The story of the Japanese coupe that stood up to the most iconic cars of the 80s

The Z series is identified with a range of sports cars from Nissan, as is the M series from BMW, the AMG from Mercedes and many others. The Z began its cycle more than 50 years ago, in 1969, taking as its starting point the parent company’s second brand, Datsun, which produced cars mainly for the United States and Japan.

The Datsun Z was the first sports car of this name, going on sale in 1970, and this meant a complete change for this brand, which identified itself with economical and austere vehicles, completely contrasting with a coupé which had 150 CV of power thanks to its 2.4-litre 6-cylinder engine.

He managed to reach the 195 km/h final speedit had a 2+2-seater configuration with a hardtop and could offer users a modern, nimble coupe that couldn’t be compared to a Ferrari, Corvette or Jaguar, but it was also four times cheaper.

Commercial success is absolute and disconcerting. Nissan did not understand what had happened. The Datsun Z reached 100,000 units in the first yearand you had to be prepared for a response from the competition.

Three developments have been made adding more power and weight with 2.6 and 2.8 liter displacement engines. In the meantime there was an update to the bodywork with reinforced bumpers in 1974. The compromise between the bodywork and the power, size and weight of the 2.8 engine was tricky to maintain and made the car difficult to drive. Thus was born the idea of ​​a new vehicle: the Datsun 280 ZX.

It was launched on the market in 1978, taking over from the Z 2.8, which was also called the 280 Z. The ZX was longer, smoother and much more equipped, and began a successful story to remain the emblem of a conception which was not his own but inherited. The “sunken eyes”, or headlights recessed into the long front fenders, came from the Z, but are still the hallmark of the Datsun 280 ZX today.

The car retained the low weight of 1,280 kilograms and its 2.8 liter inline six-cylinder engine, at first it had carburettors and offered 135 HP, but they were too small for its bodywork, so it was further improved. later to 145 CV, always with carburettors, and finally the Bosch L-Jetronic electronic injection was incorporated, which allowed it to increase the power to 170 CV in 1981.

The car was capable of reaching 200 km/h and accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds, which brought it close to a prestigious classic like the Porsche 911, no less, but at a cost much less. In the United States, it was offered with either a three-speed automatic or a five-speed manual.

As for its equipment, air conditioning and cruise control, as standard equipment, in addition to having power steering, independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes. Over the years, Datsun incorporated the turbo engine with a first version of 180 CV and a second, in 1983, which reached 200 CV of power.

In terms of bodywork, it was offered in two versions, the hardtop and the “Targa” type, with a semi-covered roof. There were two lengths, one 4.42 meters with a 2+2 seater layout, and a longer one, 4.62, which had four seats, although it was still accessible through the only long side doors, which had the particularity of not having a stallion. So when you opened it with the window down, it was just the sheet metal door and nothing else.

The last “restilyng” came in 1982, when the bumpers were replaced with bulkier, modern ones, along with a change in the shape of the triangular rear window, wheels and hood.

The Datsun 280 ZX lasted until 1984when Nissan appropriated the success by launching the Nissan 300 ZX, a car with more modern and softer lines, which no longer had the personal Datsun brand in its headlights, but rather flat optics compared to the profile of the trunk.

In Argentina, the Datsun 280 ZX had a very special additional impact. In 1982, coinciding with the removal of traces of Carlos Alberto Reutemantwo visionaries that they were Carlos Pairetti there Jorge Cupeirothey realized that sports car fans would be “orphaned” by a show that encourages them to watch races.

Thus, they imported about thirty Datsun 280 ZX and created the Argentine Pilots Club (CAP), a one-design category in which the best Argentine pilots of all specialties took part.

The cars retained the original mechanics, not only the engine but also the suspensions and brakes, and a large rear spoiler was added, the corresponding roll bar and a plastic trunk in which the headlights were covered.

But the most important thing about CAP was that it was the first Argentine motorsport series that was televised live for the whole country on the ATC (Argentina Televisora ​​​​​​Color) screen, which made it an immediate attraction to heal the pain of losing Lole in Formula 1. The Pilots Club was so important that people knew it as “Los Datsun”leaving an indelible mark for the transformation it has meant for motorsport in Argentina.

The category continued to compete until 1990, even integrating the Nissan 300 ZX as a superior series, then, the mechanical strength of the 280 ZX transformed them into other zonal categories which over time were diluted.

Although most of the cars have fallen into disuse due to the natural wear and tear of so many years of competition, some are still circulating in Argentina, such as a 1981 coupe that is for sale after being completely restored, with 245,000 kilometers on the clock, and for which its owner is asking no less than $21,000.

That’s the value of a true sports classic from the 80s for loyal fans of six-cylinder sports coupes.

Continue reading