When Nissan replaced the celebrated S30 with the S130 series in 1978, many assumed the new, more-refined 280ZX would abandon its motorsport heritage. While factory efforts shifted toward the Violet, the Fairlady 280Z nevertheless carved out a serious competition record in IMSA racing and international rallying — helped by star drivers such as Paul Newman and Masaaki Kawahara.
Offered here is a genuine period-built World Rally Championship 280Z, prepared by APEX, a renowned rally specialist in Gifu Prefecture of Japan. Driven by Kawahara himself, who had previously campaigned S30-series Zs with success, this car was entered in eight rounds of the WRC. Built to top competition rally specification, it was stripped of excess weight, fitted with a full roll cage, reinforced suspension and Tokico gas shocks with uprated springs. Its L-series 6-cylinder engine was extensively tuned with a raised compression ratio, triple Solex 44 carburetors, a custom camshaft, oil cooler and polished ports, which deliver performance far beyond road-going examples.
Further rally equipment includes Mexico GT seats, Klippan harnesses, Halda trip meter, duralumin underbody protection, Z-beam H4 headlights, Cibie Oscar Plus auxiliary lamps, and a plethora of other upgrades and improvements.
The car competed in many WRC rally competitions including the 1979 and 1983 Lombard RAC Rally, the 1979 Rally of the 1000 Lakes, 1981 and 1982 Rallye de Portugal and the Safari Rally, to name a few. Very few S130s were prepared to this level for the World Rally Championships, making this 280Z an important survivor and eight-time challenger, driven by world-renowned rally legend Masaaki Kawahara. Certainly, a wonderful opportunity to acquire a well-preserved rally machine, a superb contender for historic-rally events.
(Introductory description courtesy of Bonhams Cars.)
