Quick Review of Datsun 280ZX in Vietnam: “Qua” Vũ’s Ultra Rare Gem for Collectors, Hard to Find Second Car

During the days leading up to the Lunar New Year, car enthusiasts have continuously spotted the Chairman of Trung Nguyen, Mr. Dang Le Nguyen Vu, driving various unique cars on the streets. One of these is the Datsun 280ZX sports car, which is rare and hard to find in Vietnam.

It is not surprising that Mr. Dang Le Nguyen Vu is hunting for the Datsun 280ZX, as he is building the world’s top JDM car collection and is willing to spend money to buy cars in bulk. Many rare models, as confirmed by car enthusiasts, are not for sale unless the price is right, and they have found their way to Mr. Vu’s car collection.

What’s special about Mr. Dang Le Nguyen Vu’s Datsun 280ZX?

The Nissan S130 is a sports coupe model produced by Nissan in Japan from 1978 to 1983. It was sold under the names Datsun 280ZX, Nissan Fairlady Z, and Nissan Fairlady 280Z, depending on the market. In Japan, it was exclusively sold at Nissan Bluebird Store locations. This is the second generation Z-car, replacing the Nissan Fairlady Z (S30) in late 1978. The 280ZX was the first time the “by Nissan” emblem was used alongside the Datsun logo, along with Nissan trucks. The 280ZX was replaced by the Nissan 300ZX in 1984.

The 280ZX was a complete redesign, only keeping the inline-six engine L28 and other drivetrain components from the 280Z. Both two-seater and four-seater (2+2) designs were offered. Compared to previous sports car models, the 280ZX was lighter and much heavier, focusing less on the driving feel and more on the comfort and refinement of the driver.

The suspension system is softer, the sound insulation is better, the seats are more comfortable, and it is equipped with a rich audio system that defines the new ZX. The car is also equipped with improved emission control and aerodynamics compared to the first generation Z car, while the weight is slightly reduced due to buyers not choosing many options from a very long list.

The exterior design has been improved, with fewer rounded edges and better integrated safety bumpers. Many components, including the rear axle and power steering system, were taken from the upscale Datsun 810 sedan model. Most of the design efforts were focused on a completely different and much more modern interior.

The 280ZX uses a suspension system similar to the Bluebird 910’s suspension system, with MacPherson struts at the front and independent wishbone suspension at the rear. The wheelbase has been increased from 2,304 mm to 2,319 mm for the two-seater model.

The 280ZX’s body has been redesigned to focus on aerodynamics. By closing the open grille of the first-generation Z car and incorporating other improvements made from wind tunnel testing, the drag coefficient has been reduced from 0.467 to 0.385, and the lift coefficient has been reduced from 0.41 to 0.14. The new design has a lower center of gravity and a nearly 50/50 weight distribution in both the two-seater and 2+2 designs. The rear of the car has been extended to accommodate a larger fuel tank of over 80 liters.

The steering system was changed; the original 280ZX provided a non-power-assisted rack and pinion steering system or a recirculating ball steering system derived from the Datsun 810 with power assistance. Both were not highly rated in regular road tests. A new power-assisted rack and pinion steering replaced the recirculating ball steering for the turbo engine in 1981 and would be available on naturally aspirated models the following year.

The 280ZX was labeled as “Datsun 280ZX” in the North American and Australian markets, and as “Fairlady Z” in the local Japanese market. For the 1979 model, in the US market, it was co-branded as “Datsun by Nissan” until the 1983 model. This is considered a transitional year when Nissan began implementing their new global brand under the name Nissan.

The Datsun 280ZX owned by Qua Vu has a blue exterior paint and many chrome details. The car has 4 seats, with attractive headlights and an elongated design. This car was produced in 1982, with a black leather interior and the original details intact.

Powertrain

In the Japanese market, the car had both the 2.0L and 2.8L engines. The Fairlady 200Z had a 2.0L engine using the L20 engine commonly found in Nissan family cars of the time. The smaller engine was provided to comply with the size regulations of the Japanese government, while the larger engine models were considered the most luxurious high-end cars in Japan. Export markets all had versions using the L28 engine.

Two trim levels were offered in North America, with a non-turbo two-seater and a fully equipped 2+2 GL, which is the car owned by Mr. Vu. The GL package was also available for the two-seater model, bringing with it a full list of equipment options such as optional leather seats and optional digital instrument cluster introduced in 1982. The “Blackout” package, with most of the bright chrome details omitted, was available for the standard two-seater model.

Nissan gave the 280ZX an upgrade in 1982, with modified NACA ducts on the hood, new alloy wheels (14-inch six-spoke alloy rims for non-turbo models and 15-inch alloy rims for turbo models), revised decorative B-pillars, new slotted taillights, and a rubber front bumper that replaced the chrome and rubber details of the previous model.

The bumper panels are now color-matched to the body and have additional cladding. Minor interior changes but including new seat trim designs. The 1982 models are also the first to offer a popular voice warning system, alerting the driver when the headlights are still on after the car is turned off, if the parking brake is engaged while the car is in motion, etc. This upgrade model has since become known as the “Series II” 280ZX.

The 280ZX Turbo (only available in the US market) was offered with a manual transmission, a five-speed Borg-Warner T-5 transmission, which was one of the first transmissions used by Nissan and Japanese cars in general that was not made in Japan. The T-5 was also used on GM F-body cars and Ford Mustangs along with many other domestic US vehicles. The T-5 was only available in 1982 and 1983, after which Nissan USA gradually switched to local automotive components – the 1981 Turbo was only available with an automatic transmission. Primarily sold in the US so far, in the second half of 1983, the 280ZXT Turbo became available in Germany. It was the fastest, most expensive, and most powerful Japanese car with a power output of up to 200 PS available in Germany up to that time.

280ZX was labeled in the North American and Australian markets as “Datsun 280ZX”, and in the local Japanese market as “Fairlady Z”. For the 1979 model, in the US market, it was co-branded as “Datsun by Nissan” until the 1983 model. This is considered a transitional year when Nissan began implementing their new global brand under the name Nissan.

The Datsun 280ZX Turbo (European Version) featured a manual transmission, a five-speed gearbox called T5, which was one of the first non-Japanese manual transmissions used by Nissan. The T5 transmission was also used on GM F-body and Ford Mustang vehicles, as well as many other American domestic models. The T5 transmission was only available from 1982 to 1983. The 1981 Turbo model was only available with an automatic transmission. The 280ZXT Turbo was introduced in Germany in the second half of 1983. It was the fastest, most expensive, and most powerful Japanese car at the time with a power output of up to 200 PS.