1978 Datsun 280Z

I've owned this car since 1996. The engine is fabulous, recently passed smog check back in January. Even took it to Vegas back in February. Like I said the engine is clean, runs like top. More about that later. The clutch and transmission are in great shape. The clutch has only 5000 miles on it, and I had the transmission rebuilt several years back. Again with probably less than 10000 miles on that currently. I really never drove the car much to be honest. Its been my fun weekend car mostly. The transmission itself is a 4 speed manual. Which I've never had a problem with. I find it's quiet and smooth on the freeway just fine.. But you're not buying a 280Z for the gas mileage anyway. Which by the way in this car is fantastic. Probably because it's running right... The car itself would be great for a restoration project. And that's what I'm selling it as. As is sale. It does need some things which is why I'm pricing it where I'm pricing it. The car is probably worth twice or more what I'm charging. Its original paint, the Camel Gold and Black package could use a refresh. I never cared much about cosmetics so I never had a it painted. This darn car I can't even sit at a stop light without someone yelling over to ask me about it. And that's with the old paint. The interior could use some work. Seats, console etc. The dash is clean and has a poly full cover on it. All the gauges work. The heater is disconnected and the AC is long gone out of it. Not much rust, a couple key spots on the passenger side low down on the car. But that's to be expected with a restoration project car I suppose. Hey it's a 280Z for 5K. Come and take it off my hands and give a good home. The cowel could also use a sand down and some filler in a couple spots. But again this car runs great. If you're looking for an awesome 280Z and a 78 to boot. Overall if I were keeping it though I would replace the exhaust system as it's original to the car. It works but the gaskets could use a refresh I'm sure. Heck I would replace the entire exhaust manifold if I were keeping it. Which was my plan originally. I'm not one of these guys selling their Z for 50 grand or 20 grand or something like that. I'm being fair because it will need some work. But it's pretty rare to get a restoration project that already runs good. And that's what this car is. I would put new brakes on it as well. Replace the master cylinder. It does need new shifter bushings, BUT I have them and they're easy to put on, and I can give them to you. This being my main car for almost 30 years I pretty much know everything about it. All of its quirks and anything else. I'll be happy to share all that with ya. The last smog check it failed was in 2001. And that was for a throttle switch, which has long since been replaced. I have the most recent smog report for ya from a few months back in January. I make NO guarantees about anything on this car. But I will say I love this car, its been an old friend for a long long time. It's being sold as is, and in many ways against my will. ha ha.. So don't try to get me down to 3K or some nonsense like that. I'll send you packin' real fast. We're moving and we have enough to deal with, so my "project" car has to go. And I'm letting it go at a ridiculously low price, and I know that. It's priced to move. You won't find a better deal ANYWHERE on a 78 280Z this decent, running, recently driven to Vegas and back, and passed its last smog checks. The work it needs is mostly cosmetic and like I said I would fix the exhaust and the brakes. Which work fine but the master cylinder is getting tired in full disclosure.. Mostly because the car sits a lot. As far as the engine goes, the cooling system is pretty much brand new, it runs super cool, it's got a 160 degree thermostat in it. The engine was totally rebuilt in 1997. All the bits and bobs of the engine work. It starts up on cold morning no problem, with the air regulator and cold start valve doing their job just fine. It also DOESN'T have the quirk that many Z's seem to have of not running well at all temperature ranges. It literally runs like new at all temperature ranges. It idles nice and smooth, and the acceleration seems to be better than other Z's I've driven. It pulls real nice. In the nearly 30 years I've had this car it has never been on a tow truck or left me stranded anywhere. Nor have I had even so much as a fender bender with it. So accidents. It's super reliable in the engine department. The tires are only a few years old and have literally no miles on them. I haven't been driving the car much. In the past 4 years it has a little over 500 miles put on it. I've mostly just been driving it to maintain it for the past few years. Sometimes I take it up through Malibu for a ride. Everyone knows the car there by the way. They love this car. For whatever reason. Someone always wants to chat my ear off about it for hours.. Oh and the battery is like new. I put it in a year ago in May of 2023. It's a good 750 cranking amp 300 dollar batter, and it does the job great.. No tire kickers please. Only serious inquiries. I'm looking to sell this car. If it doesn't sell before we move. I'll probably give it to my nephew and he's a screw-up so he'll likely ruin the car pretty quickly. (joking, but kinda not)...