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S130 280ZX European Market Lookup

Right-hand-drive 280ZXs for the UK and Ireland were built from 1980 to 1983 and are listed in Nissan’s European parts catalog (FAST). Look one up to see how it left the factory: build month, model code, paint and trim codes, roof and transmission. Owners add their car in the XenonZcar forum garage under the S130 280ZX registry and keep its details and photos up to date there.

Cars built from March 1981 have a 17-character VIN like JN1HGS130U0965432, on the model plate in the engine bay. US and Canadian cars are in the S130 registry; the S130 VIN page shows where the plates are.

VINs in Nissan’s catalog
1,786
In members’ garages
0

European Model Code

The model code on the model plate (for example KHGS130AQB) reads like this. Every European 280ZX in the catalog has the 2.8-litre fuel-injected L28E and right-hand drive.

Position #1234567
CodeKHGS130AQB, C
  1. T-bar roof (no K: fixed roof)
  2. L28 engine (L28E, 2.8 litre, fuel injected)
  3. 2+2 (no G: 2-seater)
  4. Chassis: 280ZX
  5. 3-speed automatic (no A: 5-speed manual)
  6. Europe
  7. Equipment letters. On US cars B is power steering and C is air conditioning; that isn’t confirmed for European cars, so they aren’t decoded here.
Sample decode: KHGS130AQB = T-bar roof, L28E, 2+2, 280ZX, automatic, Europe

European 280ZX Search

Enter a full VIN, part of one, or just the serial number (the last digits), and narrow it down with the options. The catalog doesn’t list every car, so a VIN that isn’t found can still be genuine. Cars built before March 1981 are listed with an older chassis number, shown here as HGS130U09 and the serial; the number stamped on the car may be written differently, so search those by the serial number.

Clear

1981 280ZX 2+2

JN1HGS130U0965378

The car

Model code
KHGS130QB
Built
Oct 1981
Market
Europe
Steering
Right-hand drive

Drivetrain

Engine
L28E 2.8 fuel injected
Transmission
5-speed manual

Body and colors

Seating
2+2 (4 seats)
Roof
T-bar (T-top)
Paint
011 · Burgundy Mist Metallic
Interior
A · Red

From Nissan’s European parts catalog. Paint and interior names are from the 280ZX color chart, which is based on US cars; Nissan uses the same codes in every market, but European names may differ.

Own it? Add it in your forum garage (pick “S130 280ZX”).

European 280ZXs by Model Code

Model codeWhat it meansCars in the catalog
KHGS130AQB 2+2, T-bar roof, automatic1,237
KHGS130QB 2+2, T-bar roof, 5-speed manual507
HGS130QB 2+2, fixed roof, 5-speed manual34
HGS130QBC 2+2, fixed roof, 5-speed manual2
KHGS130Q 2+2, T-bar roof, 5-speed manual2
HGS130AQB 2+2, fixed roof, automatic2
HS130AQB 2-seater, fixed roof, automatic1
HS130QB 2-seater, fixed roof, 5-speed manual1

European 280ZXs in members’ garages

No European 280ZXs claimed yet. Be the first to add yours!

Is one of these cars yours?

Owner details are kept up to date from your XenonZcar forum garage. Log in, claim your car once (only one member can hold each car, so nobody else can change your car’s record), and then you can update the owner name, location, condition, mileage, website link, comments and photos any time. Your name and location show publicly only if you choose; otherwise only XenonZcar admins see them. Your car also shows on your forum profile.

  1. Log in to the XenonZcar forum (or join; it’s free).
  2. Open My garage, pick S130 280ZX (1979–1983) under “Which Z?” and enter the VIN from the model plate, e.g. JN1HGS130U0965432.
  3. If the car is already in the registry and no other member has it, it goes straight into your garage with the details you entered. Otherwise an admin confirms the claim, usually within a day or two. Sold the car? Transfer it to the buyer from your garage and it stays in the car’s history.

All registries

Sources Used

  • VINs, build months, model codes, paint and trim codes: Nissan’s European parts catalog (FAST), section ER (right-hand drive)
  • Model code letters: the same scheme as the European Z31 and Z32 model plates; paint and interior names: the XenonZcar 280ZX color chart
  • Owner details: XenonZcar forum members