1982 Datsun 280ZX Turbo: Silver on grey and black interior, 5-speed, T-tops, rare model without side bump guard moldings, only 1,410 miles, and all original, even the tires. 2nd owner purchased from a collector and claims to drive it around the block “on a regular basis.” Still, a dedicated buyer should probably check out the rubber bits and gaskets just to be safe. Not as loved by Z-car aficionados as the early S30 chassis cars because of its extra weight and busier appearance, but the L28 turbo motor is a beast with practically infinite tuning capability. Of course, one would not dare modify such a well-kept and rare specimen. Listed on eBay and sold via BuyItNow for $29,000 in just under 30 hours.

For nearly 30 grand, the question becomes whether you would rather have a brand new 2008 Z or a brand new, for all intents and purposes, 1982 Z. We actually like the stylings of the S130 chassis cars, and think they can stand on their own in terms of design without being compared to the S30. If you were a kid growing up in the 80s, it was physically impossible to avoid having a 280ZX toy of some sort - from Matchbox to Transformers, this was one of the most popular designs for a scaled down miniature. Even Knight Rider was reportedly supposed to be a 280ZX.

We never cease to be amazed at such well-kept cars that emerge from the woodwork. Imagine the restraint and dedication one would have to embody to keep a car like this, without driving it, for over a quarter century. We’d probably take this over a 350Z, but then it becomes a white elephant, since any additional wear or mileage accrued will surely take away from its originality. The best buyer would be an enthusiast that has enough garage space, money and other Zs to drive. One that will treat it as a piece of art or history rather than a car. For such a buyer, the price is quite reasonable for a genuine time machine.

[via Jalopnik]

Reader extraordinaire gamby sent us a link to this BringATrailer.com, which posts on interesting classics up for sale, including some of Japanese stock. That got us thinking, one of the most frequent questions we get is, “How much should I pay for a [insert Japanese classic of choice here]?” to which we usually answer, “How ever much you want.” This usually results in, “Thanks for nothing.”

Perhaps it’s about time we started following the market and giving you, our dear readers, reports on how it’s looking for J-tin. After all, we’re entering the era when Japanese cars are truly being recognized as serious classics. If you think this would be useful, let us know in the comments. Without further ado, here’s the car that gamby sent us.

1967 Datsun Bluebird 411 Wagon. Predecessor to the iconic 510, the 411 was styled by Italian design house Pininfarina. This example is a not a pure survivor. It was repainted and reupholstered at least once in its lifetime, but the good news is it spent most of its life as an exhibit in a dealership showroom. 65,000 miles, aftermarket wheels of unknown brand, virtually rust-free. According to the owner, only minor rust exists, such as in the battery tray. Starts right up and runs, he says. It would take far more than the selling price to restore one to this condition (seller claims $8500 spent on restoration), if you can even find one. Sold at $4000 [ebay]. A very reasonable buy for a virtually one-of-a-kind car.