Produced by Nissan from 1979 until 1983, the Nissan 280ZX was a popular sporty coupe. This was the second generation Z car as it replaced the 280Z in 1979. This generation of the Z car would eventually be replaced by the
Nissan 300ZX in 1984, but not before the 280ZX was named the Import Car of the Year by Motor Trends for the 1979 year. Nissan redesigned just about everything for the 280ZX except for the L28 engine and other driveline parts. Nissan also offered a turbo charged engine for this generation, though most agree that the 280ZX didn't come close to replacing the 240Z in the way of performance. The Nissan 280ZX was sold as the Datsun 280ZX in American markets.
The 280ZX was based on the Nissan 510 platform as well as the suspension and featured MacPherson struts in front and trailing arm independent rear. The 280ZX had a shorter wheelbase than its predecessor, measuring in at just 91.3 inches. Nissan also introduced a turbocharged engine option with a three speed automatic transmission in 1981. In 1982 the turbo engine was offered with a five speed manual transmission to the delight of many consumers. The 280ZX was featured in several television programs, adding to it's popularity.
