Hello everyone, been registered here for a long time but never posted...This is sorta long, but I just wondered if anyone had any input...

I've recently purchased a 1983 Datsun 280zx Turbo Automatic - Bronze Edition...half suede half leather , digital cluster, cruise , power, etc...rebuilt turbo

I paid $2800 and it included a parts car of which I was told was an exact clone but to my delight it was a silver one (83 turbo), with silver/black turbo wheels and a factory 5 speed (T5 Borg Warner) as well as a perfect black/silver interior that is perfect...

When i first purchased the car I wanted to just simply find a 5-speed for it. When i finally looked at my parts car a few weeks after buying the running one my priorities changed...

Also I just became suddenly unfulfilled with my Bronze edition after seeing the beauty of my parts car on the inside, my dash is cracked and the seats are a little worn, plus i've never seen a black interior - all of my cars have had either a blue, red, and now brown dash...I also own an AE86 (1985 Corolla RWD GTS) with a full suspension and was thinking my Datsun was pretty sad handling-wise in comparison... Every bushing/strut has had it in that thing.

ok, with the backdrop story done, my point is at hand...

I was thinking i'd sell my Bronze Edition, it's either that or swap the tranmission and ENTIRE interior (as well as dye the bottom half of the door panels), and figure out something with seats since they are silver (can't have silver and black and brown paint together).

If i swapped the interior i'd be "ruining the package" whatever collectors value of the best and last 280zx produced would be kinda gone...

Should i swap/dye the interior and say "screw the bronze look" put the 5 speed in and get an awesome exhaust and suspension, or should i sell it now "stock" and keep my other turbo parts car to put into an old 240z, engine and all (either stock turbo, or carb the 2.8) with the 5 Speed...

 

That's what i had planned actually. I was going to rebuild the silver one, with the silver/black interior, silver/black wheels and paint it metallic smoke (like a Cougar). Unfortunately I also forgot to mention I believe the silver car is quite gone i've come to find out as of yesterday. It was parked because it hit a ditch and wound the passenger wheel underneath the car. The hood and fenders i can get ahold of - but the crunched rocker panel and shortened driver's floorpan are another story. Very few times does my family (old wreck rebuilders) say "don't bother", but this was one of them.