1979 Datsun 280 ZX Really Nice Super Clean Drive Anywhere

Description

I purchased this 1979 280ZX about a year ago from that man who had owned, driven and loved it since he purchased in Texas in the fall of 1979. It now has approximately 149,XXX miles on the clock and it runs and drives perfectly. It's a great car with a super nice body and everything works as it should. When I purchased it, the interior was looking tired but very normal for a car it's age. My upholsterer did a really nice job reworking the interior parts including new leather seat covers with exterior colored matching stitching. He also made new custom door cards and recovered the large rear panel. A refurbished console was installed with a USB connection and custom arm rest. All new high quality plush carpet has been installed and a full dash cap was fitted. Now the entire interior is actually better looking than the day it rolled of the line. The car has one, very professional repaint that took place, two plus years ago and before I bought it. Unless you are accustomed to determining that a car has been repainted, you well never see any tell tale signs that would give it away. We have all heard of "ten foot" paint jobs but this is a "one foot" job. The paint work was expensive and is outstanding today. I'm an old guy that loves Datsun Z cars and I have been a Datsun enthusiast since owning my first 73, 240 in 1980. Since then, I have never been without having at least one in my garage and have owned many first and second generation cars. This is my third 280ZX and by far the nicest one to date. These cars handle well but are more comfortable to live with their its predecessors. Most regard me as a person who loves Datsuns and probably knows more that many when it comes to Z cars and their mechanical issues. This car is really fun to drive and I have driven it a lot since purchasing it. I have gone through this ZX from head to toe and have replaced many parts in order to make it a trouble free ride that can be enjoyed without problems for years to come. When I removed the entire stock interior, down to the bare metal floor, I discovered a two inch by one inch area of rust at the foot pedal area and a similar size hole at the rear of the drivers seat. A leaking tail light gasket and subsequent water draining into the spare tire well had caused a few small pin holes in the bottom. Both tail lights received new gaskets and all three areas were cut back to new, perfect solid metal, new steel welded in place, panel sealed and the entire bare floor was painted with POR 15, rust preventative paint then covered with sound and heat deadening material. Also, the underside of the car was re-undercoated. The underside of the car is in excellent condition, however, I discovered that the passenger side frame rail had been smashed flat. My only explanation is that the car must been driven over and struck something in order for it to be damaged like that. We used a plasma cutter to remove the old rail before welding a new on in place, painting it with POR 15 and then undercoating it. Now the underside is ready for many more miles of trouble free driving. I completed a major under hood tune up including installing new NGK spark plugs, NGK ignition wires, NGK distributor cap & rotor, all belts, all hoses, adjusted the valves and timing, installed new hood release cable that was hard to pull. The cooling system was flushed and new antifreeze installed. The oil, oil and air filter were replaced along with new wiper blades. The five speed transmission and differential were drained and refilled with Synergyn, synthetic premium gear oil. The suspension components were checked and found to be in good shape and a leaking clutch slave cylinder was replaced. A number of repairs had been made by the previous owner within the twelve month period before I purchased it. The repairs included a new radiator, new water pump, new under dash heater unit, new ignition switch, four new shock absorbers, new front brake pads and rotors turned, new rear calipers, rotors and pads, new master brake cylinder and the brake system was flushed with new fluid. He also installed a new muffler and tail pipe, replaced the differential front seal and case gasket, new oil pan gasket, new axle seals and pinion seal, new starter, replaced right rear half shaft u-joint, front and rear toe alignment, new clutch and pressure plate and resurfaced the flywheel. A new radio antenna was installed and the $3200. repaint was completed less than three years ago and due to this ZX always being garaged, still looks great today. My garage helper who has worked around me and these cars for many years, could not find any evidence of the car being repainted. The job is that good! I'm probably forgetting something but will be happy to discuss this car with you and answer your questions. I apologize for my crappy pictures. They do not do this car justice! This 280 ZX is a special car that runs and drives excellently. It's air conditioning works great, even in the SC summer heat. I would drive it anywhere today. I'm sure that I have invested more into it than it will sell for today, but I recently purchased a 260 G-nose car with a 3.1 engine that I'm now driving and enjoying. So it's time to pass my ZX along to another person who will love it as much as I do. Please contact me at 843 450 6512 and I will answer your questions. Also, I have more pictures if you need to see an area not shown. If I can't answer when you call, please leave a message and I will return your call asap. Thanks for looking, Tom.