280Z US only?

[sahunt66]

I have a book titled "Datsun Z-Cars", copyright 1981. It was published by the Editors of "Consumer Guide". I thought I read in the book that the 280Z was sold in the US only. Is that true?

Going back through the book, I can't find where it said that. :cross-eye

[Inf]

I think americans get too hung up on what we call the "280z" being unique -- It's just a name. They still sold Z-cars during those years in other markets, just badged differently for one reason or another.

[Walter Moore]

As I understand it however it was more than just different badges. The 2.8 liter motor was sent to the states, but not to Europe. (I have no idea if it was sold elsewhere...)

Several sources that I have read on other (non-Z) cars state that in most European countries there are significant taxes imposed on cars with "large displacement" engines, and that catagory begins at 2.8 liters.

Many different explainations exist for this, but the one I believe rings true is that the displacement of the flat-head 4 cylinder engine in the Ford model T was 2.8 liters, (more or less...) and those countries were trying to even the playing field.

Of course, a tax, once imposed is never recended. The U.S. federal income tax was originally said to be temporary, just until they paid off the debt from WWI. :tapemouth

[sblake01]

Many of our Aussie friends on this site have indicated the the 280Z was never sold over there. From what I understand they had the 260Z through 78 and then they got the 280ZX. I don't believe that anyone, at least not I, is 'hung up' on the 280Z or any other badge. Too much has been made of that already. For whatever reason, Datsun decided to send certain vehicles to certain markets and that's just they way it is. For a car that was 'built for America' they sure sold a lot of them in other places! Please understand that I say 'built for America' tongue in cheek. I'm not trying to start anything. I'm just glad that they were built. Period.

[Inf]

Yeah, engine displacement and market (i.e. Australia's '260z' versus the DM 'Fairlady Z' versus the United States' '280z') fall under "for one reason or another"