After looking at 4 280zx interiors, I'm confused. Two are 79 standard models w cloth high back seats, a 79 deluxe w cloth high back & an 81 deluxe w vinyl lowback & headrests. I would have thought that the highback seat would be the more often used for deluxe interiors & lowback for standard(I find the highback more comfortable personally). Didn't Datsun use a particular interior for deluxe models, or was it hit or miss depending with what they had available when assembling? Was leather ever used? Was cloth considered a "base model" item?
Bob

 

I don't know, but personally I like the highback seats way better. I always hated the low backs, because they remind me of grandpa seats. lol Besides that, I am 6' 5", and the highbacks are better for my back and height. I guess it all depended on the model of the Z, the color, and what they chose for material. Also, pretty much from '82-'83 they had the lowback seats. And from '79-'81 they had the highbacks.

 

they had a an option with 280zx imprinted, or actually heat transfered into leather or suede. theres pix online somewhere. usually the material is so worn that you cant see the imopression. it was on a lowback seat, so most likely 82-83. i too like the (edit)HIGHBACK(/edit) and kept my set when i put racing seats in my car. i threw out a set of good lowbacks as they were too expensive for anyone to ship, even if the seat was free.

 

Interesting. Where would I go to find out more about interior options & colors? In addition to learning about zx interiors, I'm trying to ID my interior colors. My interior has brown dash & console, with much lighter seats, door panels, carpets & t top bags. It sure looks darker than "tan" samples I've seen in catalogs, but I don't see other similar options. I spoke to a rep at seatz today & he stated that butterscotch wasn't available in 81. Any ideas on how to research? Bob

 

I just purchashed a set of the low backs with leather and suede and the 280zx embossing on the suede. Very good shape. nice looking seats. I'm hoping they are going to be more comfortable than the leather low backs in the car now...

 

i think the brown and tan started in 82. in 81 you could get blue and red for sure. black and gray was around in 82. look online and go to xenons130.com, he has some great specs.

 

Shady: thanks for the site info. I wasn't aware of it & it just might help. Bob

 

This may help end confusion. There is 2 trim levels for 79-81, Grand luxury and Deluxe. GL cars were loaded, electric windows, rear wiper, power steering etc. Deluxe was the stripper car, manual everything, no power steering, no rear wiper. In 82-83 the Deluxe was dropped and only GL remained. These had the low backs commonly called couch chairs.

 

This is an old thread but for the record. You are correct about the deluxe and GL model trim. By 80 GL was pretty much standard in that you could not find a base model and no such differentiation in 82 as they were all loaded. In 82 your only option was T-top/flattop and non leather/leather(came with auto air and in 83 also digital dash)

In 79-81 a 2 seater came with high back seats. The problem with these seats was head rest got in the way of clearing the blind spot. The 2+2 models came with the low back.

In 82 they all came with low back seats...leather seats had the embossed seude...only it was really micro fabric...no one knew the difference since the main portion of the seat was leather, we all assumed it was really suede.

 

My '81 was a 2+0 GL with leather low back seats just like both of my '83 low backs. None of them had micro fabric. The '81 had everything including headlight washers, auto air, t-tops, cruise, 5sp, etc.