If David’s RX-7 strikes you as a bit too sharp for daily use, this 1979 280ZX might be more your style. Far from disguising the fact that it had sold out in earnest, this ad is quite open about the second-generation Z’s lounge lizard transformation and beyond pointing out the increasingly commonplace four-wheel discs, power steering and five-speed transmission, there’s little mention of the car’s performance hardware. At the turn of the decade, style and luxury were what mattered to most buyers, and that’s what this ad emphasizes. In doing so, it betrays a rather cynical approach to sports car design, helping us to understand why the original RX-7, introduced the same year, was such a breath of fresh air.
Related reading: 1983 280ZX, 1983 Mazda RX-7
Seeing one of these, my first thoughts always turn to Ron Johnson, stereo salesman at Pacific Stereo, taking Stacy Hamilton to “the point” in one of these with Joe Jackson playing in the background…Poor Stacy could have done so much better… 🙂
Love that movie, and yes that’s my first thought too when I see these!
I grew up in the same neighborhood as the Stacy character (literally) and used to go to that mall (Sherman Oaks Galleria) all the time. One of the schools used in the film was in my city, and “the Point” was up in Encino, also fairly close. Definitely one of my favorite movies of all time, and everything about it just hits a chord with me…
A friend got one of these given to her new when she headed off to university. Rusted out faster than any car I’ve seen.
The 2+2 with the Nissan five-speed was lots of fun (and comfortable). I neglected to check the frame rails when I bought mine and eventually had to scrap it. Shame, it was a really nice car otherwise.
In 1979 I had a massive crush on a Sam Elliott look a like at work who had one of these in red..
How well do they handle? Are they fun to drive?
Can’t speak for the 280 but I had an 85 300ZX Turbo. I think it was even more of a boulevard car than the 280. Good car, quality construction, strong clutch, the VQ engine was notoriously smooth and the Garrett turbocharger was one of the best, very durable. Handling was not that good, however, and it was in no way a “sports car.” I’ve heard the 280 wasn’t much better.
I never liked these. Loved the 280, 240, and 260s, but these seemed bloated and ugly to me.
A 2nd gen Z means conjures up memories of just two words……BLACK GOOOOLLLLLLLD!
Steve Wozniak did a commercial for the 280ZX —
The ‘Disco Danny-ization’ of the Z-car. (Dangerously close to ‘Broughamification’). It was a prime example of how Datsun/Nissan would change from ‘getting it’ to ‘why?’ in the seventies.
Certainly a sharp-looking car, even if it wasn’t as toned as the non-“X” models. But they did seem to have their priorities somewhat…muddled. Haven’t driven one, but I’ve ridden in one–the store manager at my first part-time job had a 280ZX 2+2, so I got to ride along on some bank and lunch trips. It was rough, though, both inside with cracked plastics and worn seats, and outside with faded paint and quite a bit of rust. This was back in ’96-’97 so I’m pretty sure it’s long since been scrapped, but to 16 year-old me, still a pretty cool car.