help You Discover Your True Nature?
Today’s Land Rover is named the Discovery, and in converted camper form, it embodies the truest sense of that term. Let’s see what all this discovery should rightfully cost. Are you a coupé person? Because I’m not really a coupé person. I like four doors and rear windows that...
Jul 9, 2025
At $6,900, Is This Manual-Equipped 2006 BMW 650i Automatically A Good Deal?
At $6,900, Is This Manual-Equipped 2006 BMW 650i Automatically A Good Deal?
Today’s 650i rocks amazingly huge 21-inch wheels with rubber band tires. It also comes with a rare six-speed stick. The most important number for us, however, is going to be the price. Let’s see where that lands. So, the one major issue—if you could even call it that—on yesterday’s...
Jul 9, 2025
The Electric 2020 Mini SE Is Fun And A Little Half-Assed
The Electric 2020 Mini SE Is Fun And A Little Half-Assed
The is a hack-job electric car with parts from the BMW i3 that somehow only gets an estimated 110 miles of range on a charge. It feels about five years late, but it’s also relatively cheap, well-equipped and a ton of fun to drive still. This new electric Mini Cooper...
Jul 9, 2025
Jeep Dealers Are Really Slashing Prices On 2020 Gladiators
Jeep Dealers Are Really Slashing Prices On 2020 Gladiators
The was one of the most hyped cars in 2019. It takes everything you love about the iconic Wrangler and adds some pickup truck functionality. Of course, when the Gladiator first hit the scene deals were hard to come by. Now that inventory has built up, you can score...
Jul 9, 2025
This Off-Road Fridge And Battery Make Your SUV A Home
This Off-Road Fridge And Battery Make Your SUV A Home
You might not need a refrigerator in your vehicle but if you do big trips, especially off-grid, it changes everything. After an overland adventure with Dometic’s CFX3 fridge and PLB40 power source in my rig, I can help you decide if a setup like this is something you might want...
Jul 9, 2025
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved