1978 Datsun 260Z

Still finished in its original yellow and boasting a black vinyl roof, ‘BTW 62T’ is a very of-the-seventies Datsun 260Z 2+2 that had just one owner between 1980 and the seller buying it in May 2024.

He used to work for Datsun back in the day, and seeing the authenticity of this UK-supplied, manual example left him with no option but to bid – and we can absolutely see the appeal, with bodywork even our hard-nosed assessor described as “great”.

It’s got plenty of original interior fixtures and fittings too, is utterly solid, and runs like a dream all of which means we expect this legendary sportscar to attract an awful lot of interest.

The yellow paintwork is wonderful, isn’t it? We suspect, in fact we’re sure, it’s had work over the years but the fact it still wears its factory hue as proudly as it does is a wonderful thing.

As is the black vinyl roof, another period feature we’re always pleased to see alongside period essentials like a boot spoiler, twin exhaust tailpipes, a deep front air dam, and some chunky four-spoke OE Nissan alloy wheels.

The latter are free of scrapes, scuffs, and other parking damage and are also fitted with a full set of 175/80R14 Hankook Kinergy Eco tyres.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

As for the condition of the rest of the coachwork, the panels still fit very well. With good shutlines and no ripples along the flanks, there’s also a remarkable lack of the sort of dinks and dents you’d expect a car of this age to have collected along the way.

Being a car of the seventies there’s a smattering of chromework too of course, and this is in good shape and largely free of pitting and rust. It’s also great to see that the bumpers run nice and straight.

The glass is good too, and we can see the windows have been etched with the car’s registration number.

The badges are a little faded but carry an authentic patina, and the lamp lenses are bright and free of damage.

Which brings us onto the subject of issues you might like to get ahead of.

You’ll be pleased to hear there really aren’t many other than some bubbling around the boot aperture.

The interior continues the authenticity theme with the seats still being covered by the original fabric and vinyl.

Which would be a story all by itself even if they were frayed and full of holes; that they’re still plump and firm and free of any obvious damage, or even signs of wear, is remarkable.

The rear seats, individual and looking supremely snug and comfortable, are in an even better shape and we think it would be a safe bet that they haven’t seen much use over the years; just take a look at the sticker on the back of the passenger seat, for example.

The dashboard holds the factory fitted Hitachi radio, and the instruments and controls are still bright and legible, including the wonderfully labelled blue REAR DEFOGGER.

The black carpets are also still in great shape, and the door cards have survived the passage of almost half a century very well. Wonderfully, the electrically operated front windows are courtesy of ‘Servoglide’.

Which reminds us that the seller assures us that everything works as it should.

More luxury comes via some very of-the-period fake wood trim, and the huge Webasto-style sunroof and inner headlining are both in an excellent condition.

The steering wheel does show a little more wear but even that is more a case of some of the grain pattern having been rubbed off rather than anything more serious – and we really do mean “some of” because it, like everything else in the cockpit, is very good indeed.

As for the boot, the carpet in there is sun-faded and worn but it is still more than acceptable, especially if you value originality above all else.

Which means that problems are minor: the Perspex visor on the sunroof has a crack in it and a short section of the material covering the offside door card has come adrift on one edge.

The seller took the 260Z out of winter hibernation a couple of weeks ago and treated it to fresh fuel plus a new fuel filter and pump. As you can see, the 2.6-litre engine starts and runs very well: as the seller says, that legendary Japanese engineering still shines through, even now.

The engine bay is as original as everything else; true, there is scope for improvement if detailing is your thing or you plan to show it, but we imagine most folk would be more than happy to leave it as it is, especially given nobody has tried to prettify it over the years with inappropriate ‘upgrades’ like silicone hoses and anodized fittings.

As for the underside, we don’t think describing it as exceptional is too strong because it looks to be very well preserved thanks to a winning combination of diligent curation and factory underseal.

And it’s not just us that thinks this: while the MoT record might be patchy, there’s never been any mention of underbody corrosion or structural rot, which would seem to confirm our impressions.

It will almost certainly need some work before it will pass an MoT, as it failed in April 2022 on the following:

• Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))
• Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))
• Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))
• Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))
• Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

It was also given an advisory for: Exhaust emits black smoke during acceleration (8.2.1.2 (g))

The Datsun doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

It's been a while since it’s had a ticket but the 57,461 miles that’s currently showing on its odometer ties in with the 57,240 miles recorded by the Man from the Ministry when it last passed in 2007.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the history file includes the original stamped service history booklet, the owner’s handbook, and the rest of the bumf in the wallet most people would have thrown out, which means that even the paperwork has charm.

Cars like this, that haven’t been messed around with and are largely original, are rarer than you imagine – and Japanese cars from the seventies that have survived as well as this are even rarer.

And this is no ordinary Japanese car; it’s an icon, a sporting legend, and while the profile of the 2+2 coupé might lack a little of the purity of the two-seater original, that is reflected in the price.

Which we expect to settle between £18,000 and £24,000, which feels like remarkable value for such an original and solid example that could continue to fulfill the role of thrilling sportscar.

And if you wanted to further improve it and show it as an example of what European car manufacturers feared all those years ago, even that would be within easy reach of the average DIYer.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. To arrange an appointment to inspect this vehicle, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.