Nissan · 1978–1983

Nissan S130

The Nissan S130 is a sports coupé produced by Nissan in Japan from 1978 until 1983. It was sold as the Datsun 280ZX, Nissan Fairlady Z and Nissan Fairlady 280Z, depending on the market. In Japan, it was exclusive to Nissan Bluebird Store locations. It was the second generation Z-car, replacing the Nissan Fairlady Z (S30) in late 1978. The 280ZX was the first time the "by Nissan" subscript was badged alongside the Datsun logo, along with Nissan trucks. The 280ZX was Motor Trend's import car of the year for 1979. The 280ZX was replaced by the Nissan 300ZX in 1984.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Nissan S30 · Successor: Nissan 300ZX

All Nissan S130 data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Design goals

The 280ZX was a complete redesign, retaining only the L28 inline-six engine and other driveline components from the 280Z. Both two-seat and four-seat (2+2) designs were offered. Compared to the more overtly sporting earlier models, the 280ZX was a much softer, heavier car, with less focus on driving and more on driver comfort and refinement. Softer suspension, better sound insulation, more comfortable seats, and ample equipment including high-end audio systems defined the new ZX. In the spirit of the times, emissions controls and aerodynamics were markedly improved over the first generation Z-cars, while weight was down somewhat as long as the buyer did not pick much from the very long options list. The exterior design was evolutionary, less rounded and with better integrated safety bumpers. Many parts, including the rear-axle and the power steering came from the Datsun 810 luxury sedan. Most of the design effort went into the entirely different and much more modern interior. The car became a grand tourer rather than a sports car, particularly in the plush Grand Luxury versions.

Engineering

The 280ZX adopted a suspension similar to that of the concurrent Bluebird 910, with MacPherson struts in front and semi-trailing arm independent suspension in the rear. The wheelbase was up from its predecessor (90.7 in or 2,304 mm) to 91.3 in (2,319 mm) for the two-seater. The 280ZX's body was redesigned with aerodynamics in mind. By closing in the open grille of the first generation Z-car and through other improvements taken from wind-tunnel testing, the drag coefficient was reduced from 0.467 to 0.385, and the lift coefficient from 0.41 to 0.14. The new design had a lower center-of-gravity and nearly 50/50 weight distribution in both the two-seater and 2+2 designs. The rear of the car was stretched to accommodate a larger 80 L (21.133 US liquid gallons) fuel tank. Overall, the new body design gave better fuel economy and high-speed stability (one of the known issues from the first generation Z-car). The 280ZX initially offered either unassisted rack-and-pinion steering or a Datsun 810-derived recirculating-ball with power assistance. Neither came in for much appreciation in period road tests. A new power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering replaced the recirculating-ball steering system for the 1981 turbo, becoming available on the naturally aspirated models the following year. 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, so the early 1979 models rated at 135 hp (101 kW) actually had slower accele

Marketing and sales

The 280ZX was branded in the North American and Australian markets as the "Datsun 280ZX"; and in the local Japanese market as the "Fairlady Z". For the 1979 model year, in the American market, it was co-branded "Datsun by Nissan" through the 1983 model year. These were considered transitional years, as Nissan began to phase in their new global brand under the Nissan name. The Japanese market got both 2.0 L and 2.8 L engines. The 2.0 L-engined Fairlady 200Z used the L20 engine common in Nissan family cars of the same era. The smaller engine was offered so that it would comply with Japanese government dimension regulations, while models with the larger engine were regarded as the top-level luxury model in Japan. Export markets all got the L28-powered version. In Japan the Fairlady was joined by a Nissan Skyline-derived sedan and coupé, called the Nissan Leopard TR-X, available at Nissan Japanese dealerships called "Nissan Bluebird Stores". Two trim levels were offered in North America, with a no-frills two-seater and a fully equipped 2+2 GL. The GL package was also available for the two-seater, carrying the full equipment list. Leather seats were optional, and an optional digital instrument cluster was introduced in 1982. The T-bar roof was available on both bodystyles, but only in combination with the GL package. A "Blackout" package, without most of the chrome brightwork, was available for the standard two-seater. South Africa CAR magazine in South Africa ran an article on the 280 ZX in October 1981 to introduce the model. At the time, there was an expectation that the local Nissan plant (then known as Nissan Datsun South Africa) would produce about 500 units. South African models used an L28-E six-cylinder motor similar to international specifications. However, it ret

Changes

=== 1979–1980 === Early reviews of the 280ZX were mixed. Some lamented the transformation the Z-car had made to a grand tourer, while others appreciated the improvements in refinement, comfort, and overall market appeal. The sales figures soon proved the Nissan designers right, with the 280ZX becoming a sales success. In 1979 Datsun homologated a high-downforce "whale-tail" type spoiler for the Datsun 280ZX by producing 1,001 280ZX-R cars; this allowed for use of this aerodynamic aid in IMSA and SCCA racing. These cars also had distinctive body decals and ZX-R logos. These cars were identical to the other cars of this year with the exception of the spoiler and decal package. Successful IMSA racer Don Devendorf was involved in the development of the spoiler. From 1980 onwards, the 280ZX was available with a T-bar roof (on both the two-seater and 2+2 body styles). The T-bar roof panels could be removed and stored in bags in the rear of the car. The 280 ZX Turbo, adding an Airesearch turbocharger to the L28E engine, was first presented in late 1979, producing 200 PS DIN (147 kW; 197 hp). This was the first turbocharged, production Japanese automobile. In 1980, a limited edition "10th anniversary" car was released. Available in either black and gold or black and red two-tone paint, these cars came with leather seating, and other special trim features. A total of 3,000 of these cars were built - - 2,500 in black and gold, and 500 in red and black. 1981. A turbocharged model, using the L28ET engine rated at 180 bhp (134 kW; 182 PS) at 5,600 rpm and 203 lb⋅ft (275 N⋅m) of torque at 2,800 rpm, was introduced to the US export market in 1981. At the same time the Japanese domestic market received L20ET (2 L turbo) in both manual and automatic transmissions. Nissan's concerns abou

Racing

The 280ZX proved successful in various classes of racing, particularly in the US. Significant results include: 1979 SCCA C Production Category (Bob Sharp Racing 280ZX) 1979 and 1980 IMSA GTU Championship (Electramotive Datsun 280ZX) 1982 and 1983 IMSA GTO Championship (Electramotive Datsun 280ZX Turbo) The 1983 Electramotive 280ZX Turbo produced over 700 hp (522 kW), and reached a terminal speed of 140 mph (230 km/h) in the standing quarter mile. The most notable driver to be associated with the car was actor Paul Newman, who raced with the Bob Sharp Racing team. He also helped to promote the car and starred in a series of commercials.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Nissan S130
aka: Datsun 280ZX, Nissan Fairlady Z
Class: Sports car/Grand tourer
Manufacturer: Nissan
Body style: 3-door fastback
Production: June 1978–1983
Layout: Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Assembly: Japan: Hiratsuka, Kanagawa (Nissan Shatai Plant)
Engine: 2.0 L L20E I6, 2.0 L L20ET turbo I6, 2.8 L L28E I6, 2.8 L L28ET turbo I6
Transmission: 4-speed manual, 5-speed manual, 5-speed Borg-Warner T-5 manual, 3-speed Jatco 3N71B automatic
Predecessor: Nissan Fairlady Z (S30)
Successor: Nissan 300ZX (Z31)
Kerb weight: 1281 kg 2-seater, 1356 kg 2+2
Wheelbase: 2320 mm 2-seater, 2520 mm 2+2
Length: 4420 mm 2-seater, 4620 mm 2+2
Width: 1690 mm
Height: 1295 mm 2-seater, 1305 mm 2+2