Beasts Of The East: 10 Asian Cars Which Deserve A Restomod

November 29, 2017

Datsun 280Z

Years produced: 1975-1978

Everyone knows the Datsun 240Z, but precious few people talk about the 280Z, its successor. Released in 1975, the 280Z is, for my money, just as beautiful, if not more beautiful than the 240Z. Coming with the looks of a Toyota 2000GT but for a tiny fraction of the cost, there’s something jawdropping about the 280Z. It’s also fairly reliable for a classic, and decently speedy thanks to a 2.8-liter straight-six. It also handles like a dream, and can be worked on easily.

However, all things are relative, and while it’s still decently speedy, I’d absolutely understand if you wanted to make it more so. The joyous thing is these cars can even accept a V8 if you so fancy, which would turn it from a beauty with solid performance to one that’s just all-around incredible. If you’re thinking of a Datsun, maybe skip the 240Z and head straight to the 280Z. It needs more love.

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