1978 Datsun Z-Series

280Z Coupe

6 - Cyl.

Manual

HLS30458232

Gasoline

1978 Race Modified Custom 280Z Trophy Winning Show Car - Hand Signed by Yutaka Katayama - Father of the Z Cars You are bidding on pristine 1978 Datsun 280Z. This race modified, former trophy winning show car, was actually hand signed by Yutaka Katayama, considered the father of the Z cars and one of the original designers. An inductee into Automotive Hall of Fame, Yutaka Katayama is a legend in the automotive world. His vision literally changed the direction of sports cars in America. Mr. Katayama’s signature alone makes this car a rarity. You are not only bidding on a great car, but a piece of sports car history as well. In 2003, this West Coast car was rebuilt from the ground up with new and updated components throughout, including the engine and drive train. Since that time, it has been driven less than 5,000 miles and has never seen snow, ice or road salt. The body is original and along with the custom House of Colors paint, is near perfect. The interior is in excellent condition and all of the instruments work perfectly, even the clock! As detailed below, the engine, drive train and suspension components have been completely disassembled, upgraded and rebuilt with top-of-the-line race oriented components. In fact the struts and tires are less than a year old and have less than 200 miles on them. Over $30,000 was originally invested in the restoration of this car. Although this car has the sound and performance of a race car, it is equally at home as a weekend driver. It really strikes a nice balance between performance and drivability. It’s a great car as is, but if you’re interested in building a show car, a modest investment in time and money could bring this car back to trophy winning quality. In fact, that was my plan when I purchased it less than a year ago, but unfortunately life got in the way. I’ve tried to be thorough and honest in my description, but if you have any questions, or if I've left something out that's important to you, please don’t hesitate to ask. It's important to me that whoever buys this car is happy with their purchase. This car isn’t perfect, but you’d have to search long and hard to find one equally nice. Body: The body is virtually rust free, except for two small, nickel sized, paint bubbles on the rear engine cowl, typical of corrosion (there is no rust showing - see photo). As far as I know, this is the only potential rust on the vehicle. The floor pans, wheel wells and under carriage are absolutely rust free, as are the bumpers. The external door locks have been removed for a smooth custom look and replaced with a driver side, key fob actuated, electric lock. The fob also operates the built in, high quality alarm system. The House of Colors, 2-stage Pearl Tangelo paint, as well as the hand painted graphic accents are still in excellent condition, with only a few very tiny chips. Unless you’re really looking for them, you wouldn’t know they exist. The chrome too, is excellent with no pitting. On a 1 -100 scale, I’d say the paint, chrome and body are a 95+. Interior: Overall, the interior is in excellent condition. There are no tears in the original upholstery, the carpet is in good condition and the headliner and rear deck are new. All of the rubber is in good condition and is leak free. The rear deck has been vinyl wrapped and slightly modified to improve styling and allow for the interior mounted strut bar. The dash and instruments look like new. A custom dash cover was professionally installed less than one month ago and is virtually indistinguishable from the original. Instruments and Controls: All of the original instruments work perfectly, including the clock. The factory installed radio and power antenna work like new. The headlights, turn signals, parking / side and brake lights work as they should. The HVAC system provides plenty of heat, but the A/C doesn’t work. That said, all of the A/C components are in place and appear to be in good physical condition. Honestly, I’ve not investigated this problem and it could be a simple fix, or it might be more involved. Also, the temperature adjusting petcock appears to be bad and as a result, the heat control acts as if it is always set to high. The vacuum dampers appear to work properly and when you turn the selector off of heat, it blows unheated, outside air. This was something I was going to replace, but it turned out not to be a big deal. Engine / Drive Train: Completely rebuilt, updated and customized. As you can see from the detail listing below, the engine and drive train have been extensively modified. This engine was built with performance in mind, but with an eye toward drivability and reliability. With the high lift cam, custom headers, 3” exhaust and Flowmaster 40-Series muffler, this car screams performance. This Car is a Serious Gem - Don’t Let it Get Away - Bid Now! Engine Modifications: L-28 in line six, bored out to 3.0 over Forged 89mm Pistons Stock Rod that has been Race Prepped Knifed Edged Polished and Balanced Stock Crankshaft ARP Main and Rod Studs Ported and Polished Stainless Steel Valves (46mm intake and 38rrun exhaust) Steel Valve Seats Hardened Inner and Outer Valve Springs 512 Lift, 300 Duration Performance Camshaft Adjustable Cam Gear 29 lb High Flow Fuel Injectors Custom Fuel Rail Matched Port and Polished Intake Manifold 70mm Throttle Body Turbo Air Flow Meter Custom Air Intake Datsun 280ZX Distributor, Ignition Module and Coil Fusible Links Replaced With Modern Fuses Flowmaster 40 Series Muffler - Custom Headers - 3-Inch Exhaust Driveline and Undercarriage Modifications 16 lb Flywheel ACT Street Clutch Custom Driveshaft 390 Rear End Gearing Quick Shift Kit 5-Speed Transmission CV Axels All Polyurethane Bushings Front and rear strut stabilizer bars 16 x 17 Elite 996 Wheels New Struts and tires (less than 6 months / 200 miles old) Miscellaneous Details: Electric Door Lock Alarm System Spare Tire is New-Old-Stock – Never Mounted or Inflated (jack and air canister are not included) All Original Paperwork Detailing the Restoration, Plus Vintage Catalogs Included Car Cover I did my best to provide a detailed description, but if I left something out, or you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me. I will answer all questions honesty and to the best of my ability. I want your buying experience to be a pleasant one. Thank you for looking and good luck bidding! Click on Thumbnails to Enlarge Check This Video to See and Hear More Please Note: This vehicle has performance modifications that may cause it not to meet emissions requirements in a few areas of the Country. Prior to bidding, you should check your state's emission standards in order to insure compliance. This sale is final, so please email me to arrange for an inspection, or ask any questions you have prior to bidding. NO REFUND: This used vehicle is sold "as is" / “where is” with no warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. It is your responsibility as the buyer of this vehicle to thoroughly inspect and assess its condition and value prior to bidding. Your bid should be based solely on your inspection. PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS: A non-refundable deposit of US $1000.00 via PayPal is required within 48 hours of auction close. Balance to be paid by US bank certified Cashier's Check within 7-days of auction close. It is the purchaser's responsibility to provide for all taxes, fees and shipping expenses resulting from this sale.