Datsun 280ZX
1978–1983
Lowest price
US$1,700
Since 2020
Median price
US$24,750
Since 2020 · n=24
Highest price
US$231,000
Since 2020
Sold cars
24
All time
Sell-through
100%
Of 24 lots

Based on 24 verified auction results
US$19,750
Market value · recent verified sales
-25.0%
12-month change
Wait or Sell
Prices declining. Sellers should consider acting; buyers should wait.
Median sold price down 25.0% over the last 12 months. Loss is likely to continue, especially for this segment.
MSRP
—
Collectibility
5/10
Collectible
3-Year Forecast
US$19,750
+0%
5-Year Forecast
US$19,750
+0%
Track the 280ZX
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Market scores
36
Desirability
Thin
30
Liquidity
Poor
10
Resale Outlook
Option premiums
What every option is worth.
Built ≤ 1980
+US$12,536+51%12 with · 11 without · high confidence
Premiums compare the median price of sales with each option against comparable sales without it, mined from verified auction listings. Sales are pooled across markets on a relative-price basis, so exchange rates and market levels can't skew the split. Options interact in ways a one-at-a-time split can’t capture — treat each premium as directional rather than gospel.
Marque analyst note
The Datsun 280ZX median has fallen to $19,750, down 25 percent over the past twelve months, and the market signal is firmly sell. This depreciation trend reflects broader softness in the model's segment rather than a temporary correction, with high confidence in the directional reading.
Transaction velocity remains thin, with just four sales tracked in the trailing year against a total sample of twenty-four cars—a pattern that points to limited buyer demand and uneven market participation. The scarcity of active trading means both liquidity and price discovery are constrained for sellers attempting exits.
The 280ZX sits in the stable modern classic tier with low desirability, a position that limits upside. While the model carries collectible status on the strength of its design lineage, the current market does not reward ownership, and production volumes alone are unlikely to tighten supply enough to drive appreciation near term.
Odometer readings average just under 69,000 miles across transacted examples, suggesting most survivors are being preserved as leisure vehicles rather than driven regularly. This preservation pattern typically supports condition premiums, yet has failed to arrest the overall price decline.
The three- and five-year projections hold flat at $19,750, indicating no expectation of meaningful recovery or further deterioration from current levels. This stasis reflects a market that has found a floor but shows no catalysts to reignite collector interest in the near to medium term.
Owners holding 280ZX examples should weigh the opportunity cost of capital against the realistic prospect of sideways returns. The thin trading environment makes delayed selling a risk, as liquidity at current levels cannot be taken for granted if broader economic conditions soften further.
Depreciation Benchmark
- Current avg valueUS$19,750
- Annual appr. rate-25.0%/yr
Vehicle History Signals
- Auction lots tracked39
- Damage or salvage declared0 (0.0%)
- No damage declared39 (100.0%)
Est. Annual Ownership Costs
- Insurance (agreed value)US$600
- MaintenanceUS$1,210
- StorageUS$3,220
- DepreciationUS$1,210
- Total annual costUS$6,240
Market Liquidity
- Active Listings0
- Sales Last 12 Months17
- Sell-Through71%
Market Snapshot
- Active Listings0
- Avg Sale PriceUS$52,067
- Avg Mileage at Sale68,614 mi
- Recent Price RangeUS$1,700 – US$231,000
- Total Sales Tracked24
Recent sales
Showing latest 20US$16,500
Bring a Trailer · 3 Oct 2026
manual
US$24,000
Bring a Trailer · 18 Sept 2026
green · 5-speed manual
US$28,500
Bring a Trailer · 15 Sept 2026
5-speed manual
US$12,500
Bring a Trailer · 11 Sept 2026
Thunder Black Metallic · manual
US$12,200
cars-and-bids · 4 Sept 2026
165,000 mi
manual
US$1,700
Bring a Trailer · 4 Sept 2026
white · manual
US$27,000
Bring a Trailer · 28 Aug 2026
88,000 mi
Cadet Blue Metallic · 5-speed manual
US$29,500
Bring a Trailer · 12 Aug 2026
27,000 mi
Golden Mist Metallic and Thunder Black Metallic · automatic
US$25,500
Bring a Trailer · 31 Jul 2026
Racing Green · manual
US$5,000
Bring a Trailer · 28 Jul 2026
Common questions
What is a Datsun 280ZX worth in 2026?
The current United States market median is US$19,750, based on 4 verified auction sales. Recent sales ranged from US$1,700 to US$231,000.
Is the Datsun 280ZX going up in value?
Over the last 12 months its United States median moved -25.0%. Past movement is not a guarantee of future value.
How many Datsun 280ZXs are for sale right now?
No live auction listings tracked right now — new lots are swept in several times a day, and you can follow the model to be notified.
Indicative only — not investment advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future value.