In 1981 Datsun introduce the first Turbo Z car for America. It continued for only 2 more years, but with some minor changes like the bumpers,tail lights and some fancy gadgets like the O'l "Bitchin Betty" a voice warning system. So in my opinion, 81 being the first year, and having the differences from 82-83, makes it a rare breed. Also being a coupe with T-tops and fully loaded with climate control, head light washers, leather interior and a rear wiper all adds to the beauty of the ZX. In high school the 81 turbo was my 3rd Z that I ended up taking out to school in AZ, and not 3 weeks later some one hit and ran my Z in the parking lot. Must of been a big truck, it was totalled. I pulled the top end off and saved the whole head and turbo assembly. I bought an old 75 280z and was going to turbo it. I came out out one morning and car and engine were gone. Stolen at night. Well I got my car back. It's not black, but it is my 2nd favorite ZX color. The 81T is also the only Z car of my my Father drove. When I first bought it he kept it for about a month and would pick me up for school and drop me off at home. He also worked at my high school at that time, so convenient. So far, just washed it, have not touched the interior yet. Also just let it sit and idle for hours running the old gas through it until it died. Added more gas and just let it sit and idle. The exhaust note is music to the ears. Engine sounds great up to the redline. Tune up stuff in the mail, and a dash mat from motorsports. Someone already installed Volvo injector plugs, sweeeet, saves me from doing it. I have to fix the TPS plug, but runs fine without it. There is some rust in the rear quarter I have to address, rest of the underneath is good. Of course someone crushed the floor boards a little bit. Not the place to put the lift. Still alot of work to do like any thing that is rubber at 39 years old. All computer and related plugs need to be checked for corrosion and filed down if needed. The best part is my wife didn't yell at me for bringing another Z car home, and she is anxious to drive it. SCORE She doesn't know about the parts 280zx yet, so shhhhhhh.

Lucky boy.
The rest of our wives yell if we even bring home pictures of Zs.

Hey, do you know where TheFastKid can get a good 280 2+2 interior and drivetrain? He's got a good shell, just needs the rest of the car.

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1970 240Z

Lucky is right at $3,000. For that price I'll deal with the rust area's. I'm not getting the parts car after all, wife's happy, the guy is cutting off what little I need. I also forgot to mention all Turbo Z's in 81 came automatic. I have everything to swap, but original is a good thing too. Here is a nice 79 for sale on R.I. craigslist, alot more money for less of a car than what I got, but it is clean.

Nice project car Paul. So how many Z's do you have now?

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John Kish
1971 240Z - original owner

What a gem of a find, Paul!

Love the honeycomb mags (quite rare b/c only the 81 turbos had them), the sound of the turbo spooling up, that hood scoop, the list goes on. I'm sure you will be very happy with this beauty!

Even though I now own a 1980 5-speed and a 1982 turbo auto, I'll always have a special connection to the 81 turbos. I bought one new and although it was 39 years and 2 months ago, I still vividly remember starting it up that first time and driving it off the lot. It now sits quietly under a tarp in my backyard with a blown turbo and lots of rust in the rails, but I simply can't part with it because I'm holding out hope that someday I or one of my kids might be able to restore it. Every so often I start her up just so I can marvel at it's longevity and remember all the good times that car and I shared.

Good luck with the car and keep us posted with your progress. I looking forward to seeing you behind the wheel real soon!

- Jim

Your old Turbo car is only climbing in value as it sits back there, Jim. The 50th anniversary and the recent insane price spikes of the early 240Zs has caused a trickle-down effect to all members of the Z family, so while your old Turbo might not have been worth restoring 10yrs ago, it might be well worth it today. From what I remember of that particular car, it was well-kept and had some beautiful features, making it a distinct gem, and I don't think it had "too many" miles on it. I think you made a wiZe choice by keeping it and hope it finds its way back onto the road again soon.

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1970 240Z

Wow, Frank, you've got an impressive memory - that must have been over 15 years ago! Yep, low miles, well-cared for, black with gold pinstripes, etc.

I've been struggling to get a nasty gremlin out of my 1980 5-speed, which has prompted me to learn about various diagnostic procedures I had never done before.
Talking about my old turbo is making me think it would be fun to try to fire it up and do some tests on it to see how it's holding up once I figure out what the heck is the problem with my '80.

- Jim

Start a Tech Talk thread on both of them, or on either of them. There are literally hundreds of bored-to-tears Z fans out here and some of them are bound to know what you're describing.

Yes, your old turbo car always reminded me of a yellow jacket, from the first time I saw it at our car show at Darien Nissan. The yellow spark wires really did it for me. I remember thinking YLWJAKT would make a good vanity plate for it.

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1970 240Z

Well this makes 2 complete Z's, and one 260z in pieces. I was going to put an 81 Turbo engine in the 260, but now I have an 81 Turbo, so thinking about putting a Toyota V8 in it because I have one. My 81 engine is now up for sale, with oil cooler, computer, wire harness and all the sensors, original 27k miles on it. $3,000. I really like the 82's the best because of the extra fancy stuff, but this fell into my hands, and what this has over the 82-83's is it was the first, only made one year and honeycomb rims. I also from experience will say the 81 has a top end speed of at least 135 mph, the 82-83 only seem to go 120mph. Not that I will be trying that out now a days and I would need a Canadian speedometer that says 130mph on the inside of the kilometers. The reset button makes 135, and I pegged it once in my old 81T. Just got the last of my tune up stuff today, and funny you mention colored wires.

Nice car, Paul! I'm pretty sure you bought it from someone in my town

Seeing your car reminds me to go fire up our '81 zxt!

It came from Southington, CT. So already I run into a 280zx Hater. He's an old timer into the 240's and that's it. Good guy and all, and we talk about the 240z all the time at our local "Cheers" bar, but nothing about the ZX he liked, O' well, can't please everybody. 2 different breeds I agree, the 240z is a sports car, and the 280zx is a luxury sports car. That's why it was call a ZX, hence the X in the word Luxury. I like it, the wife likes and she can drive it.

I'm with you, Paul. Love the styling, and with the turbo, I imagine it has about as much get-up-and-go as an original 240 (though I've never driven one).

Yep - Southington... it was just a couple miles from my house. I emailed and asked about the car, and the guy said that someone from RI was coming to take a look at it that day. I replied, "Is his name Paul?", but I never got a response.

Anyway, congrats again - love the '81's!!

Yep, that was me. A very big thanks to Al for hooking me up with his truck and his friends trailer. I couldn't have done this without them. At that time my truck was smashed in the front, tore the ball joints right off and was loaded in front of my trailer. I love something about all Z's, some I favor more than others. The 240 and early 260 I favor more in the S30 category. The S130 for me has to have a turbo and T-tops, and same with the Z31 and Z32. 350z with the dual throttle bodies, and I like the 370, but not as much as the 350z. Of course if had more money then Jay Leno, I would have 3 times more cars because I just love cars.

Sounds like a possible sexual fettish to me.......

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1970 240Z

I never thought of it that way.