NISSAN · NISSAN 280 · Cars
NISSAN 280 Ultra-rare
As of 2025 Q4, 7 NISSAN 280s remain registered in the UK — one of the rarest cars in Britain on today's roads. That's down from a peak of 8 in 2018 Q4 — only 88% of the high-water mark, a loss of about 1 cars. They're disappearing at roughly 0 a year (2.6% of what's left), a pace that would halve the survivors by around 2051 if it held — though in practice the last, most-cherished examples tend to linger far longer. In all, the NISSAN 280 is rarer than 81% of the 2,408 UK car models we track, putting it firmly in 2025's endangered class.
Survivors over time
How rare is it?
Genuinely rare — only 7 left on UK roads.
Rarer than 81% of the 2,408 UK car models we track.
📉 Rate of decline
Disappearing at about 0 a year (2.6% of survivors). At that pace roughly 6 would remain in 5 years, and half the current fleet is gone by around ~2051.
About the 280
The Nissan S130 is a sports coupé produced by Nissan in Japan from 1978 until 1983. It was sold as the Datsun 280ZX, Nissan Fairlady Z and Nissan Fairlady 280Z, depending on the market. In Japan, it was exclusive to Nissan Bluebird Store locations. It was the second generation Z-car, replacing the Nissan Fairlady Z (S30) in late 1978. The 280ZX was the first time the "by Nissan" subscript was badged alongside the Datsun logo, along with Nissan trucks. The 280ZX was Motor Trend's import car of the year for 1979. The 280ZX was replaced by the Nissan 300ZX in 1984.
NISSAN 280 — questions & answers
How many NISSAN 280 are left in the UK?
As of 2025 Q4, 7 NISSAN 280 were still registered in the UK — 1 licensed and on the road, plus 6 declared SORN (off-road). The figures come from official DVLA vehicle licensing data.
Is the NISSAN 280 rare?
The NISSAN 280 is genuinely rare, with only 7 left, making it rarer than 81% of the 2,408 UK car models we track.
Is the NISSAN 280 increasing or decreasing?
Over the last year the number of NISSAN 280 on UK roads fell by 1 (12.5%). At the current rate of decline, roughly 6 would remain in 5 years.
What fuel do most NISSAN 280 use?
Most NISSAN 280 run on petrol — about 100% of those still registered.
When did the NISSAN 280 peak?
The NISSAN 280 peaked at 8 registered in 2018 Q4, and was first recorded in the data in 2014 Q3.