I enjoyed algebra class. I also feel like I’m reasonably intelligent. When I had first seen the “2+2” designation on the Chevrolet Monza hatchback as a kid, it irritated me. Why did this car have a stupid, easy math problem tacked onto it? Then one day, I sat in one. It belonged to a college student of my father, a gentleman named Kemper, who reminded me a little bit of Jim Rockford-era James Garner.
I was a car-hungry teen and he was looking to sell it to me for something like $500 ($1,100 in 2023). “It’ll make you popular with all the ladies!”, he had said. By this point in the early ’90s, this ’79-or-so Monza was in awful shape and the motor shook violently when I fired it up. The little, formerly sporty H-Body hatchback felt like it was bent on self-destruction. I didn’t have to back it all the way out of Kemper’s driveway into the street before I had made up my mind to politely pass. No offense, Sir. And pay attention in my dad’s class because he doesn’t play. Next.
As it relates to the “2+2” designation, those little butt-buckets in the second row weren’t going to cut it, even if that Monza had run right. And suddenly, a car like the ’79 Datsun 280ZX 2+2 makes sense… sort of. I’ve made reference here at CC to the right and left halves of my brain duking it out for dominance when it comes to my decision-making abilities and simply what I like. The 280ZX 2+2 is the embodiment of my ongoing, internal struggle. The right side of my brain says, “This car makes sense, Joe. You’ve ridden in the hatchback of a Honda CRX before. A two-seater could never the correct choice for you.” My left brain says, “That styling, though…”
Otherwise and on the surface, I don’t have any issues with the looks of the first ZX, which I thought was a nice and effective evolution of the final 280Z. To liken the ZX to my own physique, if the original Z was me in my early thirties, the ZX is me now in my late forties: just a little bit softer, but still basically fit and not trying to prove anything in terms of my abilities. In middle age, I’ve also moved upscale and can easily prioritize things like comfort.
As for the 2+2, was there any other effective solution available to make it less awkward-looking from the side? I have respect for a tasteful shooting brake that can accommodate rear seat passengers, like a Volvo 1800 ES, Jensen GT, or a Lancia Beta HP. I also love the sloping fastback profile of the regular, non-addition 280ZX. The 2+2, however, seems to exist in the no-man’s-land somewhere between a genuinely attractive grand tourer and a late-’70s Cutlass Salon. Here’s to life’s inevitable, little compromises.
Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois.
Saturday, May 28, 2016.
Never a fan of foreign cars, have to admit this Datsun (used to call it DAT SOON) looks pretty nice. As for teachers and cars, one HS teacher drove a pink 1960 Imperial. But the big deal was another teacher and coach had the first 65 Mustang (bright red) in town! All the guys wanted his car 🚗. Most of the girls wanted him and his car! 😉
Now I wonder if “Dat-soon” is closer to the correct phonetic pronunciation. I’ll have to look that up.
You’re not alone in finding Nissan’s 2+2 as being “off” relative to the normal (+0) version. I suppose it’s just due to being an afterthought. Or perhaps too MUCH thought along with the obvious stretch. It’s not like the 280ZX (and 300ZX) 2+2 is renowned as being significantly more spacious or usable than a 911, a 944, 928, or even an RX7 (available with rear seats in other markets), all of which had rear seats from the beginning. The car that probably approaches it most on the awkwardness scale is the Ferrari Mondial, the 2+2 version of the Ferrari 308/328 although that was completely restyled to carve out the space.
I did ride in the back seat of a 280ZX 2+2 once at age 15 or so, it was a classmate’s mom’s car and she drove us to the movies. It was…not great but better than walking. Or maybe that’s why my back hurts this morning. Darn it, Mrs. Fasteau, why didn’t you just drive a sedan like everyone else, why you gotta try to be hip?
The Mondial! I had almost forgotten. Ferraris usually get a free pass for being Ferraris (I actually love the second generation Dino, with its angular ’70s look), but yours is a great point. “Better than walking” – damning with faint praise. I do think the 280ZX 2+2 looks better than the 2+2 version of the 260Z or 280Z, for some reason.
I’ve always thought the original Datsun Zs were just beautiful, including my own light blue, last-of-the-breed, park bench bumper-ed, 1978 280Z (not a ZX!).
But, all versions of the Z’s 2+2 variants reminded me of Eddie Murphy’s bloated “Nutty Professor“, or, even worse, Jim Carey’s “Bruce Almighty’s” 2+2 260Z .
Of course once he took over for God, Bruce changed the banged up Z to a Saleen S7 (whatever that was).
Oh, wow – these are bothe movies I’ve never seen before. Of course if and when I ever do, it will remind me of your mention of them here.
I like the styling a lot. Also the Jaguar XKE 2+2. The Z in the photo is very sharp, imo.
It was in great shape, and I thought it also looked good on those aftermarket Centerlines.
Like the result of a design brief at Chevrolet that said blend the attributes of a Camaro and a Monte Carlo, and make it look….French?
These were out of the price range of my cohort at the time, but they were recognized as cool, I guess. There is something a bit lounge lizard, gold neck chain and shirt unbuttoned at least three down about these.
Quite the period piece!
A Japanese Monte Camaro! I dress like a toned-down ’70s lounge lizard sometimes, so maybe that’s another reason the 280ZX appeals to me on some level.
Why would you ever associate the 280ZX with lounge lizards?
Roll tape —
My father bought a 2+2 300ZX when I was kid, even at 9 sitting in the rear seat was leg numbing.
Had about 7 of these in my parade of 18 Nissan Datsun zcars… I find the s130 and z31 2+2 very stylish, they both have long hoods and I think they look great extended rearward… Had an 80 5sp about 5 years ago… 17 of the 18 were 280 ZX and first gen 300s most being 2+2s.. Finished off the string with an 04 350 roadster… Awesome cars all.My last s130
What a beautiful car! Very sweet and clearly well-loved. My hat’s off
This really is a beautiful example. Great backdrop for the photo, too.
Thanks, was taken at Ogden mills mansion in staatsburg. A N.Y. state historic site that hosts a season wrap car show every Oct. I always get a pic of my car while exiting the event. Also always driving a different car, this last Oct was my 63 Comet I bought in Sept …
I find the proportions better than the E Type 2+2. As for the Ferrari that Jim Klein mentioned, I’d rather forget about that altogether. I’ve ridden in the back of 356’es and 911’s and 924’s. None were pleasant either as a kid (356) or adult (the others).
The thing about the E-Type 2+2 was that not only was it elongated, but it’s all greenhouse, which exaggerated the effect.
The 280ZX 2+2 had a reeealy tiny back seat; even the Monza had more room in back, and plus an armrest on each which I recall the 280ZX lacked.
I never cared for the styling of the 2+2 Datsun either. It’s shape wasn’t as slick as the 2-seater’s was, but it was that brushed-aluminum molding on the B pillar I thought was a totally unneeded embellishment. That same unnecessary embellishment was tacked onto the B pillars of higher-trim Ford Escorts of that period, right down to those three black horizontal slats at the bottom. Who was copying who? The previous 280Z 2+2 also suffered styling-wise compared to the 2-seater but not as much.
I had a college roommate who bought a circa-1980 Camaro thinking it would make him more popular with the ladies. It actually turned out to be a good, reliable car, but it failed to make him a chick magnet so he was still disappointed with it and sold it within a year. Lesson learned; no car will make you more popular with the ladies.
For a Monza 2+2 to have more room in the rear seat than a 280ZX 2+2 really says something. Count me as a fan of the chrome applique on the b-pillar of both the ZX 2+2 and the Escort. I’ve seen worse design fads, and this doesn’t really bother me.
The Monza was just a Vega hatchback with new skin, so its back seat was undoubtedly bigger than this 280ZX or all/most of the true sports car 2+2s.
I much prefer the gloss black with chrome border look that the Mercury Lynx got, and was also on the first-gen Toyota Celica Supra (the standard Celica got brushed aluminum).
I think the worst rear seat I’ve ever sat in was in the 2nd gen Mazda RX-7 which had an optional rear seat with no changes in the body shape or length. The seatback was vertical and legroom was nonexistent unless front seat occupants slid forward quite a bit.
Well, ask your local mathematician; they’ll tell you two and two are five (for extremely large values of 2).
I knew these were good cars, but damn – they are broughamified. Pudgy looking disco balls styled out of once-perfect little Z cars. VW Scirocco! That is far better! The 1980s had no room for the bloated encrusted 280Z.
That’s how I went…42 years ago.
I loved the styling of the original Scirocco, but my practical side liked the FWD. I was living up North when I bought it, partly in response to sliding out on black ice and biting a guardrail with my ’74 Datsun 710. FWD doesn’t prevent this of course, but I was done with light RWD cars.
I know I should have enjoyed some of the last RWD sporty coupes while they were still available, kind of like watching the last defenders before surrender of Atlanta, but I was playing it a bit safe…inflation was still pretty big in the early 80’s , gas shortages in late 70’s still fresh in mind, and interest rates for especially used cars very high…I was lucky to get 16% for my ’78 Scirocco in ’81 or maybe partly to due with my manager being president of credit union where I worked…it was a voluntary position for a fast tracker, neither of us had finance jobs, and I hadn’t worked there long enough to qualify for much of a loan (based on tenure with credit union) but he got me extra $500 on loan.
It stuck, I’ve only owned VWs for 43 years, all watercooled, all manual, but that’s only 3 cars for me…my current ’00 Golf was bought new. I did work for Hertz in ’77 and ’78 as a transporter, where I did get to drive some of the old guard cars before they stopped offering them, which is probably why I’m kind of content now with not much variety in cars…I did look around the most in ’86 when I replaced the Scirocco with a GTi, but I’ve stayed boringly to form car wise since then.
I find the first Sciroccos really, really attractive in 2023. When they were new, they reminded me of a Rabbit hatchback that somehow looked a little meaner. As an adult, I can appreciate what the stylists were trying to do. I don’t don’t think it looks as substantial as a 280ZX if they cost the same when new, but maybe that’s part of the VW’s appeal, as per usual – doing more with a minimalist approach, at least visually.
I think that with both the Z and the ZX, Datsun/Nissan did a better job of the +2 than Jaguar did on the E-Type.
IIRC, some of the “+2” business was for insurance purposes… the rates on 2-seat cars were often higher then 4-seat cars. As vestigial as some of those back seats are (I’m looking at you, every generation of 911) they were useful for reducing insurance costs.
As an insurance guy, it’s interesting to learn this about the cost of insuring a two-seater versus a 2+2 or legitimate four-seater.
Great article and photography Joe. Thank you! Your lead pic is absolutely gorgeous. Just beautiful lighting and colours. Love the widely-kerned typography as well. You really should post your work at Pinterest! It is worthy.
A few years ago, I prepared a Photoshop of an estate version. As I was curious, how it would look. I posted it twice here, and I found, I was quite pleased with the results. Now, lots of room for rear passengers, and their luggage. I liked the cleaner B-pillar as well. It would have sold well, IMO.
I recently rediscovered the music of a very popular American-born Canadian yacht rock artist, popular in the late 1970s, named Marc Jordan. And I thought of you, while listening to some of his most popular songs.
And his library of tunes, would have been perfect 280zx cruising music, circa the summer of 1979.
Not sure if you are familiar with his music. But I am pretty sure, you’d like his style, given my knowledge of your tastes. Marina Del Rey was one of the big summer songs in Canada, in 1978. Bit of a Boz Scaggs feel. Produced by Gary Katz, producer for Steely Dan. Super smooth.
Thanks, Daniel! I like your version of the shooting brake 280ZX, as well as the musical selection. You have yet to steer me wrong with your recommended listening!
Only just saw this. Love the massage you gave it. Made a good-looking car even better. As Mr. Dennis said, it’s a shooting brake w/ rear seats. Neat.
2+2 never bothered me as a designation. I understood the reference from an early age, I guess. What bothered me was 4×4. Why not just write 16 on the truck and be done with it? Later I learned. 🙂
I was never a fan of the 280ZX, with all its overdone detailing. It just looked like it had gone to fat. And the 2+2 version just seemed to add to the visual mess. Didn’t let that stop me building a model of one though. Can’t find the 2+2 model at the moment, so we’ll make do with this…
Some of the range topper Fairlady versions from the JDM are way over the top with broughamness they make the regular 280 look like a strip out model, very hard to find now they all rusted away and the survivors do not look as good as the posted car
Love it in yellow, Peter! I’m starting to think that it’s the 280ZX relative broughaminess that appeals to me, since I like both sports cars and personal luxury cars. It’s like whoever first came up with the Reese’s peanut butter cups by combining peanut butter and chocolate.
Yeah, there’s this ‘logical disconnect’ between sports car and brougham – that has a peculiar, almost macabre, appeal all of its own. The magazines saw the ZX as a step backward; I suppose that assessment depends on what Nissan were trying to achieve, doesn’t it?
I had an immaculate ’77 280Z 2+2 with the five speed. It was a one owner car. The five speed made up for the back seats since the four speed was still standard equipment. The back seats actually were quite useful, I had two children at the time, so the car could hold all four of us. Don’t forget that this is what made the Mustang and Camaro suitable for a couple with little kids. Two passenger cars have very limited appeal, it’s not that they’re not attractive but they don’t fit into most people’s lives. Being a hatchback gave it quite a bit of utility. I kept the car for many years and taught my Son to drive in it.
I even stuffed myself into the back seat once, just to prove that could be done! I thought that the 260/280 2+2 was better proportioned than the later ZX. The ZX had an interior with more gadgets and puffy paneling but did not hold up over time. I bought a rusty blue and silver 280ZX turbo and kept the wheels and engine/transmission which I later sold.
I later had a ’94 300Zx two seater with T Top and 5 speed.
I considered all of these cars to be real sports cars in a way that I can’t extend to my Mustangs. The pictured car is not mine, mine was white with a saddle interior.
Sitting in the “+2” seats of your car sounds like something I would have done. In fact, I remember giving friends the keys to drive my ’88 Mustang after I was intoxicated and had sat in the back seat of my own car. It was then that I realized I’d never want to ask a small group to take a long trip with me in that car.
I’m still on the lookout for another early Z car to photograph in the wild. I’ve already got the angle from which to write about it. 🙂
All this discussion of tiny rear seats in “2+2″ cars makes me think this sort of designation should be revived for SUVs/CUVs with tiny third row seats. Some of these, like the stretched Lexus RX with third row seats, are basically 4+2’s or 5+2’s. Even with the second row slid forward all the way, I couldn’t fit into the RX third row, and I’m only 5′ 8”.
I do like the honesty of this approach, on paper. It seems to me that marketing departments place a premium on the sheer number of passengers an SUV / CUV can carry without regard to the relative comfort of all passengers. But I like your idea!
The 2+2 name should really be Berlinetta.
A Coupe, is a Full 4 Seater.
A Phaeton, is a 2 Seater.
Berlinetta, supposedly mean small Berlina. = Saloon = Sedan.
For Berline, see VW Passat CC & Rover P5B Coupe.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlinetta