I was at an auto wreckers today, and saw something I hadn't seen before. A Datsun 280Z 2+2.
I snapped a photo of the emblems, and a look inside revealed a back seat. It had little leg room, but yes, a back seat. I should have snapped a photo of the back seat, and also a side view of the car as I wonder if it was stretched.
I'm no Datsun expert, but I presume that's got to be pretty rare.
Around the rust belt they all crumbled away. The 2+2 Z started mid-year 1974 as a 260Z 2+2 with a 2.6 liter six, then became a 280Z 2+2 with a 2.8 liter six for 1975 through 1978. A friend in Fonthill used to have a '74 260Z 2+2 and it was also white.
__________________
67 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe, Oshawa-built 250 PG never disturbed.
In garage, 296 cid inline six & TH350...
Cam, Toronto.
I don't judge a man by how far he's fallen, but by how far back he bounces - Patton
From Wikipedia: A 2+2 model built on a 11.9 in (302 mm) longer wheelbase was introduced, with larger opening quarter panel windows and a slightly notched roofline.
One of my customers bought his wife a new 300Z about 1984. They had it quite a few months before they discovered it had no back seat. They thought it was just folded down.
__________________
63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
Surprisingly strong, but those dual carbs were a pain to keep setup.
Unfortunately, as said earlier, it literally rotted away. I ended up selling it just for the motor, which I had completely rebuilt.
I didn't much like the stretched 2+2. Thought it looked odd and took the sports car mojo away.
Not a big fan of the notched roofline on those... but they are likely pretty rare. In 1984, my brothers 280zx was close to 2hp per CI, with mods... still a very respectable statistic 35 years later! A 165mph Bob Sharpe built sleeper!
I bet some of those part are worth a few bucks. Those Datsun Z's are really climbing in value.
Yep, ALL early imports are starting to get $$$.
__________________
Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
I was watching Barrett-Jackson this week, and one of these 280Z 2+2's came across the block. Mike Joy spoke about why a Ferrari, Datsun and others came out with a 2+2. It was to reduce insurance rates as it was considered a 4 seater passenger car, not a 2 seater sports car.
After high school, in the early 80's, I worked at Gladstone Datsun in Wpg for about a 6 month stint changing oil on these cars.
The 280Z was more common than the 2+2 but there were lots of the 2+2's around. I would not say they are very rare and you can't fit anything or anyone back there so what is the point? That was my opinion and so I always liked the 280Z's with just the 2 seats more than the 2+2 as I thought the 2+2 was kind of ugly.
I test drove many 280Z's with the turbo straight 6 and the 5 speed after changing the oil,........... and they would haul!
I still have a hankering for a 280Z turbo 5 speed!
One of my college classmates JUST sold an orange over black 260Z that she'd owned since early '75. Not bad for miles, some rust, but it's been garaged for a long, long time. Tried to post the video of it being pushed up on a trailer out of its long-term storage, but I guess the site only accepts stills.
She was kind enough to haul me back to my home from the Ceeps on a couple of occasions, in it. Last time I was there, it had been turned into a fern bar. The horror!
One of my college classmates JUST sold an orange over black 260Z that she'd owned since early '75. Not bad for miles, some rust, but it's been garaged for a long, long time. Tried to post the video of it being pushed up on a trailer out of its long-term storage, but I guess the site only accepts stills.
She was kind enough to haul me back to my home from the Ceeps on a couple of occasions, in it. Last time I was there, it had been turned into a fern bar. The horror!
Would love to see that car and curious what she got for it. a 74 260z was my first car and I loved it.
I was watching Barrett-Jackson this week, and one of these 280Z 2+2's came across the block. Mike Joy spoke about why a Ferrari, Datsun and others came out with a 2+2. It was to reduce insurance rates as it was considered a 4 seater passenger car, not a 2 seater sports car.
There's an '82 on CL, the roofline is quite different. I recall seeing them around but never paid much attention to them. I liked the original 240Zs much better.
There's an '82 on CL, the roofline is quite different. I liked the original 240Zs much better.
x2
__________________
Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.