1983 Datsun 280ZX 5-speed that runs and drives, priced under rough-driver money

Why we picked it

Beverly Hills Car Club has this champagne 1983 280ZX listed at $6,950. The listing says it runs and drives and has the 5-speed manual and fuel-injected inline-six. The seller says the front end and the interior show the most cosmetic wear, and that it would benefit from mechanical and cosmetic work.

Running 1982-83 manual coupes with average or high miles have sold for $6,000 to $13,000 over the past year, so this one is about 27% under the middle of that range. Use that gap to cover a full baseline service, fluids, bushings and brakes before you start spending on upgrades. It is a cheap way into a Z that already has the gearbox you want for a restomod.

The value check

The seller is asking $6,950. Comparable cars in the same condition have sold for $6,000–$13,000, so the middle of the market is about $9,500. That put this car 27% under.

Comps are running, US-market 1982-83 280ZX coupes with manual gearboxes and average to high miles that sold from late 2025 to 2026, from $6,000 to $13,000 (midpoint $9,500). Cleaner, low-mile cars bring $15,000 to $20,000 and were left out.

Where the numbers come from:

• 1982 280ZX, 108k mi, private sale $6,000 (Jul 2026)
• 1983 280ZX, BaT $7,800 (Feb 2026)
• 1983 280ZX, 69k mi, Mecum $9,900 (Mar 2026)
• 1982 280ZX GL, 79k mi, Hagerty $10,750 (Feb 2026)
• 1983 280ZX GL 2+2, 165k mi, Cars & Bids $12,200 (Sep 2026)
• 1983 280ZX GL, 211k mi, BaT $13,000 (Nov 2025)

What to check

• The listing shows 0 miles and says nothing about title status; confirm the real mileage and that a clean California title is in hand before sending money.
• Beverly Hills Car Club listings are often brief and sold as-is; get a pre-purchase inspection or see it in person, and confirm it is still available.
• Check the S130 rust spots: rear wheel arches and quarter panels, floor pans, battery tray area, door bottoms, the hatch surround and around the T-top seals if fitted.
• Fuel-injection wiring and sensors (air flow meter, injector harness, coolant temp sensor) get brittle with age and cause hard starts and rough running.
• Look at dash cracks, interior plastics and the front cosmetic damage the seller mentions; trim parts are getting harder to find.

Making it drive like new

A good first step is suspension: poly bushings, coilovers or modern struts, and bigger sway bars. Then add a brake upgrade using Z31 or Z32 calipers with larger rotors. The L28E responds well to an L28ET turbo swap or a modern standalone ECU. Popular bigger builds drop in a VQ, RB25 or LS with a matching 5-speed or 6-speed and an R200 rear. Add modern seats, three-point harness bars and LED lighting to finish a dependable pro-touring Z.