Z

Make
Nissan
Segment
Coupe

You could go out and buy just any old Datsun 240Z or 280Z and call it a day. There'd be nothing wrong with that. Nor would there be if you were to choose a new Nissan 370Z or if you're willing to wait several more months, its 400Z successor. But there are always interesting alternatives to any of those sports coupes, and this is one of them.

Up for sale right now on Bring A Trailer is this modified Safari-Style 1976 Datsun 280Z. It's barely been even broken in because the upgrades were done just last year. This was obviously a labor of love for someone.

Things like Toyota-sourced front disc brakes, KYB shocks with custom billet spacers, a 1.5-inch lift, and front and rear strut tower braces were all tacked on. The Baja-style front driving lights, headlight cover, driver-side mirror, a single exhaust outlet, polished bumpers, and even Datsun-branded mud flaps can also be found, as can some cool body decals. We're particularly fond of those ROTA alloy wheels wrapped in Continental VikingContact tires. To round it all off, there's the obligatory matching spare mounted in the rear hatch compartment.

Inside there are matching black vinyl upholstered seats, black dashboard, door panels, and center console. Desert racers will be relieved to hear air conditioning has been added, as has a Kenwood CD stereo, rubber floor mats, and a roll bar located behind the seats.

The windows are still rolled up and down manually and the three-spoke steering wheel is original. Gauges have been added indicating oil pressure, coolant temperature, fuel level, and amperage. Meanwhile, the odometer indicates there are 97,000 miles, though this may not be fully accurate.

Under the hood lies a fuel-injected 2.8-liter inline-six that's paired to a five-speed manual. To prepare it for off-road use, the underside has been reinforced and powder-coated skids plates have been added.

As of this writing, the highest bid is only $7,000 though this will likely climb higher by the time the auction concludes this coming Thursday.