Car Model History

Second generation · S130 (280ZX) · 1979–1983

1981Nissan Z

The Datsun 280ZX moved the Z toward a softer grand-tourer, adding T-tops and, late in the run, a turbocharged engine. The 1980 10th Anniversary edition marked a decade of the Z.

Second generation · S130 (280ZX)

1981 Datsun 280ZX (S130) — copper, front three-quarter view

Photo: “1981 Datsun 280ZX GL 2-Seater in Dark Copper, Front Right, 05-21-2023” by Elise240SX / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.

Start here

What do you need to know?

This page covers the whole 1981 Nissan Z model year. Choose your task first; exact trims and engines are separated where the factory offered different versions.

Complete, source-verified lineup

Find your exact 1981 Z

Start with a family, body style, or engine. Every card opens the facts and maintenance information for that factory version.

13factory configurations
Verified complete for the U.S.-marketHow this lineup was verified

We checked this U.S.-market lineup against period sources for two-seat and 2+2 bodies, Deluxe and Grand Luxury grades, hardtop and T-bar roofs, factory transmissions, and the first-year 280ZX Turbo. Every version shown below has its own detail page.

Verified 2026-08-31 from Nissan Motor Co. — 1981 Datsun 280ZX factory service manual model-variation table, Nissan Motor Co. — 1981 Datsun 280ZX Turbo factory service supplement.

13versions shown
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

Datsun 280ZX Deluxe Five-speed Manual

Body
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)
Gearbox
5-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

Datsun 280ZX Deluxe Automatic

Body
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)
Gearbox
3-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

Datsun 280ZX Grand Luxury Five-speed Manual

Body
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)
Gearbox
5-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

Datsun 280ZX Grand Luxury Automatic

Body
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)
Gearbox
3-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

Datsun 280ZX Deluxe T-bar Roof Five-speed Manual

Body
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)
Gearbox
5-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

Datsun 280ZX Deluxe T-bar Roof Automatic

Body
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)
Gearbox
3-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

Datsun 280ZX Grand Luxury T-bar Roof Five-speed Manual

Body
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)
Gearbox
5-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

Datsun 280ZX Grand Luxury T-bar Roof Automatic

Body
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)
Gearbox
3-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Four-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

Datsun 280ZX 2+2 Grand Luxury Five-speed Manual

Body
Four-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)
Gearbox
5-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Four-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

Datsun 280ZX 2+2 Grand Luxury Automatic

Body
Four-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)
Gearbox
3-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Four-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

Datsun 280ZX 2+2 Grand Luxury T-bar Roof Five-speed Manual

Body
Four-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)
Gearbox
5-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Four-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

Datsun 280ZX 2+2 Grand Luxury T-bar Roof Automatic

Body
Four-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)
Gearbox
3-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive T-bar fastback coupe280ZX Turbo

Datsun 280ZX Turbo Grand Luxury T-bar Automatic

Body
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive T-bar fastback coupe
Engine
2.8-liter L28ET turbocharged inline-six (180 hp / 203 lb-ft)
Gearbox
3-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

The 1981 model year

Overview

Preserved Datsun/Nissan U.S. factory literature documents 13 1981 Z configuration rows across 3 body and powertrain combinations. This S130 roster keeps two-seat, 2+2, naturally aspirated, turbo, and transmission applicability within their exact model-year boundaries.

Specifications

Engines
  • 2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)
  • 2.8-liter L28ET turbocharged inline-six (180 hp / 203 lb-ft)
Transmissions
5-speed manual, 3-speed automatic
Body styles
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe, Four-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe, Two-seat rear-wheel-drive T-bar fastback coupe

Year over year

What changed

  • The 1981 record includes only the body, engine, and transmission pairings supported by that model year's factory evidence; adjacent-year combinations and appearance packages are not inferred.

Worth knowing

Notable

  • The documented lineup exposes 13 source-backed configurations without turning standalone options into separate Z models.

Living with it

Reliability & ownership notes

  • Verify chassis code, engine, transmission, emissions equipment, and production date before ordering parts. Inspect rust and prior structural repair, cooling and fuel systems, timing-drive history where applicable, turbocharger condition on forced-induction cars, and modification quality.

Maintenance & service parts

Keep your 1981 Z on the road

Start with the service interval, then match the engine or exact version you own. Order links appear only when a catalog-backed part number is available, and every listing still needs a fitment check.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1981 Nissan Z. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
6
Factory intervals
5
Fitment-scoped
6
Exact references
2

Before orderingIdentify your engine, options and build date.Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

  • Engine oil

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1981 · United States

    Naturally aspirated L28E

    Applies to: 1981 · 2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp) · United States

    Published interval: 7,500 mi / 12,000 km / 6 months · Normal service; 3,000 miles / 3 months under the manual's severe-use conditions.

    Source: Datsun — 1981 280ZX U.S. owner's manual maintenance schedule · Owner's manual pp. 58–59 — non-turbo engine-oil row · checked

    Turbocharged L28ET

    Applies to: 1981 · 2.8-liter L28ET turbocharged inline-six (180 hp / 203 lb-ft) · United States

    Published interval: 3,750 mi / 6,000 km / 3 months · Turbocharged engine-oil interval.

    Source: Datsun — 1981 280ZX U.S. owner's manual maintenance schedule · Owner's manual p. 59 — turbocharged engine-oil row · checked

  • Engine oil filter

    Exact reference available

    Applies to: 1981 · 2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp), 2.8-liter L28ET turbocharged inline-six (180 hp / 203 lb-ft) · United States

    Published interval: 7,500 mi / 12,000 km / 6 months · Owner-manual oil-filter interval for naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines.

    Source: Datsun — 1981 280ZX U.S. owner's manual maintenance schedule · Owner's manual p. 59 — engine oil-filter row · checked

    Verified ordering references

    • Service replacementNissan 15208-W1106

      Qty. 1 · Spin-on engine lubricating-oil filter; current replacement for 15208-W1116 · current

      The exact 1981 280ZX catalog row covers both L28E and L28ET engines. Confirm the installed engine and filter before ordering.

      Catalog: Nissan OE parts catalog mirror — 1981 280ZX oil-filter application · 1981 Nissan 280ZX Oil Filter — 15208-W1116 superseded by 15208-W1106; GL and NON GL, L28E and L28ET · checked

      Search this part on Amazon

  • Engine coolant

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1981 · United States

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 24 months · Whichever comes first.

    Source: Datsun — 1981 280ZX U.S. owner's manual maintenance schedule · Owner's manual maintenance table — engine coolant replacement at 30,000 miles / 24 months · checked

  • Engine air-filter element

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1981 · United States

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 24 months · Normal driving; service more often in dusty conditions.

    Source: Datsun — 1981 280ZX U.S. owner's manual maintenance schedule · Owner's manual maintenance table — air-cleaner filter replacement at 30,000 miles / 24 months · checked

  • Spark plugs

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1981 · United States

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 24 months · Whichever comes first.

    Source: Datsun — 1981 280ZX U.S. owner's manual maintenance schedule · Owner's manual maintenance table — spark-plug replacement at 30,000 miles / 24 months · checked

  • Engine oil and fuel filters — catalog fitment

    Exact reference available

    Baldwin B120 / BF1105

    This manufacturer application record establishes replacement-filter fitment only; it does not establish service intervals or a complete maintenance schedule.

    Applies to: 1981 · L28ET · United States · The 1981 catalog table publishes only the turbo L28ET row; naturally aspirated fitment is intentionally withheld. Confirm the engine and installed filters before ordering.

    Source: Baldwin Filters — Automotive Applications catalog (2017) · Printed catalog page 460, Nissan 1981 280ZX 6-2753cc (2.8L) FI row(s) · checked

    Verified ordering references

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Famous variants this year

Sources

  1. Nissan Motor Co. — 1981 Datsun 280ZX factory service manual model-variation table
  2. Nissan Motor Co. — 1981 Datsun 280ZX Turbo factory service supplement

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