DOTS: 280Z

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn) 03/26/2014 at 11:03 • Filed to: None

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I spotted this absolutely gorgeous ca. 1978 280Z this morning. Super clean, gorgeous color. Not certain of the year. What also caught my attention was the bumper sticker: PRACTICE HEAVY TORQUE AND RANDOM ACTS OF HP

RacecaR > ttyymmnn 03/26/2014 at 11:18

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Did you follow it to its destination, then make an offer to buy it? Because I would have.

ttyymmnn > RacecaR 03/26/2014 at 11:23

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It looked well loved. Probably not for sale. I considered following and asking to take better pictures, though.

RacecaR > ttyymmnn 03/26/2014 at 11:24

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Everything is for sale.

Chairman Kaga > ttyymmnn 03/26/2014 at 13:04

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In Austin? I'm almost positive I got behind the same car on Riverside a few weeks ago.

BoulderZ > ttyymmnn 03/26/2014 at 14:07

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From the rear, at least, that is quite clean. Doesn't have the known trouble spot(s) of rust around the bottom of the hatch or on the visible parts of the wheel arch there. Someone painted the light surround, but it looks like they did a nice color match. Unless it was modified, that's an early 280Z, maybe '76. The bumper ends and middle block/overriders are wrong for a '77 or '78. The late 280Z's had ends that came out and around the full end of the bumper bar, and did not have rear center blocks (though they did on the front). Here's a pic of the fronts, and a crappy view of the rear. The design is the same and should give you some idea, though. Another way, if you get a view of the front, is the hood. '78s have the vents.

ttyymmnn > BoulderZ 03/26/2014 at 14:25

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I knew somebody would come along with all the crazy details that indicated the year. This one also had this slightly extended roofline. I saw no rust on it anywhere, though I really only saw the driver's side and the rear. It was truly beautiful. This picture is actually very similar in color and roof to the one I saw.

Hell, it might even be the same one. Is that the sticker in the bottom right of the rear window?? Background doesn't look like Austin, though.

BoulderZ > ttyymmnn 03/26/2014 at 14:39

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Haha, sorry, yeah, I'm a little Z-obsessive, particularly the '78 280Z. Hope it's at least helpful info. The extended roofline means it's a 2+2. There's a backseat for groceries/luggage, small children, or people you don't like. One nice feature is the back quarter windows on the 2+2 will open like wing/vent windows. I'm sure it's less unusual in Austin, but seeing one that rust free, and not fully restored, is getting more and more rare. The bodies for the 240Z/260Z/280Z are the same, with the exception of the bumpers, which makes interchange and parts availability a lot easier. But getting the detail parts is a pain because those changed almost every year. The '78 bumper ends are NLA, and used ones will cost $100 each, and up unless you can find and remove one, undamaged, from a parts yard (unlikely, here anyway). Same deal with the hood vents, trim pieces, etc. The one in your pic seems nicely complete.

ttyymmnn > ttyymmnn 03/26/2014 at 14:56

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Yup. Wells Branch (Pflugerville-ish).

ttyymmnn > BoulderZ 03/26/2014 at 15:05

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No apologies necessary. I'm often amazed with the level of knowledge here. Not surprised it exists, just impressed with what people know. Thanks for the info.

Back when I in was in college, which would have been the summer of '86 or so, I worked for the leasing division of a Chevy dealership in Chesapeake, VA. We leased anything people wanted, and it was rarely Chevys. One of our cars I drove was a 50th anniversary 300zx. I got into a bit of a drag race with a guy in an older 240. I had an automatic, the ZX was otherwise stock, and the 240 absolutely smoked me. I've always loved the older Z cars.