What is the difference between a z and a zx... specifically a 1981 280?

 

The body looks a lot different. The 280z still looks like a first gen Zed (like a 240 or 260), while the 280zx looks a bit different. It has bonnet vents, different rear lights, many (all?) of them have t-tops, and big plastic bumpers. Skully is right, the X stands for extra comfort or luxury or somehting like that. Maybe there is more padding in the seats or something

Alan, Australia

 

The X also meens extra weight. From '77 to '78 when they upgraded to the ZX they lengthened the car by about 6" and widened it by about 4". They softened the suspension and added something like 600lbs to the car. The main problem is the horsepower remained about the same from 77-78. As for the 81 ZX I won't be much help. I've had a 72 240Z, a 74 260, an 82 280ZX and I currently have a 77 280Z. The 240 had the most get up and go, the 280 handles the best, the 260 was the hardest to keep running and the ZX was the most luxurious of them all, (leather, power everything, etc) but it was also the slowest and poorest handling. If I had kept it I definately would have upgraded the suspension and figured something out for the power.

 

Nobody seems to have a complete and simple answer for this question. I hope mine is right; it sure seems to make sense. The 1978 280z was the last 'z'. Then they started to be called 'zx's until they turned into 300s. The 240z, 260z and 280z (up to 1978) all look pretty much the same and have many interchangable parts. These are the first generation z's. If someone can show me any car up to 1978 that is designated as a 'zx' than I will be very surprised.

Houston

 

That's cause none are, only the 280 was designated zx and z, but the zx is still a different car

Alan, Australia

 

Check this site out. Very very informative: http://www.zhome.com/

 

hgray14,
You're right I guess I f-ed up the year. That is neither here nor there though. The car is not the same from a 280Z to the 280ZX other than the motor and maybe some other small similarities. It still doesn't handle as well and it's not as fast as the Z if it's an NA ZX.

-damon