Car Model History

Two-seat rear-wheel-drive T-bar fastback coupe · 2.8-liter L28ET turbocharged inline-six (180 hp / 203 lb-ft)

1981 Nissan Z Datsun 280ZX Turbo Grand Luxury T-bar Automatic

The first U.S. 280ZX Turbo was a two-seat T-bar Grand Luxury model and automatic-only for 1981.

1981 Datsun 280ZX (S130) — copper, front three-quarter view
Exact 1981 Z reference photograph; exact configuration not verified ·

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.

Factory configuration

What this model is

Trim
Grand Luxury
Body style
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive T-bar fastback coupe
Engine
2.8-liter L28ET turbocharged inline-six (180 hp / 203 lb-ft)
Transmission
3-speed automatic
Edition
280ZX Turbo

Compare related 1981 configurations

Compare up to twelve documented pairings, prioritizing the same engine, body, trim and gearbox as this car. This related selection is not a complete factory lineup.

Browse all documented 1981 configurations →

Compare 12 related configurations — current car marked
1981 Nissan Z: documented configuration differences
ConfigurationEngineTransmissionBody
Current carDatsun 280ZX Turbo Grand Luxury T-bar Automatic2.8-liter L28ET turbocharged inline-six (180 hp / 203 lb-ft)3-speed automaticTwo-seat rear-wheel-drive T-bar fastback coupe
Datsun 280ZX Grand Luxury Automatic2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)3-speed automaticTwo-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Datsun 280ZX Grand Luxury T-bar Roof Automatic2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)3-speed automaticTwo-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Datsun 280ZX 2+2 Grand Luxury Automatic2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)3-speed automaticFour-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Datsun 280ZX 2+2 Grand Luxury T-bar Roof Automatic2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)3-speed automaticFour-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Datsun 280ZX Grand Luxury Five-speed Manual2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)5-speed manualTwo-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Datsun 280ZX Grand Luxury T-bar Roof Five-speed Manual2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)5-speed manualTwo-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Datsun 280ZX 2+2 Grand Luxury Five-speed Manual2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)5-speed manualFour-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Datsun 280ZX 2+2 Grand Luxury T-bar Roof Five-speed Manual2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)5-speed manualFour-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Datsun 280ZX Deluxe Automatic2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)3-speed automaticTwo-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Datsun 280ZX Deluxe T-bar Roof Automatic2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)3-speed automaticTwo-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Datsun 280ZX Deluxe Five-speed Manual2.8-liter L28E fuel-injected inline-six (145 hp)5-speed manualTwo-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

Configuration-specific ownership

Maintenance for this exact configuration

These items are filtered to the engine, transmission, trim, and model-year applicability recorded for this configuration. Broad Amazon category searches are suppressed here; shopping links appear only beside catalog-backed part numbers.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1981 Nissan Z Datsun 280ZX Turbo Grand Luxury T-bar Automatic. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
5
Scheduled topics
4
Applicability stated
5
Exact references
2

Before ordering Identify 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 oilView intervals, applicability and sources

    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 filterView intervals, applicability and sources

    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 air-filter elementView intervals, applicability and sources

    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 plugsView intervals, applicability and sources

    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 fitmentView intervals, applicability and sources

    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

Search results may cover different scales, trims and model years. Check each listing; this search does not establish an exact replica of the documented vehicle.

Sources

  1. Nissan Motor Co. — 1981 Datsun 280ZX Turbo factory service supplement

Other 1981 configurations

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