Car Model History

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

1983Nissan 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)

1983 Datsun 280ZX (S130) — silver, side view

Photo: “1983 Datsun 280ZX, front left” by Ethan Llamas / 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 1983 Nissan Z model year. Choose your task first; exact trims and engines are separated where the factory offered different versions.

Documented lineup

Find your exact 1983 Z

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

8factory configurations
Exact factory pairings documentedHow this lineup was verified

These source-backed records identify published body, engine, and transmission combinations. Exact pairings do not by themselves assert that every factory option or special edition is represented.

8versions shown
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

280ZX Manual

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

280ZX Automatic

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

280ZX Turbo Manual

Body
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
2.8-liter L28ET turbocharged inline-six
Gearbox
Borg-Warner T-5 5-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

280ZX Turbo Automatic

Body
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
2.8-liter L28ET turbocharged inline-six
Gearbox
3-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Four-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

280ZX 2+2 Manual

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

280ZX 2+2 Automatic

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

280ZX Turbo 2+2 Manual

Body
Four-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
2.8-liter L28ET turbocharged inline-six
Gearbox
Borg-Warner T-5 5-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Four-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

280ZX Turbo 2+2 Automatic

Body
Four-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
2.8-liter L28ET turbocharged inline-six
Gearbox
3-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

The 1983 model year

Overview

Preserved Datsun/Nissan U.S. factory literature documents 8 1983 Z configuration rows across 2 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
  • 2.8-liter L28ET turbocharged inline-six
Transmissions
5-speed manual, 3-speed automatic, Borg-Warner T-5 5-speed manual
Body styles
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe, Four-seat 2+2 rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

Year over year

What changed

  • The 1983 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 8 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 1983 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 1983 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
5
Factory intervals
4
Fitment-scoped
5
Exact references
1

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.

Collect

Bring this model year home

Find a scale model using the exact year, make, and model—not a generic generation search.

Famous variants this year

Sources

  1. Nissan Motor Co. — preserved factory service manuals and model-variation tables
  2. Datsun/Nissan — preserved U.S. factory sales-brochure collection

Other Second generation years

Explore the S130 (280ZX) generation →All Second generation · S130 (280ZX) years →

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