Declining numbers

Mr.F

Mr.F

Inactive
According to the latest SMMT figures (courtesy of Will at the Datsun Owner's Club) there are now only 574 280ZXs left taxed on the road, 195 of them non-targa models. Some of this group represent the 2 seater coupe (all UK 2 seaters were fixed roof). With the best will in the world, this makes the 2 seater 280ZX probably the rarest UK Z model of them all (240Z = 154 and 260Z = 217).

Get the welders out NOW and save what you have left!!

573




572





571






570






569.....help us!
 
James Mullan and I have just completed welding what we believe to be the only 2-str 280ZX left in N. Ireland. &nbsp;Condition was actually not too bad. &nbsp;New rear arches inner & outer, corners and dog legs plus various other smaller repairs. &nbsp;Still have the doors to repair. &nbsp;I've painted the underside and eng bay but not brave enough to tackle the top side. <img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('>

We've decided to keep the original dark met brown.

Trying to make it to JAE with this one this year.

I've just bought a 1972 180B SSS for resto. &nbsp;One of only 5 left in UK.

Andrew.
 
How is it possible to know and be sure &nbsp;how many cars are actually left?? There could be cars that have been stored and therefore not roadtaxed.

If you are going by how many cars are taxed how do you obtain that info?? Does the DVLA just hand it over?

Just wondered.

Thanks.
 
The SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) publishes the listing of numbers of cars which have purchased tax during the year covered. Figures are supplied by the DVLA, but they don't just hand over the figures to anyone! Will at the Datsun Owner's Club collates Datsun / Nissan figures provided by a colleague in the trade and publishes them in his magazine.

I agree that there are many cars of each marque stored away, undergoing restoration and modification (I have a 2 seater 280ZX on a SORN situation myself). I guess if the (relatively) new SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) has been complied with, then these cars are included in the statistics. If no SORN, then the vehicle will be in danger of losing its identity altogether! However, assuming that similar numbers of "off road" vehicles applies to all earlier models, then the numbers published are still in proportion and a good indicator of the state of play if followed year by year. Over the last two sets of figures, 280ZXs are "disappearing" at the rate of 1 - 2 per week!  <img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>
 
Bit of good news for you then - add one more 280ZX 2 seater to the figures. &nbsp;It's not taxed as it's still in bits. &nbsp;But I'm working on that!

On that subject does anyone have experience of replacing the front scuttle pannel? <img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>
 
I have just repaired the front scuttle panel on a mates 280ZX 2-str.  We got one of those repair panels off Mike.  Ours was only rotten at both ends where it turns down to meet the top ledge of the inner guard and at the windscreen bottom rail.  So we thought that, since the repair panel does not include the ends that meet the ledge any way, it was not worth replacing the entire scuttle.  Also the quality of the repair panel was not quite as good as the original (sorry Mike!  
<img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('>  ).  So we just cut the part of the repair panel off where it meets the widscreen bottom rail and welded that on VERY CAREFULLY so as not to distort the original panel and we fabricated the ends.  Great results!

Andrew.
 
Re. the 280ZX targa 2-seater: this was never imported as an official U.K. model. As we now know, Nissan believe that the Brits only want 2+2 models with squashy auto boxes. We don't like sharper handling, manual, two seater sports cars, do we?

Seriously, all 2 seater targas in the U.K. are either imported (RHD probably from Japan, LHD probably from the USA) or converted over here. I know of at least two 2-seater targas which have been created from the remains of breaker imports by welding the roof onto a U.K. car or another import fixed roof car. No names, but one of these started life as a Japanese home market 2 litre turbo, arrived via a Norfolk air base, received a 2.8 engine from an 82/83 model and then had the targa roof welded in. Get the DVLA to sort that one into its correct category.....

Note that some 2-seaters over here may also be LHD USA or European turbo models.....
 
Going back to Mike Feeny's original comments on the 195 non targa 280ZXs currently recognised by the DVLA. I agree that whatever the split is between 2 seater non targas and 2+2 non targas it makes the 2 seater a pretty rare model.
The point I should like to add here is that it also makes the 2+2 non targa pretty rare too. A 50/50 split gives less than 100 of either model currebtly in a useable condition. It has certainly made me more determined to keep my 280 non targa 2+2 alive and not be put off by all this "not a proper Zed" type of talk!
It also occurs to me that since my 280 is a Fairlady 280Z import from Japan and was declared manufactured in 1978 it must be as rare as the proverbial rocking horse droppings!
 
I know it's been a while but just registered to the site!!

I have a 280zx 2+2 Targa Y reg (MGN 7Y).  Had it about 6 years.  It's currently on a SORN and regretably has been for the last 4 years.  Whilst I had 2 fantastic years driving it I moved up north started a family and found I used it less and less until it became uneconomical to run so laid it up.

I love the car but with no garage and little protection mother nature has taken it's toll.  I'd dearly love to do it up and have it back working and talk about it as if it was my third 'baby'.  But I'm not mechanically minded and wouldn't know where to start.

My point is this...  I like many probably have 280 ZX's and have them because we like/love the car.  But we either simply don't have the time, money or perhaps the where withall to repair them once they start deteriating.  Couple this with the cost of restoration out weighing any value for the car (which is something I'd have to justify to my family who don't have the same passion for the car) and I can see why the numbers are dropping.  You just have to look at the 'for sale' site to see.

I really would like to keep the car and have it running again but wouldn't know where to start and can't commit my time to it.  My other option is topay someone to do the work but again, it's justifying the cost.

Any ideas for keeing another 280zx from the graveyard?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top