Classic Car Addict is proud to present this one-owner 1982 Datsun

　　280ZX for sale in our Mesa, Arizona showroom. This 1982 Datsun

　　280ZX was purchased new by the current owner in Las Vegas and spent

　　all its life in Arizona. Often compared to the American Chevy

　　Corvette, the Japanese 280ZX is closer in spirit to a British

　　Jaguar XJS, for it offered genuine refinement along with

　　performance. Motor Trend named it the "import car of the year" when

　　it debuted in 1979.

　　The 280ZX is said to wear all original paint, which does have some

　　chips and blemishes, but is in pretty great condition. The 280ZX

　　was a fresh design; the only thing remaining from the preceding

　　280Z was the excellent 145-bhp inline six. An abundance of louvres,

　　moldings and creases make the 280ZX look "busy" but still

　　attractive. The front of the car is dominated by the plane of the

　　hood and headlamp buckets, and there is no grille as such, just an

　　air intake under the bumper. Rear fenders are muscular and benefit

　　from a subtle "Coke bottle" effect enhanced by the high beltline. A

　　thick lower body molding encircles the car, emphasizing length.

　　The interior is a masterful piece of early-'80s Japanese

　　techno-lux. Supportive seats are covered in rich-feeling red velour

　　that stops just short of being garish. The factory stereo is a real

　　gem - the cassette deck is equipped with a counter, just like a

　　home hi-fi. All the usual gauges are present, plus Nissan's trick

　　two-part fuel readout with a secondary needle that engages when

　　you're down to the last quarter of a tank. This secondary needle

　　really lets you eke out every drop of fuel before queuing for gas.

　　This wasn't a gimmick; fuel shortages had been a reality in the

　　'70s and no one knew if the '80s might bring more of the same.

　　This Z is a naturally aspirated example, and its 2753CC

　　overhead-cam inline six provides silken power delivery. The Z

　　starts without hesitation and settles into a quiet idle. Power

　　delivery is linear with excellent mid-range punch given the power

　　to weight ratio. It is a common misconception that the 280ZX's L28

　　engine is less powerful than the L24 engine of the 1970 240Z or the

　　L26 engine of the 260Z; the difference is due to Nissan adopting

　　the SAE net standard of power measurement, which resulted in lower

　　power ratings than the earlier gross figures and added emissions.

　　However, Nissan designers deliberately sacrificed raw acceleration

　　for improved fuel economy in the 280ZX.

　　If you're the sort of enthusiast who likes to engage in serious

　　touring, the 280ZX deserves a hard look because it can cover vast

　　distances with comfort. Japanese iron of every sort has been

　　getting a lot of attention lately. The 280ZX is a car to keep a

　　close eye on. Call Classic Car Addict today at . And

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