1978 Datsun 280Z Market Value & Price History
The 1978 Datsun 280Z has a current market value of $18,630 as of Oct 13, 2026, based on 76 verified auction sales tracked by DriveIndex, with half of the verified USD sales since 2012 between $16,500 and $23,250. Based on US sales through Oct 4, 2026. 5 have sold in the past 12 months, and 3 are listed for sale from $13,000 to $41,995. The median sale price is up 27.4% over the past 12 months versus the prior year.
Data: DriveIndex. 76 verified auction sales for the 1978 Datsun 280Z, latest sale Oct 4, 2026. Value as of Oct 13, 2026. Methodology
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Last checked Oct 12, 2026
1978 Datsun 280Z Price History
The median 1978 Datsun 280Z sold for $25,875 in 2026, against $15,400 in 2018. Each row is the median of the verified sales recorded in that calendar year, so it moves with the mix of mileages and options that came to market as well as with the market itself.
| Year | Median sale | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $25,875 | 4 |
| 2025 | $19,015 | 8 |
| 2024 | $19,000 | 6 |
| 2023 | $21,750 | 7 |
| 2022 | $23,050 | 12 |
| 2021 | $19,250 | 11 |
| 2020 | $21,439 | 10 |
| 2019 | $18,250 | 5 |
| 2018 | $15,400 | 7 |
Years with fewer than three verified USD sales are omitted — a one-sale “median” is a single car, not a market.
Recent 1978 Datsun 280Z Auction Results
| Sold | Price | Mileage | Gearbox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 4, 2026 | $10,800 | 81,000 mi | Manual |
| Sep 15, 2026 | $28,500 | 43,000 mi | — |
| Sep 5, 2026 | $42,000 | 62,000 mi | Manual |
| Aug 15, 2026 | $23,250 | 53,000 mi | Manual |
| Nov 4, 2025 | $21,750 | 22,000 mi | Manual |
| Aug 19, 2025 | $20,598 | 88,820 mi | Manual |
| Aug 6, 2025 | $19,780 | 70,000 mi | Manual |
| Jul 21, 2025 | $15,500 | 76,000 mi | Manual |
| Jul 10, 2025 | $18,150 | 36,745 mi | Automatic |
| May 28, 2025 | $18,250 | 76,000 mi | Manual |
| May 13, 2025 | $14,750 | 24,000 mi | Manual |
| Jan 3, 2025 | $22,000 | 17,000 mi | Manual |
| Sep 21, 2024 | $14,000 | 94,000 mi | Manual |
| Aug 3, 2024 | $15,030 | 87,000 mi | Manual |
| Jul 18, 2024 | $43,250 | — | — |
Verified results from the world's leading collector-car auction houses and marketplaces.
All Datsun 280Z auction results →See the full picture on the 1978 Datsun 280Z
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Datsun 280Z by Year
Which 280Z year should you buy? Every year compared →1978 Datsun 280Z: Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a 1978 Datsun 280Z worth?
A 1978 Datsun 280Z is worth approximately $18,630 as of Oct 13, 2026, based on 76 verified auction sales tracked by DriveIndex. Based on US sales through Oct 4, 2026. Half of all verified sales fall between $16,500 and $23,250; the full verified range is $10,450 to $57,500. Condition, mileage and options move an individual car within that band.
How much did a 1978 Datsun 280Z cost new?
The 1978 Datsun 280Z carried an original MSRP of $8,949. Verified examples now trade around $18,630.
How much has the 1978 Datsun 280Z depreciated?
It hasn't depreciated. The 1978 Datsun 280Z is worth about 108% more than its original MSRP of $8,949, with verified examples now trading around $18,630. That compares today's value with the sticker price, not adjusted for inflation.
How many 1978 Datsun 280Z sell per year?
5 have sold at auction in the past 12 months. DriveIndex has tracked 76 1978 Datsun 280Z sales in total.
Are 1978 Datsun 280Z sale prices higher or lower than a year ago?
The median 1978 Datsun 280Z sale price is up 27.4% over the past 12 months versus the prior year, based on verified auction sales. That figure tracks the median of what actually sold, so it moves with the mix of mileages and options that came to market as well as with the market itself. The full Value Signal classification (appreciating, stable, bottomed, or depreciating) and its 1–5 year projection are part of DriveIndex Pro.
Where can I buy a 1978 Datsun 280Z?
DriveIndex lists 3 1978 Datsun 280Z for sale, priced from $13,000 to $41,995 (last checked Oct 12, 2026). DriveIndex aggregates for-sale listings and auction results from the world's leading collector-car auction houses and marketplaces.
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