Hi, I'm new to the site but not exactly new to Zs. I had a 280 ZXR that I purchased new back in 79. Had to sell it in 84 due to wife and kids, not exactly a bad thing as I love my family. Luckily I sold the ZX to friend of mine who took care of the car. I just made a deal with him to buy the car back. It has 132k miles all original, engine, trans, interior, paint etc. The car has not been started for the last five years but engine was running strong before my friend decided to park it. So here are my question. Where can I find the black and blue decals/stripes that come on the ZXR? Is it worth restoring the car with this same color scheme, does the ZXR have any more value than a regular ZX? Lastly, should I leave the engine stock? Just looking for opinions, thanks in advance.

 

you can't find those decals unless someone bought a new kit from Nissan 20 years ago and hid them in their garage.

My opinion is that it is worth the trouble to try to restore that car as much as you can. If the decals are in fair shape or better, just clean them up and maybe even spray new paint on the car while masking off the decals.... or polish the original paint and call it good.

 

a really good vinyl decal shop can reproduce those decals as long as the orig. ones are on the car for sizing, even if there faded. then a good picture, which there are lots for the proper coloring. it wont even cost that much, coupla hundred, and itll be good as new. then get them to make extra sets and sell them on ebay to make your money back!!!

 

Im surprised nobody has tried making ZXR graphics and selling them. It seems like a lot of people are always looking for some. Im sure you would make some money fi you did.

 

well, there is kind of a low demand seeing as there are only about 1000 of those cars even sold new...

I bet if you had a new decal set for $200, you'd only get 3-4 people to buy it in a years time. People always talk about wanting stuff and then when someone goes out of their way to reproduce an item that has been NLA for years, only a couple people follow through and buy it.

 

Thanks guys, I'll probably go the paint route. The way I see it, even if I get someone to duplicate the ZXR graphics in vinyl, it's still not factory original. I'm already resigning to the fact that I won't be able to restore the car with all original parts. I never did like the bumpers anyways and will probably replace those too with something like the Motorsport air dam and skirts. I'm liking the Panasport wheels as well. I guess it's going to be a slightly modded ZXR. Ok, I'm dreaming now...it'll probably be a couple of years before I get the car to showroom condition. Time and money just doesn't come around as much as I want it to.

 

Hey speaking of demand for decals. What about the people that want to clone a ZXR? I am sure some people have done it. I mean it can't be too much different on me cloning my '82 280zx n/a into a Turbo. Or my '75 Firebird into a Trans Am. Granted there are more TA's, and ZX Turbos to be had. I mean if I had the extra money, and or time. I would pick up a slick-top ZX, and clone it like a ZXR. I think they are pretty sweet. But that is just my opinion.

But man are you lucky you even have a ZXR. That is a treat in itself. And what does it matter if you don't have time or money. Or will take a while to get it where you want it? That is the whole beauty of it, taking your time, and doing small pieces at a time. And being proud of what you are restoring, and or fixing up. That is why I am where I am today. Because I just took my time, but did it a pretty good pace. But not too fast, that I would screw something up. There would be times, I would spend 12-14 hours at a time, tinkering with my Z. But I loved every minute of it. Well mostly anyway, okay I am done now, I don't know why I am doing long posts. Guess I have a lot on my mind.

 

The graphics would be the easy part to clone... aren't the wings completely out of production now? Even the aftermarket ones that were available???

 

To 'clone' a 1982 280ZX NA to look like a turbo from the outside, all you do is put on the turbo style wheels and a turbo emblem on the back.

I would hate to see an original ZXR modified with a bodykit and different paint.

 

I agree with you there Bleach, changing an original ZXR would be a mistake. It is too rare, now me doing a turbo clone no big deal. Because neither one is rare. Now I have a weird question. Was there any slick-top original turbos made?

 

I'm not sure. That's something I have always wondered... was t-tops an option on the turbo or did it come standard? I'm sure even if it came standard that the new owner could special order one with a slick top. Kind of like how you hardly see a turbo with manual heater controls.

 

Whoa, my Turbo has the manual heater controls. Didn't know that was uncommon, and mine is an 83. I agree the manual is way better than the auto climate.

 

mine was auto climate...I converted it to the manual though.