1980 Datsun 280ZX 10th Anniversary Red and Black

With 500 cars reported by Nissan, the red-and-black 1980 Datsun 280ZX 10th Anniversary Edition is the smaller colour allocation within the model's 3,000-car celebration. It shares the anniversary programme with the better-known black-and-gold version, but its finite colour identity merits a separate record. This is a colour subset with documented factory context, not an extra 500 cars beyond the anniversary total or a claim that its mechanical specification was uniquely different.

The less common anniversary presentation

The red-and-black scheme gives the S130 a sharper visual contrast than the black-and-gold version. Its collector interest begins with that documented allocation rather than a supposed additional engine upgrade. A useful edition profile should explain what actually distinguishes the subset. In this case, colour and its place within a numbered anniversary programme are the supported differences; the shared grand-touring equipment belongs to the wider package.

Nissan USA: anniversary colours and production split

A 500-car subset of a 3,000-car series

Nissan's retrospective identifies 500 red-and-black cars and 2,500 black-and-gold cars. Together those make the stated 3,000-car run. Keeping that arithmetic visible prevents a common database error in which the parent edition and both colours are treated as three independent production groups. It also prevents another error: using the original allocation as the number still surviving, which would require an entirely different body of evidence.

The anniversary package around the colour

The manufacturer describes numbered dashboard plaques, anniversary wreath decals, special wheel colours, headlight washers, leather upholstery and a tinted T-bar roof among the package features. These elements give the colour scheme its proper context. An ordinary red or black 280ZX does not become an anniversary car merely through a repaint. Conversely, a genuine anniversary example can have renewed graphics or trim while retaining its original identity, provided the changes are documented.

Nissan USA: anniversary colours and production split

The 280ZX mechanical setting

Nissan's historical reference describes a 2.8-litre inline six producing 132 hp and 144 lb-ft, with rear-wheel drive and a five-speed manual reference. The edition's significance is therefore not a hidden turbocharged powertrain: the later Turbo story should not be imported into this 1980 profile. Search results that collapse all S130 performance specifications together can be misleading. Retaining model year, market and edition name in the record keeps the technical story coherent.

Nissan USA: anniversary colours and production split

Authenticating a scarce colour group

For a particular car, seek original paint evidence, its numbered plaque and contemporary delivery or service records. Compare graphics and interior information with the correct market's material, especially where a Canadian identity is involved. A photo showing red-and-black paint is a useful illustration, but it cannot independently confirm the entire build specification. A well-supported file explains the original allocation, the individual vehicle's provenance and the present restoration state as three connected but separate subjects.

Specifications and identity reference

Rarity and production scope

Manufacturer-reported 500-car red-and-black allocation inside the 3,000-car 10th Anniversary programme. No survivor, market sub-split or transmission count is inferred. This colour group's count must not be added to the full 3,000 again.

What the photograph represents

Red-and-black 1980 Datsun 280ZX 10th Anniversary example. The photographer identifies the colour group; individual plaque and originality require separate documentation.

Related Nissan heritage profiles

• 1980 Datsun 280ZX 10th Anniversary Black and Gold
• 1984 Nissan 300ZX Turbo 50th Anniversary Edition

Frequently asked questions

Is red and black a separate mechanical edition?

The selected source confirms a colour allocation within the shared anniversary package, not a distinct engine specification.

How many red-and-black cars were made?

Nissan reports 500 within the 3,000-car anniversary run; that is not a survivor count.

What is the production-count boundary for this profile?

Manufacturer-reported 500-car red-and-black allocation inside the 3,000-car 10th Anniversary programme. No survivor, market sub-split or transmission count is inferred. This colour group's count must not be added to the full 3,000 again.

Sources and further reading

1. Nissan USA: anniversary colours and production split

Research checked 16 October 2026. Manufacturer records support identity and the specifically attributed historical figures. Photographic descriptions identify the illustrated subject. Design analysis and suggested authentication steps are editorial interpretation.