"Paul Newman had a racing career that was nearly as extensive as his film career. In 1979, when he won the SCCA C-Production Championship, he said that victory was “better than the Oscars.” It doesn’t take an expert to notice that this 280ZX, which Newman drove in the IMSA GTX series for Bob Sharp Racing, is a radical departure from the production version. It is in fact a bespoke racecar that took advantage of every rule (or lack thereof) in the book. It’s tube frame chassis supports a massive wide-body that extends the rear-end far beyond the car’s standard dimensions. The result is amazing downforce to help maintain grip when the massive turbo-charged motor spools up. Newman was not known to be a spectacular driver, but he was renowned for his disciplined car control and unrelenting focus. Those are two things that are keys to reeling in this historic racecar."—Official description[1]
The 1979 Datsun #33 Bob Sharp Racing 280ZX Turbo - abbreviated as "#33 Datsun 280ZX" or "Datsun #33 280ZX"[2] - is a GTX race car by Datsun.
It appears in Forza Motorsport 6 as part of the Turn 10 Summer Car Pack and as standard in all subsequent Motorsport titles.
Synopsis[]
Based on the S130/Z30 generation of the Datsun/Nissan Z car, the 280ZX competed in a variety of American motorsport series in the late 70s and early 80s in both turbocharged and non-turbocharged variants. The non-turbocharged variants, equipped with the I6 of the road car would mainly compete in the SCCA C-Production Championship and the GTU class of the IMSA GT Championship, while the turbocharged variant, which took the V8 from the Nissan President and strapped two turbos to it, would compete in the GTX and GTO classes of the IMSA championship.
The #33 would make its debut near the end of the 1980 IMSA season in the GTX class, taking the place of its non-turbocharged counterpart in the team. The car would compete in two out of the final three rounds, at Road America and Road Atlanta, with Paul Newman behind the wheel. The #33 wouldn't have much success, retiring from both the Road America race (due to an engine issue) and the first race at Road Atlanta, with the latter retirement forcing it to miss the second Road Atlanta race that weekend.[3]
The #33 would continue competing in the IMSA championship during the 1981 season, taking part in 7 races. The first race for the car would be once again at Road Atlanta, where it would somewhat avenge its performance from the previous season, finishing 10th overall and in class. However, the car wouldn't see the top 10 overall again until the last two races of the season, when it finished 8th overall (and 6th in class) at Sears Point (known today as Sonoma Raceway) and 6th (both overall and in class) at Portland International Raceway. This would be the last year for the GTX class, with it being replaced by the GTP class.[4]
The car would make change its appearance before the 1982 season, with the front end now looking more like the road car. This car, now numbered the #38, would make one single appearance during the 1982 season, which would be in a Trans-Am race at Brainerd, where it would get its first ever win.[5] With the end of the GTP class, the car (renumbered back to the #33) moved fully to the Trans-Am Series for the 1983 season, with the car competing in 10 out of the 12 races. The car would do well, but wouldn't be able to quite replicate the success of its debut race the previous season, as its best finishes during the season would be two 3rd places at Summit Point Raceway and Riverside Raceway. Newman would finish 9th overall in the drivers' standings.[6]
The car would make three final appearances in the Trans-Am series, although this time with Jim Fitzgerald behind the wheel and as the #38 once again. The best result for the car would be a 7th place at Watkins Glen.[7] The #33 would instead be taken by a racing version of the newly introduced Z31 generation of the Z car, with the #38 eventually switching to this version as well near the end of the season.
Statistics[]
|
Speed 7.6 Handling 6.8
Acceleration 9.6
Braking 6.6
|
R 850 |
|---|---|---|
Required DLC:
Requires the Turn 10 Summer Car Pack | ||
Unlock Requirements
Car Dealer:
Purchase from the car dealer for 2,000,000 CR | ||
Performance & Division
Division: Early GT Racing
Value: 2,000,000 CR
Speed:
Top Speed: 206.7 mph (332.6 km/h)
Acceleration:
0-60 mph (0-97 km/h): 2.615 secs.
0-100 mph (0-161 km/h): 5.300 secs.
Braking:
60-0 mph (97-0 km/h): 87.2 ft (26.6 m) 100-0 mph (161-0 km/h): 219.3 ft (66.8 m)
Lateral Gs:
60 mph (97 km/h): 1.45 g
120 mph (193 km/h): 1.54 g | ||
|
Speed 7.6 Handling 6.8
Acceleration 9.4
Braking 6.7
Super Rare
|
R 854 |
|---|---|---|
Unlock Requirements
Unlock:
Purchase from the car dealer for 200,000 CR | ||
Performance & Division
Division: GT Racing Reborn
Value: 200,000 CR
Collection Tier:
Tier 4 - Super Rare (+360)
Speed:
Top Speed: 206.5 mph (332.3 km/h)
1/4 Mile: 9.983 secs.
Acceleration:
0-60 mph (0-97 km/h): 2.600 secs.
0-100 mph (0-161 km/h): 5.300 secs.
Braking:
60-0 mph (97-0 km/h): 97.9 ft (29.8 m) 100-0 mph (161-0 km/h): 235.3 ft (71.7 m)
Lateral Gs:
60 mph (97 km/h): 1.42 g
120 mph (193 km/h): 1.55 g | ||
|
Speed 6.3 Braking 6.0
Handling 6.1
Acceleration 7.4
|
R 842 |
|---|---|---|
Unlock Requirements
Car Dealer:
Can be purchased from the Car Dealer for 275,000 CR | ||
Performance & Division
Division: GTX Sportscars
Value: 275,000 CR
Speed:
Top Speed: 206.4 mph (332.1 km/h)
1/4 Mile: 9.950 secs.
Acceleration:
0-60 mph (0-97 km/h): 2.600 secs.
0-100 mph (0-161 km/h): 5.300 secs.
Braking:
60-0 mph (97-0 km/h): 85.8 ft (26.2 m) 100-0 mph (161-0 km/h): 221.6 ft (67.5 m)
Lateral Gs:
60 mph (97 km/h): 1.43 g
120 mph (193 km/h): 1.55 g | ||
Conversions[]
- No conversions available.
Trivia[]
- In Forza Motorsport (2023), prior to Update 21, it was valued at 315,000 CR.
- While marked as a 1979 model, the 280ZX Turbo didn't make its debut until 1980. The 1979 non-turbocharged version of the car looks much closer to the road car and is not powered by a V8, due to it not being allowed by both the C-Production and GTU regulations.[8]
Gallery[]
Thumbnail
Promotional[]
References[]
- ↑ "Turn 10 Summer Car Pack" . forzamotorsport.net . Retrieved 01-21-2019.
- ↑ Abbreviation in Forza Motorsport (2023)
- ↑ "1980 IMSA GT Championship" . wikipedia.org . Retrieved 11-11-2025.
- ↑ "1981 IMSA GT Championship" . wikipedia.org . Retrieved 11-11-2025.
- ↑ "1982 Trans-Am Race at Brainerd Results" . racingsportscars.com . Retrieved 11-11-2025.
- ↑ "1983 Trans-Am Series Results" . racingsportscars.com . Retrieved 11-11-2025.
- ↑ "1984 Trans-Am Series Results" . racingsportscars.com . Retrieved 11-11-2025.
- ↑ "1979 Datsun 280ZX" . racingsportscars.com . Retrieved 11-11-2025.
| Datsun | |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 2000 Roadster |
| 1970s | #33 280ZX Turbo · 510 |
| Related | Fast and Furious Datsun 240Z 'Fast X' |